Safe Search Engines for Kids

In my first grade class we research using the internet. You heard me right. I am not afraid to let my little friends independently search and develop important research skills that they will use forever. Why am I not afraid? Because we use safe search engines!

With our growing standards, it is necessary for my young students to participate in some sort of research. I incorporate this during science and social studies times. I am lucky to have one to one iPads in my classroom. Therefore, it makes most sense for my students to use those tools to research independently.

Although that makes sense, there is no way that I am going to allow them to get on google and type anything in to the search bar.

That is where safe search engines come in! I have done the research for you. There are four that I like the most and have had my students test out and use over and over.

KidRex.org

Uses Google Custom Search and Safe Search to eliminate most inappropriate material.

Kiddle.co

Has large thumbnails and fonts for easy reading. It uses .co instead of .com because co stands for children only.

SafeSearchKids.com

Has more ads, but safe Internet Filtering Software.

KidsClick.org

Designed for kids by librarians and has a great category search.

I like giving my friends choice. That is why I created a sheet with QR codes to each of the sites. I just hand these out to my students and they scan the QR of the search engine they would like to use. Want to try with your class? Just click the picture below to download for free! 

Happy Searching!