The Best Online Games for Kids
From Club Penguin to Poptropica, here is a quick guide to some of the most popular online kids games
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Many kids spend hours each day in front of computer screens and tablets. While parents would like to think their children are using the devices for homework, chances are a large chunk of the time is spent playing online games. Do you know anything about the games they're playing? Are they safe for kids? Is there any educational value to them?
We've put together a list of popular online games for kids that are in compliance with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act). COPPA is a federal law that applies to the collection online of personal information from children age 13 and under. The law details what must be included in a website's privacy policy, outlines the site operator's responsibilities with privacy and safety, including marketing restrictions, and when the operator must seek consent from a parent or guardian before allowing a child under age 13 to use the site.
Poptropica*
Developer: Family Education Network
Platform: Mac and PC
Publisher: Family Education Network / Pearson
Who can play: Designed for ages 6–15.
Price: Free, but subscriptions / memberships are also available for purchase
Poptropica is the largest virtual world for kids and one of 2011's 50 Best Websites according to Time Magazine. In this massive multiplayer online role-playing game, players travel to different Islands to complete quests, play games, and read comics, as well as compete and communicate safely with other players. For every Island they complete, players win credits and medallions. Players can spend their credits in the Poptropica store, where they can purchase costumes and other items for their avatar. Currently, there are more than 20 Islands. Each Island has its own theme and challenge. Poptropica Islands are free to play. Members get Early Access to new Islands and unlimited access to the Poptropica Store. Membership subscriptions renew automatically.
Free Rice
Developer: John Breen
Platform: Online
Publisher / Owner: United Nations World Food Program
Who can play: Everyone
Price: Free
Users play educational games that have multiple-choice answers. For every question a player answers correctly, 10 grains of rice are donated to various third world and developing countries. The rice is distributed by United Nations World Food Programme. The money for the rice is donated by various sponsors in exchange for advertisements on the website. Bangladesh, Cambodia, Bhutan, Uganda, and Nepal have all received free rice. The games on the site include English vocabulary, grammar, geography, literature, and more.
Magic School Bus
Developer: Scholastic
Platform: Online
Publisher: Scholastic
Who can play: Everyone, designed for ages 3–10.
Price: Free
The wheels on this bus go everywhere! Players choose different field trips to join, then climb aboard the Magic School Bus with Ms.Frizzle to explore the human body, space, the deep sea, the rainforest, or one of many other scientific adventures.
Club Penguin
Developer: Club Penguin Entertainment (Formerly New Horizon Interactive)
Platform: Online
Publisher: Disney Online Studios
Who can play: Everyone, designed for ages 6–14.
Price: Free, but subscriptions / memberships are also available for purchase
Club Penguin is a massive multiplayer online role-playing game. Using cartoon penguin avatars, players explore a winter wonderland virtual world. There are mini-games within Club Penguin where players can earn coins. The coins can then be spent on items in the site's virtual store. Players can play a limited version of the game for free or purchase membership subscriptions for unlimited access. Membership subscriptions renew automatically.
NASA Kids' Club
Developer: NASA Education
Platform: Online, with apps for android and mac
Publisher: NASA
Who can play: Everyone
Price: Free
In online games linked to real mission information, players can explore space from the comfort of their own home. Additionally, for Angry Birds fans, the latest collaboration between NASA and Rovio Entertainment brings an educational element to the popular game: "After a couple of years and hundreds of millions of downloads, the space-based struggle between birds and pigs moves beyond the International Space Station and Mars, and deeper into the final frontier. The latest update from Rovio Entertainment sends Angry Birds Space into NASA's next target for future human exploration - asteroids!"
Neopets
Developer: Neopets, Inc.
Platform: web game, cross platform
Publisher: Neopets, Inc., Viacom
Who can play: Everyone
Price: Free
Neopets is a website where users can interact with their virtual pet. The site lets users create their own pet that lives in the virtual world of Neopia. Users of the site can create an account and up to four virtual pets. Neopoints can be earned through playing various games, trading, and contests. Neocash is optional and must be purchased with actual money. Users can use neopoints and neocash to buy toys, food, clothes, and other accessories for their Neopets.
Funbrain*
Developer: Family Education Network
Platform: Online
Publisher: Family Education Network / Pearson
Who can play: Everyone
Price: Free
Funbrain is an educational online game site for children and adults. The site has several math and reading games within various arcades—plus the perennial favorite Mad Libs. The site also has books and comics, including the hilarious and popular story, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which has gone on to be published as a book series and made into feature films.
PBS Kids Games
Developer: Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
Platform: Online
Publisher: PBS
Who can play: Everyone
Price: Free, but subscriptions / memberships are also available for purchase
PBS Kids Games is an educational online game site for children and adults. The games include The Great Shapes Races and Migration Adventure. The site's games for adults are designed to help them prepare their children for school. Users can play some games for free or purchase membership subscriptions for unlimited access.
and Catherine McNiffPoptropica and Funbrain as well as infoplease are all part of Sandbox Networks.
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