Fun learning? Easy PC

Given the amount of time children spend online, it’s a good idea to make sure they’re surfing wisely and, ideally, learning something too Discuss this article

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www.bbc.co.uk/schools

Aimed at kids aged four and above, the BBC Schools website is very well organised, with video clips, games and activities split up according to age and subject. From maths to music, art to business studies, every subject is catered for. While the games are interesting and encourage mental development, be aware that the site is still in the developmental stage and could throw up a few dead links.

www.hitentertainment.com/artattack

Do you remember Art Attack? A brilliant British TV show chock full of advice on how to create great art at home, it was axed in 2007 (to much sadness, at least in the Time Out Kids office). Luckily for us and frustrated parents everywhere, the website is still up and running, with hundreds of ‘art attacks’ available to explore with full instructions. Roll up those sleeves, crack out the PVA glue and loo rolls, and get ready to be guided through the logistics of 3D castle construction, crazy golf course creation and curved spoon drawing.

www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies

The CBeebies site is, quite simply, the king. The website is populated with games, stories, rhymes, music, songs, animations, cartoons, things to print out and much more. It’s easy to navigate and the colourful scheme will keep children entertained for hours. The activities are mostly tied to existing characters from the TV station, yet the games are easy to pick up without having watched the channel. Overall, this is aimed at younger tots.

www.coolmath-games.com

Kids will be fascinated with the neon-on-black colour scheme here, although we’d advise sunglasses for sleep-deprived parents. The activities on offer at Coolmath-Games are all maths based (as the name would suggest), but the difficulty levels on offer mean that this website is for bigger kids – in fact, some games will even challenge parents’ wits. On the whole, the website is great for developing maths and strategy skills.

www.counton.org

Maths was never a topic we were keen on learning, but had Counton been on hand, maybe – just maybe – things would have been different. Bursting with activities including how to tell the time, and interesting stuff to read (code breaking anybody?), the site will keep kids occupied for hours while still teaching them maths skills and improving their memory and lateral thinking. The website is clean, with clear links, simple navigation and a very easy-on-the-eye colour scheme. The games are better suited to slightly older children, though.