Free Online Games - Kid Games on the Web

My fifth grader this week has opened my eyes to the pretty cool world of free online kid games out there. Here's a few that we've looked at together.

• Miniclip Runescape: Kids create their own medieval identity and learn how to trade, bake bread, fight scorpions, etc. They also can talk to each other online while playing.
• Orisinal: My kids like these games because they're fun; I like these games because they're so gorgeously designed and the music doesn't set my teeth on edge.
• PBS Kids: You can never go wrong with PBS Kids. My five year old especially loves Maya and Miguel.
• FunBrain: Yes, they're games - but you can feel secure in the knowledge that these are games with a purpose. Science, math, and language skills are all addressed here.

Related: Have you talked to your kids about Web safety? Do they know that just like in real life, they should NOT talk to strangers on the Web? Parents have a big responsibility to keep their kids safe and the Web can be a dangerous place to set kids loose in. Use my Safe Search Checklist to make sure that your kids are protected while they're having fun.