5 terrific Web-Browsers to safeguard Kid’s internet activities.
Geeklist — By editorial board on September 5, 2009 at 8:56 pmSecure Web Browsers for Kids
1. My Kids Browser
mykidsbrowser
It is the kids-alternative for the fire-fox or the IE. The browser was created with the aim of taking away the worry of internet related problems facing kids. This browser will help the parents who have a tough time with their kids getting into undesired sites, by chance. The parents can have a good time doing the household chores or the office works while their mind. This is realized through the fresh concept that My Kids Browser has introduced.
Unlike other safe browsers that just prevent access to objectionable content, but still may not be foolproof, the new browser prevents access to undesired content by blocking sites that do not have a clean certificate. This idea helps block obscene images as well, apart from the offensive text that other browsers block. The browser has other excellent features that make the web-browsing for kids both enjoyable and informative. Kids are led to the best knowledge sites on the net that include math, history and other stuff. They are also allowed to acces many of the standard-games on the net available for kids.
An outstanding feature of the My Kids Browser is the Mr Happy Pocketwatch which performs the job of imposing a time limit on the internet access for kids. The parents can set fixed duration for web-browsing by kids. This sets a time-limit on the internet access per day for the child. No counter-arguments or questions. The browser just stops functioning at the set-time. Another feature of the My Kids Browser is that it prevents unwanted hard-copying of stuff from the net or the PC. It is a habit for kids to print every image of their like, on paper. This browser helps stop this tendency. All these features give the My Kids browser a top-spot among the web-browsers for kids.
2. KidZui, The Kid Browser
kidzui
The KidZui is a web browser for children that uses the Zooming User Interface concept for web browsing. It is intended for children between the age-group of 3-12 years. The KidZui Web-Browser for Kids was developed by the KidZui Inc. Just like Google Chrome displays previously viewed webpages on a smaller scale, the browser exhibits the Web-page itself at a smaller scale. The desired Web page can then be viewed by clicking on the small-scale image. This gives a zoomed-in image of the web page, the reason why the paradigm is called Zooming User Interface.
The browser has a large array of parent/teacher-approved sites on the internet that are safe for children. Thus, the browser does not allow access to the open internet, but directs the user to the KidZui’s list-based net. The Zuis or the avatars represent each kid on the KidZui-Net. The child gets to do many an interesting stuff for their Zuis on the net, which includes gaining points based on browsing and buying clothes and stuff for the Zuis. The browser sends a detailed report of what the kid viewed on the net, to the parents. Even friend-making on the KidZui-net requires parent-approval. The KidZui browser also allows browse-by-category assistance.
3. KidRocket
kidrocket
KidRocket from KidRocket.org is a safe web-browser for kids. Similar to KidZui, the KidRocket does not allow access to the open internet. Instead it allows access to a selected list of top-quality sites. It allows access to about a dozen sites only, one of its major disadvantages. The browser gives a full-screen interface that can be controlled by the parents. As the KidRocket browser is a stand-alone, free software, it has no additional requirements.
An interseting feature for children on the KidRocket is the StarBite game that it offers along with the math trainer. The browser can be set to monitor the time period for which the browser has been in use. It also allows the disable-printing facility to prevent unwanted printing by children. The unique feature of the KidRocket is that it is suitable for the beginner as well as the advanced user. One important thing to be noted with the KidRocket is that it does not allow any method of exit(except shutdown) when it is in locked mode. The browser has math flashcards, art section with paint pad, Starbite game, a fully-illustrated control panel for parents and customisable browser colours.
4. PikLuk
pikluk
This browser puts the sites to be visited or not visited by children at the disposal of their parents. The parents can decide on which sites the kids should be viewing. At startup, the browser has a list of three sites in its list by default. These are Kerpoof, PBS Kids and Yahoo Kids. The PikLuk people provide a list of recommended sites that it thinks are suitable and popular. These include Disney XD, LEGo and many others. The parents can also impose restrictions on who should be sending mails to their kids, and who should not.
The child can also be allowed access to some social-networking site that the parent thinks is safe and secure. Thus, PikLuk does not put the kids restricted to a small list of sites like KidRocket, nor does it allow full access to everything on the net. It just channels the browsing based on parental suggestions. Although it is not as illustrious or attractive as a KidZui, the browser can be a real help to many parents who wish to have their own say on what their child should see.
5. McGruff, the Crime Dog
McGruff
This is one different breed of browser for children that aims at creating crime awareness among children. This was an idea of the National Crime Prevention Council,USA. The icon-character in the browser is a bloodhound called McGruff, that took birth in the head of John Young. The Motto for the site, “Take a Bite Out of Crime”, was coined by John M. Keil. He was also the voice of the character for many years. The site attracts children through songs, commercials and booklets from the National Crime Prevention Council.
The site enlightens the kids on the importance of staying away from crime and not from school. With this browser, the children have access to over 10,000 approved sites. Lockdown feature prevents access to the web from other browsers. An exclusive feature of this browser is that the parents can create multiple accounts depending on the age of the children. This is a highly educational browser that will help the child keep himself away from the dangers of the internet.
Related posts:
Tweet This
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
9 Comments
I hate seeing browsers like this, targeting smaller kids to watch what they’re doing. Granted it’s probably a good idea to have these to make sure they don’t get into anything they don’t need to, but parents need to know when to remove the kiddie gloves and let kids grow up
Sometimes all you need is a locked down browser so that the child cannot access any other part of the computer. We have an autistic child who used to always open up new browser windows until he had 20 or 30 and everything would lock up. He would come to us for help several times an hour. He would also regularly turn the volume up to maximum. But now we have installed the simplicity locked browser at http://www.simpliciti.biz/lockedbrowser.php – it cost $80 but he hardly ever comes to us for help now. It also can use a whitelist of of allowed sites if required.
i agree with the locked down approach rather than a dumbed down approach
yes, that’s right, Inside-the-webb, exposing your 5 or even 14 year-old to the worst garbage on the web is just like taking the training wheels off their bike. what a great learning experience that is. I hope you don’t have kids.