Children's online dictionary...

[lillibel]

Help...I can't find a good online cjildren's dictionary for my primary aged children. There must be one but all my searches just show either adult ones or links to ordering a book version.
Many thanks

[Buenchico]

The dictionary at http://www.wordcentral.com/ isn't too bad. It recognises UK spellings but goes via the US ones to provide definitions. i.e. if you enter 'colour' it tells you that it's the British spelling of 'color' but you then have to click on 'color' for the definition.

Personally (as someone who spent many years in the teaching profession), I'd much rather that children used a printed dictionary anyway. It's always readily available, even when the PC is switched off (as it certainly should be when the youngsters are doing most of their homework). It's also far easier to 'browse' when you only know the approximate spelling of a word..

I now make much of my living from writing and I do much of my research online but, when it comes to looking up words in a dictionary, I always reach for the one on my bookshelf. I'd encourage you to get your children into the same habit.

Chris

[mimififi]

I would underline what Chris has said. I too am of a literary background and indeed, embrace the Internet as a tool (and often substitute junky TV) but I also exercise my caution when trustin factual information on the Internet. Like Wiki, articles are wholly unregulated and there is never a guarentee that the information is correct.

I would always use a printed, reputable dictionary when checking spellings and definitions of words and insist that my children do also. Flipping through a dictionary helps the child to view alphabetical order in amuch more visual way as they are physically handling the letters. It is very tactile learning. It also means that you accidentally read other words while looking for you subject and think "Oh, I didn't know that meant that...." or whatever.

Invest in a good printed dictionary.

p.s. did you know that emminem (word smith extroadinaire) used to read a dictionary at night when he was a youngster.....?

[Carakeel]

I do agree with the above. But in case you are still wanting to find an online dictionary, try http://www.enchantedlearning.com/Dictionary.ht ml. Unfortunately you do have to subscribe to use it though.

[RumpledElf]

www.photographicdictionary.com is a handy resource for kids though. It has US and 'other' spellings. You can browse it by category as well as letter - look for animals, kitchen things etc. And it has pretty photos.