There are many free, entertaining resources on the web that girls will enjoy and parents can encourage with confidence. Some sites offer a mix of free and fee based options and if free fun is the goal, then please ignore the messages about subscription plans, members only access or golden points.
Fashion is an area of interest for many young ladies. GirlSense.com encourages a spirit of creativity, collaboration and community in its members. At the heart of GirlSense is an active virtual fashion community that offers users a safe Web 2.0 experience. The site has a variety of free dress up games with the tools, colors, fabrics and styles to enable girls to design couture fashion lines, open stylish e-boutiques and "sell" their creations to their peers. For girls that like fashion but would prefer just to play "dress up" games, there's PaperDollHeaven.com. At the site girls can dress up celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Kate Middleton or Britney Spears. There are athletes, cute animals and even fairies to dress up. Furnish a doll house or play other games and puzzles. It's hours of free fun for any girl.
Moving from fashion to fantasy, sometimes it's good get away from it all for a while. Disney has its fairy activity world at DisneyFairies.com. Or join Rainbow Brite at www.hallmark.com/online/rainbow-brite. Horses are also the theme at BellaSara.com. HulalaGirls.com is a site about three surfer girls who become princesses of nature. Games, videos and letting girls explore careers are all free activity centers at Barbie.com. Girls can also take a peek inside Barbie's closet and bedroom. The site is pink and sparkly and very girl friendly. Gaming for girls is at the heart of AllGirlArcade.com and watch a video or two at Kideos.com.
Some websites aim to create online social experiences for girls without the inappropriate content often posted to Facebook. Two of the best are Sweety High and iTwixie. SweetyHigh.com is a school-themed social world for girls that offers members a "robust social networking experience that strives for privacy." This arts and entertainment website can be a little shallow with its focus on celebrities, beauty and becoming a star, but it's harmless in moderation. iTwixie.com is a more down to earth social experience. The site encourages girls to express their unique talents, creations, natural beauty and true interests.
Many girls enjoy arts and crafts. At TheToymaker.com girls can make toys, sun boxes, baskets and have fun for hours, using paper and the instructions at the site. Not even paper is required to be creative at www2.shidonni.com. Just draw something and the site animates the artwork. And don't miss the sophisticated offerings from the US National Gallery of Art. Their Art Zone (www.nga.gov/kids/zone/zone.htm) has an amazing selection of art activities for kids based on the holdings at the gallery. To tap into a wider variety of projects, just follow along with the video instruction at ActivityTV.com or try out the new animated multimedia series from Martha Stewart Living, "Martha & Friends." MarthaAndFriends.com features an animated 10-year-old Martha as a problem-solving, craft-loving, generous spirit who, along with her three best friends, shows kids how easy it can be to do-it-themselves. The site is based on short webisodes that are very engaging for girls and the activities that "Martha" suggests are so much fun that the whole family might just want to join in, too!
