The computer – and more specifically the internet – is one of the best short-term babysitters a parent or grandparent could ask for. Need to get Sarah or Joey out from under foot so you can finish vacuuming or get those cookies into the oven? Of course there are computer games, but the better alternative may be some of the wonderful kids’ sites out there – places where a child might actually learn something while being entertained.

One that’s sure to please is pbskids.org, which hosts games, videos, and other activities based on virtually every PBS show, including Curious George, Ruff Ruffman, Sesame Street, and more. (For example, “Dot’s Story Factory” enables youngsters to build their own stories, using the mouse to select pictures and words and to draw objects themselves.) As a result, any kid who has watched PBS enough to have discovered a favorite show or character will find him or herself among friends.

Muppet World, a Disney site, follows much of the same format, allowing kids to play along with their favorite puppets. It also features “in-depth interviews” with Miss Piggy, and allows other characters to build on their familiar TV personalities. It also offers a functionality that lets kids build their own FaceBook-style personal page, a feature certain to be a pre-teen favorite.

Among the more educational sites that kids might like are nationalgeorgraphic.com/kids/, which gears its adult fare for non-adults, and funfrain.com, although some kids will see through its thin disguise and realize they’re going to have to work to solve the puzzles and complete the games at this location. And, for the civics-minded kid (or the parent wishing for that), there’s timeforkids.com, Time Magazine’s contribution.

Seussville.com is another site that while still under construction, is definitely worth keeping an eye on. Based on the blurb currently posted, it will feature a newsletter, first peeks at new books from the Seuss Factory, games, and other “Seussian” fun activities.

For a list of other great kids sites, visit www.100topkid.com, but be warned, many of the sites listed there are highly commercial and aimed primarily at creating a purchase.