Search Engines and Databases for Children

by Jackie Kulik

Children of today can often be even more computer-savvy than many adults.  But even with their immersion into the technological and digital world at an early age, the vast sea of information on the Internet is overwhelming for anyone.  Librarians, teachers, and others have created numerous databases, search engines, and directories to enable children to go to a trusted website that will then link them to huge amounts of information.  There are many wonderful sites that children can rely on when it comes to doing research or other reference work, but I have selected two sites that meet the evaluation criteria to make them great go-to resources that kids, parents, and teachers can all trust.

Great Websites for Kids http://gws.ala.org/

 

 

 

For a trusted and reliable source the ALA division ALSC (Association of Library Services for Children) is a great starting point.  ALSC has created Great Websites for Kids. This engaging, colorful database features critically evaluated websites that cover topics as wide-ranging as a child could imagine.  While the homepage features the sites of the week or month, a child can simply select a subject area of interest to be directed to a page full of websites related to that topic. The subject headings are Animals, The Arts, History & Biography, Literature & Languages, Mathematics & Computers, Reference Desk, Sciences, and Social Studies.  Here is a look at the Reference Desk interface:

There are another page and a half of websites within the Reference Desk index.  The database adds new websites 3 times a year and the database is reviewed twice a year to ensure the included sites are still relevant, appropriate, and accessible.  Some of the reference tools kids will have access to through ALSC’s site are Factmonster.com, Merriam-Webster online, Encyclopedia.com, Bartleby.com, and Purude’s OWL Online Writing Lab.

Colorful, engaging, and easy to navigate kids will love using this website to find tons of fun and educational resources online.

Kidsclick! http://www.kidsclick.org/

 

 

Kidsclick! is run by SLIS at Kent State University and was originally created by librarians who realized public libraries needed to provide guides for children to successfully find age-appropriate and useful information on the Internet. While Kidsclick! does not block any sites, it promotes those that are valuable and meet their selection criteria.  Children could still access unsavory sites but filters can be used in conjunction to prevent this.  The first criterion for resources/databases to be included on this site is that they are entertaining and enlightening for children K-7.

Kidsclick! is great because of its many search options.  Kids can use a keyword search, search by category, do an alphabetic search, or even a Dewey Decimal Search. This is a great added feature because as children use the site they can become more familiar with the topics and corresponding numbers in DDC.  There is even a quick search for digital media pictures, sound, and video. Once children select a topic they are taken to a variety of resources on that topic.  Each resource gives information such as whether or not the resource has illustrations, what reading age it is appropriate for, and the various subjects that correspond to that specific resource.

Created by librarians, designed with kids in mind (great variety of search options), full of lots of valuable information, and fairly easy to navigate; Kidsclick! is a great resource for children under age 13.

Great Websites for Kids and Kidsclick! are great representations of the well-crafted search engines and databases that work as directories linking kids to educational and entertaining information online.