13 Great Family Websites

It's a big Internet out there. And someone has to browse it. If you and your grandchildren have a few moments, we have some great ideas. These 13 websites are educational, entertaining, and just plain exceptional, from The Big Picture's vital news images to the flat-out fun of Muppets Studio. Take your time clicking through each page, and don't worry – Grandparents.com will still be here when you get back.

Fans of fuzzy bunnies and grinning piglets – behold! Megan Frost's award-winning blog has been bringing the cute since 2005, with thousands of cleverly-captioned and undeniably adorable photos of snuggle-worthy animals. If the website isn't enough, Cute Overload's best-selling calendars mean you can stick baby penguin pictures right on your office wall.

Who wouldn't want to spend a day outdoors, picking ripe, delicious fruit with their grandchildren? Now, thanks to Pick Your Own, you can find any of the hundreds of PYO farms and orchards across the U.S. with just the click of a button. Search by your state and region, and you'll get contact information, exact locations, and lists of the produce that's in season. That's not all – Pick Your Own also has links for pumpkin patches, corn mazes, Christmas tree lots and more. Happy picking!

It doesn’t matter if your grandchildren are future astronauts, or if they’re struggling to pass their science classes – this breathtaking gallery of planets, stars, galaxies, and various stellar explosions will keep them riveted to their computer screens. The Hubble telescope has been collecting the images ever since its 1990 launch, and they’re as thought-provoking as they are beautiful. Use them to start conversations about the Milky Way, or as pretty desktop wallpaper.

If you read the papers or watch 24-hour news networks, you’d never know thousands of U.S. troops are still overseas, away from their friends and loved ones. Any Soldier was started in 2003 by the Horn family to bring those enlisted men and women a little relief via letters and care packages. Simply visit their site to learn how to get involved. And if you’re interested in pitching in for a specific branch, try AnyMarine, AnyAirman, AnySailor, or AnyCoastGuardsman.

Ever wonder what the biggest hit in the country was on the day you were born? How about your grandkids? This Wikipedia page has compiled every Billboard number one since 1940, and allows you to check with the click of a button. Of course, you might not be pleased with your result, so use at your own risk. (Take it from someone who can lay claim to Debby Boone’s "You Light Up My Life." )

One of the best early education sites we’ve come across lately, Starfall is a colorful, quick-to-load resource for reading exercises and learning games. It’s also handy for introducing young kids to more advanced concepts like holidays, nursery rhymes, and simple riddles. Our favorite application? The Grandparents Day letter writing tutorial, of course.

Come for the Muppets' hilarious version of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," and stay for dozens of additional all-new videos starring Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, the Swedish Chef, Animal, and the rest of the gang.

A blog of few words, The Big Picture cuts to the heart of current events with dozens of high-quality and awe-inspiring photographs. Features like Shadow and Light and Indian Rape Victim's Death Sparks Outrage offer readers thought-provoking, frequently harrowing glimpses of the people and stories beyond the front page. It's educational and, frankly, amazing, but beware: some of the images are raw, and might upset young children.

It's the dirty little secret of arts and crafts: Supplies can get really expensive, really fast. Scrapbooking, crocheting, and baking are among the hobbies that require pricey equipment, and subsidizing them can be a drain on your wallet. Enter Dollar Store Crafts, a blog dedicated to crafts that are "cheap, chic, and easy to do." From stylish Pebble Mats to easy Alphabet Bean Bags, grandchildren of all ages will find creative inspiration for just pennies.

Giving to charities is good. Wondering how your money is being used is bad. That's one reason why microlending sites like Kiva, which allow you to donate directly to individuals, have become so popular in the last few years. "Kiva works with microfinance institutions on five continents to provide loans to people without access to traditional banking systems," reads the non-profit organization's official site. Those loans, which can be for as little as $25, help entrepreneurs across the globe begin sustainable businesses, from bookstores to small farms. With a 98.7 percent repay rate and more than 500,000 people funded in 60 different countries, Kiva is a wonderful way to make a difference.

Spectacular lightning strikes. Awesome office pranks. People sleeping in extreme positions. Photo blog Dark Roasted Blend specializes in all of them. More specifically, it specializes in collections of the cool, wacky, and amazing, whatever the subject matter. From abandoned underground spaces to cats ready to kill you, there’s a little something for everybody. Expect to spend at least an hour.

Imagine a website containing videos that cover every conceivable school subject, from simple arithmetic to the polymerization of alkenes with acid. With more than 2,400 clips placing special emphasis on math, science, and SAT and GMAT prep, Khan Academy is that website. "A not-for-profit with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education to anyone anywhere," it’s everything your grandkids ever wanted to know, without that $40,000 university bill.

Though Enchanted Learning looks like it hasn’t been updated in quite awhile, it’s nonetheless easily navigable and full – FULL – of cute and easy craft ideas, the vast majority of which are suitable for young children. Most crafts include lists of supplies and step-by-step instructions in large print with pictures and are separated by category.