7 ; Mem | Wa E a Parents Keeping Kids Connected During Long Winter Days (NAPSA)There’s good news for parents looking for a positive way to keep their kids entertained when there is no school. There is an affordable way to keep kids connected to the Internet. From snow days to holiday breaks, kids will be off from school often over the next few months. And with the inclement weather, this meansthey are inside, itching for something to do. Instead of watching TV or fighting with siblings, using the Internet can be a more interactive, productive choice for kidsofall ages. Unfortunately, about 30 percent of Americans, many of whom live below the poverty line, don’t have Internet access in their homes. To help, Comcastis offering a low-cost broadband adoption program called Internet Essentials. Internet Essentials offers families with at least one child eligible for the National School Lunch Program Internet for $9.95 a month; the option to buy a laptop or desktop computer for less than $150; and access to digital literacy training online, in person or in print. With a service such as this, kids can connect to fun online educational activities for free while they are off from school, and they can keep up with their assignments and stay connected to teachers and classmates. This way, they are not only keeping busy, but they are learning. Here are a few coolsites: Khan Academy (khanacad emy.org): Get a personalized experience in math, biology, economics, computer science, art history and more. *PBS Kids (pbskids.org): Find learning games associated with There is a program designed to help children in low-income fami- lies get connected to the Internet at home. your favorite PBS Kids characters such as Clifford, Curious George and The Catin the Hat. *FunBrain (funbrain.com): Access a ton of activities; read books and comics; and play Mad Libs, math baseball andtic-tac-toe. Plus, the whole family can use the Internet at home this winter to stay in touch with loved ones, search for new healthy recipes to start the yearoff right, fill out tax returns and apply for financialaid. So far, more than 350,000 families, or about 1.4 million Americans, have been connected to the power of the Internet through Internet Essentials. There is also a new amnesty program for fami- lies that would qualify for the program but havea past due balance. If they meet all other eligibility criteria, Comeast will offer amnesty for a bill that is more than one yearold in order for that family to be eligible. To learn more or apply, visit www.InternetEssentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376. For Spanish, visit www.InternetBasico.com or call 1-855-765-6995. Educators and third parties can visit www.InternetEssentials. com/Partner.
