If you’ve got a tween or teen at home, you’ll know they’re often curious about what’s going on in the world — a big election, a natural disaster, a major sports story. The trouble is, the news websites most of us adults rely on for fair, accurate reporting aren’t always suitable for younger eyes, since they don’t hold back on distressing details.
That’s why it helps to have a shortlist of websites parents can trust for kids news — places you can point your child to when they ask about something they’ve heard about, knowing the content has been written or reviewed with children in mind.
Here are 8 websites (and one app) worth bookmarking:
- Dogo News
- Scholastic News
- Ready.gov
- BBC Newsround
- CNN Student News
- NBC Learn
- RTÉ News2Day
- Here There Everywhere
- News-O-Matic (app)
#1. Dogo News
DOGO News is run by DOGO Media, an online network built around helping kids engage with digital media in a fun, safe and social way.
The site covers current events, science, social studies and sport, along with a dedicated books and movies section.
#2. Scholastic News
Scholastic runs a kid- and classroom-friendly news website that presents stories in an age-appropriate way. There’s also a nice “news for kids, by kids” section worth checking out.
#3. Ready.gov
For families in the US, Ready.gov is a helpful, child-friendly way to keep up with major weather events, emergencies and large-scale incidents, explained clearly and without unnecessary alarm.
It includes an interactive state map showing local weather alerts and emergency updates, plus guidance on putting together a Family Communications Plan in case of an emergency.
Recommended Reading: 10 Practical Tips on How to Talk to Kids About Terrorism
#4. BBC Newsround
Many of today’s parents grew up watching BBC Newsround, so it’s good to see it’s still going strong with a companion website where kids can read stories and catch up on the latest bulletin online.
They also regularly feature a roundup of the week’s quirkiest news stories, which tends to go down well with younger readers.
#5. CNN Student News
CNN Student News is aimed at older kids, roughly age 11 and up, bringing news to middle and high school students in a more in-depth format.
Daily bulletins come with transcripts, making it a useful option for slightly older tweens and teens who want more detail than younger-focused sites offer.
#6. NBC Learn
The NBC Learn website brings together historic news reports, current events and original stories for K-12 teachers and students. Alongside its current events section, it covers science, language, and health and wellness topics.
If your child’s school has an account, they can log in to build playlists and save favourite stories — a handy feature for classroom or homework use.
Recommended Reading: 9 of the Best Websites to Get Informative News for Kids
#7. RTÉ News2Day
For families in Ireland, RTÉ’s news2day programme covers domestic and international stories aimed at younger viewers, broadcast on weekdays.
You can watch episodes and read stories on the website, and the news2day Gallery is worth a look for fun clips and behind-the-scenes moments with the presenters.
#8. Here There Everywhere
Here There Everywhere is designed for elementary-age children and older, with the goal of helping kids understand how they’re connected to the wider world and the people and events shaping it.
Finally, worth a mention even though it’s an app rather than a website: News-O-Matic is a subscription-based interactive newspaper for kids aged 7–10. Each day it offers five news stories spanning world news, entertainment and sport, written by journalists and reviewed by a child psychologist. It’s available for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad and Android.
Do you have a go-to website for kids news that your family trusts? Share it with us in the comments below — we’d love to add more recommendations for other parents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why not just let kids read regular news websites?
Mainstream news sites are written for adults and often include graphic detail or distressing imagery that isn’t appropriate for children. Kid-focused news sites cover the same major stories but present them in a way that’s age-appropriate and less frightening.
What age are these websites suitable for?
Most of the sites above suit primary school age children upwards, with a few (like CNN Student News) aimed more at tweens and teens. It’s worth browsing a site yourself first to judge whether it’s the right fit for your child’s age and sensitivity.
Should I still talk to my child about the news, even with a safe website?
Yes. These sites are a great starting point, but it’s still worth checking in with your child afterwards to see how they feel about what they’ve read and to answer any questions in your own words.
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- How to Help Kids Cope With Scary News Stories
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