July 12, 2008

Using Family Internet Videos Effectively for Fun, Entertainment and Learning

There's no doubt the internet has a strong and unique pull for people of all ages. About 45 million children and teens have access to the internet and what worries a lot of parents is that they may be exposing themselves to less-than-appropriate media content and videos without their knowing it. Also, most parents feel left out on all the action especially when the internet has the full attention of their kids.

This is why it's essential that parents find ways to have fun with their kids with the use of the internet. With so much learning possibilities, the internet could be harnessed to supplement school lessons, teach proper social behavior and integrate ethics and values without lecturing the child. It can also be a way to strengthen family bonds by allowing families to work and learn together.

The trick for parents is to choose sites that are reliable in terms of family-friendly content. It can be a bit confusing to discern which internet videos are appropriate for children of different ages, but with a little prior research, parents will be able to pick which content to show their kids. Commonsensemedia.org has a grid criteria based on content to determine the age-appropriateness of videos. You can check out their site to find out which video content to show and which ones to stay away from.

There are many sites that you can check out for internet videos families can enjoy. Here are some that offer a variety of choices and information:

commonsensemedia.org
This site is run by a non-profit, non-partisan organization and is focused on creating a way to promote family-friendly tools and information. It does not advocate media censorship, but it does promote internet videos that provide educational and wholesome fun that is geared towards family entertainment. Videos are rated according to age appropriateness and reviews are also provided on site.

The site also provides sneak peeks of the latest TV shows and movies, along with recommendations for games, stories, shows and other sites. From kids to teens to young adults, this site offers a good choice of internet videos that's just right for families.

video.aol.com
AOL has also taken cue from the popularity internet videos have been enjoying. This site contains all the videos you could want, including 'Best of the Web' videos, learning and adventure, special interests, news, sports TV and even the latest viral videos. Family members will have all the reasons to stick around and watch because there's hundreds to choose from. The site also features 'Clip of the Day' and 'Hotlist'.

One small issue, though – you'll need a lot of memory. Some of the best video clips last as long as 2 hours, but they're worth downloading if only to go back to again and again. Kids' features include animation and well-loved cartoon characters from Nickelodeon and Warner Bros. There are free clips that can be viewed and others that you'll need to pay for. Recent features include Madeline, Shrek, The Jetsons, Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd.

Warnerbros.com
Warner Bros. offers variety in terms of mixing entertainment, learning and problem solving. Many of the videos on its site are downloadable for free and much of what's available are animated features. Aside from the more famous characters in the Warner Bros. lot, there are also other video heroes, heroines and villains that are just waiting to be discovered. You can download short video clips and games that are age-appropriate since many of the videos are rated and come with a short content description.

familyfun.go.com
For families who like to do activities together and for those who like crafts, this is a site to check out. There are lots of 'how-to' videos to choose from, including crafts, weekend projects and simple hobby tips. There's something for every member of the family to enjoy and learn from.

National Geographic
National Geographic is more famous for its wildlife features, but there are videos that offer a lot of priceless information on geography, travel, world culture and history. There are short video clips that may be downloaded for free.

There are also other contents on the site that are flash-animation or slideshow files, but don't discount their value. They are a great source of information, some of which are not included in the videos. Kids of all ages have plenty to discover on this site.

metacafe.com
This site features videos that promote learning and fun, such as a clip showing how marbles are made, how to perform card tricks and magic escape tricks. You'll need to turn on Family Filter though, so you can keep out some videos that kids might find more challenging to understand. The videos are rated according to viewer preference which more or less gives you an idea whether they're good to watch or not.

veoh.com
This site includes all sorts of internet video topics, such as arts, animation, education, comedy, family, sports, religion, technology, news and travel. It has a good mix of internet videos with varied ratings, so you'll need to use discretion. Some videos are about topics that very young children may find disturbing or difficult to understand.

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