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Junior Is Safe at JuniorNet

New site offers kids education and entertainment--with few commercials.

By Anne Fischer Lent, PCWorld   

JuniorNet, a Web site launched this week, is different, offering a nearly commercial-free site full of educational and entertaining activities, news, and even e-mail.

Like SurfMonkey, a Web site for kids that requires a special browser, JuniorNet is free to its users. But SurfMonkey is supported by its advertisers and, not surprisingly, they're in abundance.

JuniorNet, on the other hand, gets its backing from some of the most popular and well-respected names in children's publishing, including Highlights for Children, Ranger Rick, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Weekly Reader, and Zillions.

Each publication offers its own activities that invite participation, learning, and fun. The Highlights area, for example, includes that old-time favorite "Hidden Pictures," but here it's the interactive variety and kids explore the hidden pictures on screen.

Homework Help, Safe E-Mail

Whether it's to find info from Sports Illustrated for Kids for a report on Michael Jordan, or to discover answers in Ranger Rick to science questions on wild animals, JuniorNet is a great place for homework help.

The e-mail on JuniorNet, also known as "Steam Mail," lets kids exchange thoughts with other JuniorNet surfers in a safe place.

And Zillions, the kids magazine from Consumer Reports, encourages financial talk on things like the latest fads, how far a buck goes, and what the going rate is for allowances (a great place for parents to do a reality check).

JuniorNet is designed for kids of all ages, although 9- to 12-year-olds will probably find the most action here now. Parents can look at JuniorNet as a great place to introduce kids to cyberspace and to let them do some exploring on their own.