WebProNews

PBS has launched an online neighborhood aimed at preschoolers called PBS Kids Play.

The site is currently in beta and is available to try for free. The site will become a subscription based service later this quarter and fees will be $9.95 a month, or $79 a year. The site is ad free and focuses on children ages 3 to 6. A discount to use the service is being offered if you contribute to your local public television station.

The PBS Kids Play curriculum includes skill areas in math, science, language, literacy, creativity, health development, and social studies. Most navigation on the site is text free so children who are too young to read will be able to find their way around the virtual world.

The site offers a progress chart that allows parents to keep updated on how their children are doing. The chart shows how a child is progressing through the curriculum, including how far the child has advanced in each subject area.

It takes about two minutes to get started on the site and it can be customized for up to 4 children.

"We've taken a comprehensive approach to children's learning in order to address the whole child," said Ben Grimley, Senior Director of Interactive Businesses at PBS.