One of our priorities as teachers, educators and parents is to ensure that our students and kids use the internet in appropriate, safe and secure ways. Digital literacy and digital citizenship are two key theoretical concepts to start with. Understanding and teaching the ethos of these concepts to students will empower them with the required insights and know-how to help them navigate the web both safely and effectively. However, when it comes to kids and young learners, learning critical and analytical search skills is not per se a guarantee that they won’t be exposed to cyber threats and/or irrelevant or inappropriate content. This is where the importance kids safe search engines comes in handy. These are platforms designed specifically to help kids search the web in a safe and kid-friendly environment. Most of the popular search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing offer safe search features that you can access from their settings. For instance, for Google you can check this guide to learn how to turn on safe search setting .
Other than that there are a number of interesting kids safe search engines we have meticulously curated for you in the list below. Some these search engines run advertisements which, we believe, is not a recommended thing to embed in a site supposedly targeting kids. In our categorization of kids safe search engines, we separated those that run ads from those that are ads-free. It’s then up to you to decide whether you want to recommend ads-supported websites to your kids or not. Links are under the visual. This work is also available for free download in PDF format.
Ads-free Search Engines
1- Kidtopia
‘Kidtopia is a Google custom student safe search engine for preschool and elementary students, indexing only educator approved web sites.’
2- Kid’s Search Engine
‘KidsSearch.com is a Safe Search Engine for children. We use Google’s Safe Search technology and advanced filtering tools on web content. We offer kid friendly links through our directory, each site is peer reviewed for appropriate content, usefulness and fun.’
3- Teach the Children Well
‘Teach the Children Well is a collection of links to sites carefully selected by a teacher for students as well as their parents and teachers. The site was designed for elementary grades but many of the sites will also be of interest to older students.’
4- Kiddle
‘Kiddle is a visual search engine for kids powered by Google, offering safe kids web, image, and video search. Results are vetted by editors.’
5- DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is not necessarily designed for kids but it does however offer features that allow users to search the net without compromising their private and personal information. DuckDuckGo does not store search history, doesn’t run ads, and does not track users.
6- GoGooligans
GoGooligans is another kid search engine that provide a number of important features including: use Google index to retrieve results, apply different kinds of filtering features, excludes inappropriate sites and keywords, offers search in over 30 languages and many more.
7- KidRex
‘KidRex is a fun and safe search for kids, by kids! KidRex searches emphasize kid-related webpages from across the entire web and are powered by Google Custom Search™ and use Google SafeSearch™ technology.’
1- Safe Search Kids
Safe Search Kids uses Google Safe Search to provide search results. It also provides other features for safely searching for images, videos and wikis.
2- Fact Monster
‘Fact Monster is a free reference site for students, teachers, and parents. Get homework help and find facts on thousands of subjects, including sports, entertainment, geography, history, biography, education, and health.’
3- Cybersleuth Kids
‘A comprehensive educational search engine, directory and homework helper for the K-12 student. Includes Subject specfici videos, activities, printables, games and more’
4- KidzSearch
‘ Family-friendly safe search engine for children. KidzSearch safe search technology is always on and cannot be turned off by clearing cookies or using a different computer. Results are always Strict Filtered. Nothing to install. Free public service.’
Sources:
1- https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/kid-safe-browsers-and-search-sites#
2- http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/01/5-safe-search-engines-for-kids.html
3- http://ivyjoy.com/rayne/kidssearch.html
4- https://www.onlinesafetysite.com/best-search-engine-for-kids
5- https://www.familyeducation.com/life/internet-safety/6-safe-search-engines-kids
6- http://www.bluecoatprimaryschool.com/media/E%20Safety/Child-Friendly_Seach_Engines.pdf
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