With 16 different areas to explore from food to book reviews, TweenWorld lays the groundwork for a vibrant tween hangout. However, this site, launched May 2009, has a long way to go before ...
Common Sense Editor
- Caroline Knorr
- California
- 1 kid: age 10
About Me
I live in San Francisco with my husband and son. I've been an editor and writer for 20 years, covering everything from high-tech to fitness to parenting issues. As a mother, it's important to me that my family makes smart, informed choices about what we read, watch and play.
What My Kids Love Now
My son loves playing with Legos, doing science experiments, reading and playing strategy games.
House Rules
No back-talk, no computer during the week, no TV until all homework and chores are done.
When the Kids Are Asleep…
My husband and I catch up on our favorite news shows.
My Biggest Challenge Is:
My biggest challenge is knowing what games my son is playing (and for how long) at his friends' houses.
Titles You’ve Reviewed
Web site: TweenWorld
I rate this titleonand give itBreadth, not depth, makes safe tween site fun, for a while.
Web site: Get Animated
I rate this titleonand give itHeavily promoted fitness program offers slim pickings.
Maybe it's Cartoon Network's way of encouraging kids to log off the computer, because their fitness Web site GET ANIMATED does little to keep visitors entertained online. With a measly one game and ...
Music: "Make Her Say" (CD single)
I rate this titleiffyand give itSkilled rapper cops out with swearing, sex talk, bragging.
It's a shame this song's lyrics are so vapid, because the music is appealing. The track sets a sample of Lady GaGa's "Poker Face" against a ...
Web site: Science Monster
I rate this titleonand give itSpace-themed educational site needs technological boost.
The lessons and interactive features on ScienceMonster do a good job of explaining these tough concepts, but they may have trouble attracting an audience. The problem is the very basic ...
Music: "Bubblegum" (CD single)
I rate this titleiffyand give itFlirty double meaning makes this song too sexy for tweens.
It doesn't take Dr. Freud to know that sometimes bubblegum isn' t just bubblegum. In lyrics like, "we just want to make your bubble pop" and "you know I don't mind that you want a ...
Web site: Kookeys
I rate this titleonand give itEducational toy-based virtual world not as slick as others.
The Kookeys toys are pretty cute and seem well-made, (but perhaps a little bit pricey -- try and find mark-downs). The graphics in the virtual world will probably appeal more to kids at the ...
Music: "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" (CD single)
I rate this titleonand give itR&B-style hip-hop love song is safe but not sophisticated.
While much of his material is not for kids, "Kiss Me Thru the Phone" is a clean choice for teens who want at least one Soulja Boy song in their playlist. The song comes off like puppy ...
Web site: DisneyXD
I rate this titleonand give itGames galore, but heavy on Disney XD show promos.
Graphically, the production values on DisneyXD are excellent, and have the look, feel, and quality of the Disney XD channel itself. The games will be a big draw for boys, and the site's creators ...
Web site: KOLjr
I rate this titleonand give itWhere little kids can search safely.
KOLJunior makes the web navigable for kids and is a fine stepping stone to becoming Internet savvy. While there is a strong emphasis on entertainment, there's certainly lots of quality music, ...
Music: "The Climb" (CD single)
I rate this titleonand give itGreat singing makes cliched lyrics believable (almost).
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. "The Climb" comes at a crucial point in the movie when Hannah Montana needs to buck up and take on the challenges facing her. The girl can ...
Web site: MarvelKids
I rate this titleiffyand give itMarvel dials down the violence (a little) for young fans.
With games like "Armory Assault" and "Hulk Bad Attitude," Marvel.com presents graphic concepts that some parents will classify as "action" and some will put in ...
Music: "Right Now (Na Na Na)" (CD single)
I rate this titleonand give itAkon charts a new course with clean R&B toe-tapper.
The heavy synthesizer, infectious beats, and plaintive vocals that make Akon's music appealing are back in his new single. While the repetitive lyrics don't offer a lot of complexity, they combine ...
