Kids Can Explore the World Online

(ARA) – The time of year many kids look forward to is finally here: back-to-school!
“A good learning tool for kids that complements their school studies is HighlightsKids.com,” says Christine French Clark, editor of both the Web site and Highlights for Children magazine. “It’s Fun with a Purpose.”
The newly launched site is packed with hands-on activities designed for kids of all ages. “If your child likes science, there are experiments to try, a question and answer section, and lots of articles to read. If your child likes games and puzzles, we have a maze maker, an interactive version of Check and Double Check, mystery messages to decode, and an interactive jigsaw puzzle,” says Clark.
Kids who enjoy reading will find a treasure chest of stories at their fingertips. If they like arts and crafts, there are enough posted on the site to keep them busy. “There’s a depth and breadth of content to it you don’t often see in children’s websites, and parents can put trust in the promise that the material we’re providing is both educational and safe,” says Clark.
The site is password protected, so only members are allowed to log on. Messages sent to message boards are screened before being posted to make sure they are appropriate for young eyes; and no information about members will ever be released to any third party. “We’re concerned about the safety of our readers and do everything we can to prevent any collection or release of information that a parent might not want known about his or her child,” says Clark.
That demonstrated commitment to kids’ safety and privacy resulted in HighlightsKids.com becoming the first company in the world to have its application for a “Safe Harbor” site certification approved by the Council of Better Business Bureau’s Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU).
As a Safe Harbor program participant, HighlightsKids.com has pledged to adhere to the CARU Safe Harbor Compliance Checklist and participate in ongoing site monitoring. “We’re even taking it a couple steps further than that,” says Highlights for Children president, Elmer C. Meider, Jr. “We monitor all online communications and approve all screen names to ensure the user’s privacy. In addition, we do not allow any advertising at all on the site.”
And when kids try to log onto a different site while visiting HighlightsKids.com, a window pops up asking if they’re really sure they want to leave. “It’s kind of a warning to parents that their kids are venturing into unprotected territory,” says Meider.
Highlights has provided children with the opportunity to explore their interests for more than 50 years, and HighlightsKids.com allows parents the comfort of knowing their children are safe as they discover the fun of the Web site.
HighlightsKids.com works a lot like a magazine subscription. To access the material, you have to subscribe to the service. A year-long membership costs $29.64. People who subscribe to both Highlights magazine and the Web site are eligible for a discount; and for a limited time, new customers who sign-up up for one-year membership, will get three months for free.
Courtesy of ARA Content