Kids' Virtual Games

Now it's time to review some kids' virtual games featuring a range of virtual fun, from shiny star adventure to island hopping!

Your child will find themselves part of a wider world than just a game, as they complete tasks, explore, collect points, and create their own characters and content.

Children will also find themselves within a virtual community where there may be interaction with other users - so it's worth while considering if your son or daughter will feel comfortable with this. Most of the sites here seem to have prescripted chat - and one has no chat at all.

Don't forget to read FAQ or parent information pages to find out the exact level of privacy for each site.

Kids' virtual games websites

GardenPartyWorld
GardenParty is a new online kids' interacitve world for kids five or six and up, which aims to encourage children to explore and discover - all within a beautifully created garden world. Kids get their own garden where they can grow seeds (bought from the shop), water them, and care for their plants. There's also a tree house which they can furnish and decorate.

Get points to buy stuff by playing games and clicking on items around the world. You can also sell stuff you don't need.

The site is moderated. It's easy to sign up, and you get the option of Very Safe mode, where only predefined words and phrases are allowed, or Standard Filter, which is a filtered chat mode. Moderators also run games on the site, which kids can enjoy participating in.

It takes a bit of time to wander about and find what to do, but this all adds to the magic of the Garden! And of course there's always Peppy, your owl guide, to help you out within each section of the site if you get stuck.

Shining Stars
Here's another inventive twist on virtual fun! Targeted at kids aged 4 - 12, use of the site involves purchasing a Shining Star plush, then registering on the site using your Star Friend's secret code which comes with the plush toy.

Part of the fun involves registering and naming your very own star with the International Star Registry! Then it's time to play a selection of virtual online games and activities. The Star Chat feature involves only preset words and phrases, so kids are not able to write their own messages.

Poptropica
Poptropica's a free site for kids from around 7 years and up. You don't have to register, but if you do, you can save your game.

This virtual world involves a set of islands such as Shark Tooth Island or Time Tangled Island, each of which offers a mission to complete. Start off by customizing your avatar, then moving around your first island to see what's going on. Update your clothes with the Costumizer! Move from island to island, collect items, play games. There's a prescripted chat option only.

Adventure Rock
Available for surfers in the UK only - what a shame! This is a Windows PC downloadable game, which looks great fun for kids aged 7 - 12, and it's free. No advertising or chat, either.

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."

Millsberry
Free to join, Millsberry lets your child create their own character, set up home, wander round Millsberry itself, shop for food, open a bank account, or buy a cuddly companion from the petshop with your "millsbucks" - if you have any! There are kids' virtual games in the arcade section, too. Kids can invite up to 20 buddies to communicate with - it's up to you whether you decide to let your child use this feature.