Hi!

Welcome to Kidz Zone, a place for teens and tweens like yourself to find cool web sites for fun and learning that are also safe.

The Internet is likely one of the coolest places around – one of the only places in existance where you can virtually experience just about any topic imaginable and get infomration about that topic. Studying Africa? Put together a picture safari. Learning about US history? Use the net to find information and pictures to add to your report. And, the internet can help you learn about your body and help keep you in shape. As you might imagine, those are among my most favorite uses!

Like anyplace in the world we spend time with, we have to understand the rules of the road to stay safe. We do this all the time in the “real”, offline world. We know in our offline lives to look both ways when crossing the street, not to talk to strangers, and how to stay safe in our homes when it comes to cooking, using electric outlets, and even driving, once we are old enough! We have to use the same  good common sense when being online and then the Internet isn’t doesn’t need to be seen as dangerous at all…just another place we spend time on in our daily lives that we have to use the same daily common sense rules of the road.

So, don’t let the fact that the people you can’t always see who you are “talking” to change your good common sense skills when you are online. Keep your identities a secret as well as your personal information. If anyone pushes you for that, go get an adult and have them check into the conversation just to be sure nothing odd is happening. The best rule of thumb, to be honest, is only to “friend” people online who you know offline…that way you don’t have to worry about this stuff!!

Below are sites I’ve found that are useful for home work and tween and teen safe. There are also a few sites for younger kids so your parents may be interested in these, too.

Have fun surfing – but watch the time! There’s an entire real outside to explore as well! And, as much fun as the virtual world is, the real world is even more fun – and is where your body needs to move about to stay active and healthy!

Cheers!

Dr. Gwenn

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