Looking for websites to encourage and challenge your tween or teen? Here are 5 places to start

BALTIMORE - Tweens, teens, heck, kids of all ages are "plugged in" these days. As parents, we're always looking for ways to make sure their time on the internet is safe and productive. Here are some ideas to help you.

This article from Parenting.com offers up four websites for tween girls who are too old for children's sites, but aren't quite ready to jump on social networking sites like Facebook. It lists the coolest features on the site, how it deals with body image and boys and what parent controls are offered.

iTwixie is another site aimed at girls in the tween age range. The site promotes positive body image and encourages girls to feel good about themselves for being intelligent, curious and full of ideas. The site is full of games, puzzles and a "Parents Circle" that offers suggestions for parents on which books their child should read and how to find the right activities for them.

A Girl's World is an interactive site designed for girls by girls. According to the site, it wants to encourage and empower tweens and teens to be active members of their community. It offers a Penpal Club, babysitting classes, a weekly advice column. Your daughter can even sign up to write a column for the site.

So your tween isn't quite ready for Facebook, but they keep trying the old, "everyone else is on it" routine. Try getting them involved in Kidzworld.com . It was established back in 2001 and claims to be the first safe kids social network for tweens. It has games, celebrity and sports news and a feature to help kids with homework.

Still looking for more? You don't have to go too far. Joan Korenman , Professor Emerita of English at UMBC, created a page on UMBC's web site that holds a host of links to "websites for girls."