this site was based on a project, where I tried to teach my daughter HTML. decided it could be useful for others as well.
I am well aware of the fact, that I do concentrate on basics and even some outdated tags like font etc.

I have done a lot of rework, to make the structure crossreferencing between the two strings of information (compendium and course). But I am generally not really happy with it. maybe you do have improvement ideas.

Very new , I have realized , that you get different display results for IE and Mozilla (comments seem to be interpreted differently) - it is designed for IE originally. Whenever i find out how to do the changes, I will make it run with Mozilla as well.
regards, Günther

The site needs some changing. First of all, what age range are you targeting? If you want to target kids that are about 10-12, you have some usability issues to work out.

To start, the homepage can be extremely confusing for some people. The first thing that catches my sight is the spider web picture. Although that has some relevancy with the electronic "web," it doesn't show anything about how great it is going to be to learn html. Rework the home page so it gets a better point across (although I know its just a page to direct visitors to the proper language).

The english page, for example, should demonstrate how the first thing that a visitor should do is take the e-course. Leave the zip files and hmtl editors for after. I suggest creating some graphics and a logo that will appeal to the younger ages (if it doesn't look like a site for kids, the kids won't stay). Also, keep it interesting. Another thing, if you are going to appeal to kids then excite them, since we all know that html can get boring at times. I won't explain specifics (it is YOUR site).

There are many sites out there that do this, too, and I suggest you visit some by a Google search. Gather some ideas and research a little, then redesign, and finally make a comeback. I guarantee you will get more permament visitors if the site is more appealing.

I hope this helps...

I thought "Html for kids - this will be really cool". "HTML4Kidz" sounds as cool as can be. Unfortunately, the site is anything but.

Sorry, but I really hated it. Some of the words that immediately popped into my mind? Boring. Confusing. Ugly.

Worse, there were tons of typos as well as spelling and grammar errors. (Well, at least in the English section...which I am assuming is not your first language. Many apologies if I'm wrong. But stick with one language first and make a really neat site that will attract and hold kids' attention. Worry about other languages later.)

Here's my suggestion for the vast improvements needed.

Start with an intro page that looks really neat. It doesn't have to be fancy, but it's got to be cool-looking.

(Compare the following home pages with yours: http://www.thekidzpage.com/ - http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/kids/default.htm - http://www.teengirlclothing.com/ )

This intro page ultimately says "this is what you're going to learn".

Then create a demo page - say, a "here's my pet" page. Perhaps several demo pages...one for pets, one for best friend, one for family - all very similar using the same coding but which the kid can choose. "Pick a page and we'll teach you how to make one just like it but using *your* pet or *your* best friend" or *your* family." (Once you have the learning template created, you can have multiple option sites easily.)

Then teach the kid how to make the neat-looking page they've chosen.

You can expand this by degrees of difficulty. Once they’ve created one simple but neat page, they can create a harder one. But think about it this way...what kid in their right mind would want to create a web page that looks like yours? And why would they think they are going to learn anything different?

I feel really badly being so negative about your current page, but when I say I hated it, I mean I hated it. Hopefully my suggestions will give you some ideas of where to go from here, because the concept is great and I still love HTML4Kidz

Good luck!
Kendall

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Hi,

I think this is a great idea, especially for kids to have a resource dedicated to them and I think you'll be able to upgrade it for their benefit in the future.

Your get-up-and-go attitude is refreshing and if you can get some help with your English expression (wouldn't try to address the other languages), it will be a fine resource.

The only other thing is... the flags. The internet (everyone suspects) is possibly the most significant globalizing force since the 18th century square-rigged frigate, along with (for example) the English and French languages, whereas website flags are highly Eurocentric. The number of sovereign countries having English as the official language must be large and if you add those with English as a significant second language (such as India) the number grows. Kids in countries that aren't included might feel put off (knowing how kids are.) I think -- for kids -- it's really important to provide a thoughtful solution. Even adults care if their country is left out -- so, thanks for putting in the Aussie flag! (...altho our New Zealand cousins might get jealous.)

Cheers,
Matt[/b]

I have to painfully agree with all the above posts. The pages are not really geared toward kids, in layout, colors, interesting eye catching examples would be great, and easier to learn explanations. I know you're still working on it, but I would personally start out with a clean slate and try to really use some creativity to attract kids into the site.

I would be happy to offer you some help (free) if you'd like a new design to work around... just drop me a message, k?

Here is a good example of teaching children. Take notes...

http://www.lissaexplains.com/basics.shtml

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Seems, the NAME of the website is the MOST confusing in the game.

I have decided , to follow some of the advices in the comments, and think about several others - will last a while (as well thinking as redesign :-) .

- I will start with a rough display, what CAN be the target of the site. this makes a lot of sense.
- I will replace the flags - I agree, there are SOME countries, where native language is English - not as much as you may expect. BUT I agree, they dont give the least information.
- I will more clearly concentrate on the step by step developement of a web page - simple to more complex page to a website, as this IS already contained in the site - seems not visible enough.
- same for the features to interactively TEST the look and feel of some code.

I agree, that the NAME of the site sounds more COOL, than the content looks like.

I AM Eurocentric, so you won't lose this feeling. We still have children, who are not the typical TV-kiddies - educated by advertising.
I know, you can get attention of a child/a young person, without permanently advertising, means using strong colours, outline fonts, gimmicks etc.
I will CONTINUE to explain , what I do have to explain in clear words, in clear lines, as this generates the least distraction.
I do not think, for grown up it is a good way to butter up children to get their attention by just using pink letters, by just making it fancy.
THEY will realize, what they can make fancy, if they want to, that's my experience.

I am confident about : usability rules are valid for children as well as for adults. Human senses basically work the same for children and for adults.
- small units, not long, long scollable text.
- readability, not just pink text on orange background.
- fonts that are genarally known, not just fonts build out of animals or hearts.
- clearly, repeated , and funtionally similar designed control elements.

in any case, whatever you did write, be it harsh critics, be it few comments, I am glad about THAT you wrote and spent your valuable time, to give me advice.
Thank you