compassionate/vegetarian kids' websites - alternatives to PETA kids?

[brymble]

My homeschooled kids and I are lacto-ovo vegetarians. I'm trying to raise my children in accordance with compassionate values. I've spent a lot of time this afternoon trying to find fun, educational webpages for vegetarian children. I found the PETA kids' webpage, and I am appalled at the poor taste! Much of their webpage is celebrity name-dropping, and "media idolatry" is not a behavior I want to encourage in my kids. If they choose vegetarianism as a lifestyle when they're old enough to make their own dietary choices, I'd rather it be because they have learned compassion and environmental responsibility, not just because some pop star says it's "cool". And their "children's" games are revolting - from making a "trailer trash" stereotype man "spew" by click-and-drag feeding him dairy products, to throwing tomatoes at virtual fur wearers! And frankly, I'm not surprised. As a vegetarian I don't support PETA, for precisely those reasons.

We have several "just for fun" kids' webpages bookmarked, and a few science and art educational sites as well. My son especially loves the internet, and I'd like him to have sites in his bookmarks that support our compassionate values as well. I don't need vegetarian parenting sites, I've got a few of those marked too.

What I'm looking for are websites designed for the kids themselves to explore, that discuss vegetarian nutrition and health, perhaps a few kid-friendly recipes, vegetarian ethics without the gore and sensationalism, and environmental issues - either relating to vegetarianism or in general. Links to websites for children that teach compassionate values not specifically related to vegetarianism, such as peaceful conflict resolution, nonviolent communication, diversity, and of course environmentalism and pagan spirituality will also be welcomed with gratitude.

A google search turned up numerous sites, many of which are just stupid, or not age appropriate. I'll probably take more time to sift through them later tonight, when I've more time. But I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask other parents if they know of quality online resources for kids.

Disclaimer: I realize that not most people here are not vegetarian. I am not posting to debate the rightness or wrongness of vegetarianism, or to push my views on anyone else. I am simply a parent, looking for internet resources to help raise my kids in accordance with values I hold dear.

Thanks, everyone.

[Mjollnir]

If you want to see how bad it is really getting, check out the PETA2 forums, you will see indoctrination at its finest....................

[Ceres]

I cant help with your original question, but it made me think you and your kids might like clickschooling - which is a yahoo group where you get an educational site every day. Some of them are pretty cool.

[brymble]

If you want to see how bad it is really getting, check out the PETA2 forums, you will see indoctrination at its finest....................

Oh, geez, I'd rather not. I can well imagine. It's no wonder so many omnivores think of vegetarians as irrational and intolerant, with groups like PETA screeching the loudest and gobbling up so much attention is such a negative way. For the record, for any omnivores reading this thread, um, the rest of us aren't like that!

Thanks, Radikalwomyn, I'll check out clickschooling. As I've mentioned before, the kids are unschooled, and my son is really into science, computers and technology, so the internet is one of his favorite ways to learn, second only to poking around in the woods with binoculars, a magnifier, and a sketchbook. I'm active in monitoring what sites he learns from - thankfully he doesn't know how to navigate the 'net on his own yet, so I can review a site before he checks it out. I'm glad I spent the time to review the PETA kids site. As vegetarians, we value compassion, so I sure as hell am not going to encourage him to throw things at those we disagree with. It's humiliating that vegetarianism is associated with groups and people like that.

I wish I could find a website that taught compassionate communication and peaceful conflict resolution skills - something that's genuinely useful, and far more in keeping with vegetarian values than throwing tomatoes! PETA should be ashamed of themselves!