I have written recently about the realization that my girls have different likes and dislikes. I have always acknowledged the huge differences in their personalities but somehow I managed to assume they would be the same type of reader and learner. Fortunately, they are both strong enough to point out these differences.

Just a few weeks ago, I sat down with Caroline to show  her the amazing world of Wonderopolis. To quote their website,

Wonderopolis, a program brought to life by the National Center for Family Literacy, engages and inspires families in the pursuit of education and learning together. We help families create a new force — transforming the parent/child relationship into an engine for progress and upward mobility.

Each day, a question (or a wonder) is posed and answered. Examples include “What is a cowlick?”, “How does medicine know where you hurt?” and “How do touch screens work?” Each answer includes a short video along with a written explanation.

I spend a lot of time worrying about ways the Internet can be used in negative ways both by and against our children. Wonderopolis represents just the opposite. It is truly a way to use the Internet for good. To engage our children in a medium they love while learning all sorts of cool facts.

So that being said, Caroline really did not connect with the site. She sat through one ‘wonder’ and walked away. When I asked her the next day if she wanted to check out the next ‘wonder’ she said no. Fortunately though, Katherine was with us this time and wanted in on the action. She couldn’t get enough of Wonderopolis. She kept asking for another and another and another. We must have watched and read ten ‘wonders’ in one sitting.

And then the next day Katherine asked to “see the site that knows lots of things that I don’t know yet.” And that site would be Wonderopolis, a site whose name is even fun to say. So here’s to both Wonderopolis and to realizing that what is good for one child is not necessarily good for the other. And that is ok.