Is there a kid virtual world your child visits online?
Are they safe?
Do they cost anything?
Do your kids enjoy them?
And just what are virtual worlds for kids?
Virtual is becoming reality for kids online. I guess you could say that many of the sites featured in my Online Games section already represent magical little virtual worlds for your young children.
But "official" virtual worlds for kids offer something different.
What is a kids' virtual world?
Here's how to spot a kid virtual world:
You or your child may have to sign up to join as a member Sometimes you can play some games without becoming a member, to get a feel for the site.
You may have to pay This could be a monthly or yearly payment. Or you may have to buy a toy that contains that famous "secret code" in order to be able to log onto the website. There may also be other goods that can be bought offline that give you further access to other areas of the site.
Your child is part of a world where they can create their own identity... ...or create someone else's identity. Or even a pet's identity. So, building and decorating a virtual house, dressing up, or keeping your virtual pet happy and healthy could be part of your child's activities. There may also be virtual money to earn and spend.
There is often an element (or more than an element) of socializing Your child may only be able to use a choice of prepared words or phrases to communicate in general to other virtual visitors; or there may be more complex socializing allowed, with varying degrees of parental control.
Kid virtual websites
Here are three examples of kid virtual world websites - links open a new browser window:
eMarketer estimates that 24% of the 34.3 million child and teen Internet users in the US will use virtual worlds on at least a monthly basis in 2007. By 2011, 53% of them will be going virtual. eMarketer
Playhut A new site from the Playhut kid play structure company, offering a boy's world called WowBotz and a girls' virtual world named Mystikats Kutties. It describes itself as a kid virtual world "where children can play games, have fun, and interact with friends in a safe, kid-friendly atmosphere" and is designed for kids 7 to 14 but is "open to children of all ages."
Adventure Rock "Imagine a place... like nowhere else... where anything could happen..."
So starts the intro video to this brand new site from the BBC for kids 7 - 12. The game is currently being trialled so you can't play it online yet - but you can find out about it, and sign up for the next trial of the game. My son's done just that.
What's it about? Well, "Adventure Rock is where you explore, create, interact and innovate, creating content ranging from music and dance to drawing and animation. Set within a 3D virtual landscape, you can play games, express yourself artistically and solve the mystery of the island."
This kid virtual world is one to watch - with, as far as I understand so far, no chat, no ads, and... free.
Webkinz One of the most popular virtual world websites for kids, you're sure to have heard of Webkinz. US visitors to this website in September topped the 6 million mark, according to comScore - so this site is hot! You buy a real Webkinz plush toy, and then register your pet at the Webkinz website.
After that, you have a year's access to all the activities on the site. To extend your membership, you have to buy another Webkinz and adopt that new pet into your account before your first pet's year runs out.
Webkinz is designed for kids 6 thru 13, although you'll find many activities that younger kids can enjoy. For example, Quizzy's Question Corner offers over 1,000 age-appropriate games for 5 to 7 year olds, and they are curriculum-based. Dressing and feeding your pet is easy, too.
More coming up on virtual pet worlds, including Webkinz - as we are now the proudest owners of the cutest little Webkinz panda you ever saw :)
