KidThing — Stories, Games, and Educational Content for Kids

Kidthing is a safe and secure place to find games and educational content for children.
Kidthing recently won The National Parenting Center’s 2009 Seal of Approval and has been selected to be the sole digital distribution partner for the National Education Association’s Read Across America 2008-09 resource calendar and guide. As part of this award-winning literacy program, Kidthing offers teachers a free digital download of select titles featured in NEA’s Read Across America calendar for use in the classroom each month.
It is is the first and only free digital media player made just for kids. It was created by parents to give kids a safe place to play and learn online away from web browsers and ads. After you download the free software you can select from an online store that has carefully selected and parent-approved digital animated books, interactive games, activities and videos. The downloads start at under a dollar and can be played even when the computer is not online. Kids can enjoy it away from home or in the car.
I was pleased to see that they now feature stories read aloud by Mrs. P, played by actress Kathy Kinney, who invites children to use their imaginations while she reads classic stories beside the crackling fire in her virtual library. She tells classics like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood, The Princess and the Pea, The Frog Prince and The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin.
It’s just getting started, but it seems to be very thoughtfully designed, with excellent content and a refreshing absence of ads. Definitely worth a look for any family with school-age children.