WatchKnow, as in "You watch, you know," is an attractively designed wiki holding thousands of educational videos and other media for kids. Everything is conveniently sorted into categories ...
Common Sense Reviewer
- Carla Thornton
- California
About Me
I'm a PC World contributing editor who has also written for the San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune and USA Weekend. I'm also a part-time preschool teacher's aide.
What My Kids Love Now
House Rules
When the Kids Are Asleep…
My Biggest Challenge Is:
Titles You’ve Reviewed
Web site: WatchKnow
I rate this titleonand give itG-rated video site for kids teaches math, science, and more.
Web site: FarmVille on Facebook
I rate this titleiffyand give itFacebook farm game requires real cash to bear fruit.
This new viral Facebook game has attracted 66 million monthly users in early beta and for good reason. It's really, really fun. Players start out small with a few plots tended by an overalled avatar ...
Web site: Guys Read
I rate this titleonand give itBook site for "guys" assures boys that reading is cool.
Statistical fact: Boys fall farther behind girls in reading skills every year. To address this alarming trend, dad and best-selling children's author Jon Scieszka decided to create a Web-based ...
Web site: Just So You Know
I rate this titleonand give itGossip site mixes celeb news with meatier offerings.
Entertainment "news" ranging from the bracelet Kristin Stewart wears in Twilight to game trailers and paparazzi photos dominate this site. The look is edgy but the content is decidedly ...
Web site: Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier
I rate this titleonand give itThought-provoking PBS site weighs Internet's pros and cons.
In 2009, PBS correspondents traveled the country asking people how the Internet has shaped their lives. This site features the raw video footage being gathered for DIGITAL NATION, a new ...
Web site: Whateverlife
I rate this titleonand give itAmbitious teen social network shows promise but needs work.
It's too soon to tell whether Whateverlife will blossom into another Miss O & Friends or stall like so many new ...
Web site: Metacafe
I rate this titleiffyand give itVideo site is older than YouTube but not as kid friendly.
Metacafe has been around two years longer than YouTube yet has only a fraction of the content, not to mention popularity. What gives? Not a video-sharing site, Metacafe is a video ...
Web site: Mister Rogers' Neighborhood
I rate this titleonand give itLessons and activities help preschoolers learn life skills.
This lovingly rendered virtual version of the TV show will please fans of all ages. Beloved puppets such as Daniel the Striped Tiger are now interactive cartoon characters, and the magical objects ...
Web site: KidzClix
I rate this titleonand give itMeaty edu-tainment site is good, clean tween fun.
The clunky name aside, KidzClix is one impressive new "edu-tainment" site for tween-somethings. Even sans the social networking tools that are still under development, the site offers ...
Web site: Howcast
I rate this titleiffyand give itFree site's top-notch how-to videos include sex tutorials.
How do you remember a word you've blanked on, help a friend improve her self-esteem, or kiss like Angelie Jolie? Howcast -- YouTube only funnier and smarter -- answers these timeless questions and ...
Web site: Wonder Rotunda
I rate this titleonand give itVirtual fair's rides and exhibits teach and entertain.
It’s a little slow to load in places, but overall Wonder Rotunda is gorgeous to look at and easy to use. This virtual theme park does a nice job of using exciting avatar-driven rides and ...
Web site: Tweens Browser
I rate this titleonand give itFree browser is safe, but not a sub for parental oversight.
KidZui, another kids' browser that's been out longer, has better parental controls. But Tweens Browser has more educational sites and it's free. Tweens displays Web sites almost full screen, like a ...
