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Preschool Portal: The Preschooler’s Guide To Norwegian Websites

© Valerie Borey

There are lots of great Norwegian websites out there for young children who have a taste for popular culture and an interest in learning something new. One of my daughter's favorite activities is sitting in my lap as we explore the games, stories, and animated creatures that populate these sites. It's a great way to expose her to other speakers of the Norwegian language and give her access to an entirely different cultural world than the one in which she is currently immersed.

Many of these sites are designed for children who are preliterate - that is, layout is organized in a visually comprehensible way and inviting graphics hint at what lies beyond the click. This said, if you're a Norwegian speaker (or learner), the most effective visit for your child will be one with you at his or her side to help navigate, interpret, and read aloud. Such companionship can also help offset any potential cost of social alienation that may come with toddler terminal time.

The sites listed below were selected primarily for their potential as engaging and authentic language resources for young learners. Some have an audio or video component to stretch the receptive skills of the preliterate child. Others use Norwegian text more extensively - beginning readers can try to follow along in identifying words or letters, while younger learners can content themselves with letting you read to them as they attend to other details on the screen.

Barnestreker
http://barn.sol.no/barnestreker/
An online artist's kit that allows your child to paint or draw digital images and submit them to SOL's children's section. Palette tools are in Norwegian.

Blikkboks
http://www2.blikkboks.no/
Would you believe karaoke for children, with authentic Norwegian songs? This site also houses an extensive audioarchive of childrens songs, rhymes, and stories.

Disney.no
http://www.disney.no/
Animated comics featuring Disney's most popular characters. This is a great resource to read aloud in Norwegian to your child. You can also access games, coloring pages, and videos here.

Dinolife
http://www.dinolife.no/
Children can take an interactive tour of Dinoland, play games at Lekeparken, read stories in Eventyrskogen, go to the movies, and find lots of other interesting ways to pass the time here.

Lesehulen.no
http://www.lesehulen.no
An interactive website dedicated to childrens stories by Norwegian authors. Animated stories are narrated and accompanied by related games and activities.

NRK's Barnetimen
http://www.nrk.no/programmer/radio/barne...
Listen to a diverse variety of children's radio programming and explore the rest of this excellent website!

NRK's BarneTV
http://www.nrk.no/barn/magi/programverte...
Browse NRK's site for childrens programming.

Skolemelk.no
http://www.skolemelk.no/
This is the place where your child can learn all about milk, where it comes from, how it is used, and what kinds of nutritional issues are involved. Lots of interactive games, of varying levels of difficulty.

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