My oldest son is 11 and loves to chat with other kids on the internet. He recently found globalfun.com but most of the kids there don't even talk to each other--just a bunch of nonsense. After I checked the site out a couple days ago and saw all the swearing and talk about sex I won't let him chat there.(I watch his internet use like a hawk!) Do any of you know of any chat rooms that are safe--sex free-- and possibly moderated by an adult? I realize that there are thousands of chat rooms out there but some must be family friendly. He is interested in Harry Potter, video games, learning spanish, and likes to play chess. Thanks!!

-- Colleen in WI (bean@northwoods.net), February 22, 2002

Answers

Have you or he checked out the Harry Potter site. I think it is www.harrypotter.com

Another good one is geopets.com

My sons like both of these and I think they are fairly safe.

Susan

-- Susan in Minnesota (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), February 22, 2002.

The only really and truely safe chat room for children I know of is, the frontroom with the tv turned off.

-- Thumper/inOKC (slrldr@yahoo.com), February 23, 2002.

Colleen,

I let me 11yo daughter post to the board at VegSource for homeschoolers. I go through her mail with her, and we've had no problems so far.

SHe met an "e-pal" from Moldova (between Romania and the Ukraine) and is learning a lot about his country, as well as teaching him about ours.

We've looked at other sites, but the conversation doesn't appeal to my daughter- often, the kids practice cursing or discuss things she has no interest in.

She does visit geopets sometimes, too.

Hope this helps. If your son is not at the stage where he thinks all girls are "gross", you can email me and I'll give you my daughter's email- she loves to answer letters : )

-- Kristin, in La. (sevenstonestile@earthlink.net), February 23, 2002.

I agree with Thumper. Remember the saying, "on the internet, no knows if you're a cat or a dog". Assume ALL sites are visited and used by adults. Personally, I don't think chat rooms are a necessity (or even desirable) for anyone.

Imho, children, especially today, need to interact with real live people, not computers. Good luck in your search, though.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), February 23, 2002.