Common Sense Reviewer

  • Dana Cotter
  • Dana Cotter
  • Texas
  • 3 kids: ages 1, 4, 7

About Me

With a bachelor's in Child Development and a master's degree in Instructional Technologies, I have held numerous roles with kids in focus. Teacher, educational consultant, trainer and most recently producer of award winning software titles (he's big, he's red and he's a dog) just to name a few. My biggest shoes to fill so far are those of stay-at-home mom with three young children. They keep me busy and honest, but mostly honestly busy.

What My Kids Love Now

My 6 year old daughter's favorite shows are Animalia, Arthur and anything Disney princess. She loves her Leapster and exploring on PBS Kids Go! My 3 year old son is crazy, crazy about Diego; his cousin Dora is OK to watch too. My 8 month old son watches his brother and sister's every move!

House Rules

Watch shows, not TV. We talk about which media is junk food vs. healthier food for the brain. An hour a day is plenty (this is screen time = computer + TV), with the exception of a weekly "movie night." No DVD player in the car unless we are in need of a suitcase.

When the Kids Are Asleep…

I am either trying to catch up with the rest of the world news, enjoying a movie or watching episodes of my favorite comedies. I spend evenings reading, writing, watching TV, or checking in with friends through email.

Titles You’ve Reviewed

  • Web site: Fresbo World

    I rate this titleiffyand give it3.0

    Pay-as-you-go world with users of all ages is a risky bet.

    Fresbo World has all the usual virtual world features: avatars, shopping, decorating, email, chat, pet adoption, and games. The big difference here is that users can build their own complex ...

  • Web site: Girl Games

    I rate this titleoffand give it1.0

    Dress-up, decorating -- and lots of inappropriate surprises.

    While this is not a site you want your daughter visiting unsupervised, there are a few unique games that are fun to play: Roller Coaster Creator lets kids draw their own coaster tracks and Cooking ...

  • Web site: Multicultural Education Through Miniatures

    I rate this titleonand give it4.0

    In tiny dolls, a world of unique cultures comes to light.

    Multicultural Education Through Miniatures is a delightful approach to teaching kids about the ways of people near and far. The high-quality photos of the dolls has the effect of personalizing each ...

  • Web site: MTV House

    I rate this titleiffyand give it2.0

    U.K.-based teen site slightly edgier than MTV channel.

    You'd think that MTV House would foster a community about music, but there's not much chatting happening and little community to be found. Discussion threads accessed from profile pages do stay ...

  • Web site: Totlol

    I rate this titleonand give it4.0

    YouTube, minus the iffy stuff. Great family fun.

    Kids of all ages will enjoy the variety of videos found on this site, and parents will love how easy it is to find and save them. Moms and dads can either just browse the site with their kids and ...

  • Web site: PeanutsRockstheVote

    I rate this titleonand give it3.0

    Lucy or Snoopy? Kids pick on cute election site.

    As in real life, regardless of what the slogans are, there's plenty to learn about the candidates. And, in a lighthearted, amusing way, the site helps kids see how easy it is to vote and learn about ...

  • Web site: NewMoonGirls

    I rate this titleonand give it4.0

    Dynamo site for girls has priorities right.

    Like the award-winning magazine (with seven Parent's Choice Foundation Gold Awards), Newmoongirls.com has its priorities right. All postings and chats are either prescreened or moderated by adults. ...

  • Web site: HandiPoints

    I rate this titleonand give it4.0

    Chart chores; play in a safe virtual world.

    If your family is up for using all its bells and whistles, both you and your kids will really get into logging progress with chores online and earning points at HandiPoints.com. The site provides ...

  • Web site: StarWars

    I rate this titleonand give it4.0

    Far from the Dark Side, but some violence, ads.

    The Star Wars films are popular for a reason and STARWARS.COM seems like a ...

  • Web site: AllGirlArcade

    I rate this titleonand give it4.0

    Safe gamer girl's dream; chat may be coming.

    Each game on AllGirlArcade.com has its own groovy ambient tune to play along with. The music is good, the design of this site great, layout and game play are intuitive, cool characters have lots of ...

  • Web site: TVOKids

    I rate this titleonand give it4.0

    Canada's public TV site is good, clean, smart fun.

    This site is ultra-safe and even features an online game about Internet safety called Firewall!. Geared towards 6-9 year olds, kids must be able to read to play, but much can be learned ...

  • Web site: KidRocket.org

    I rate this titleonand give it5.0

    Snazzy browser only shows safe kids' sites.

    The KidRocket browser is a very handy application if your kids love to explore popular kid sites on the Internet such as

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
(It's free!)

Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!
Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy
Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.
Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child
Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Already a member? Log in
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name
Your family's privacy is our highest priority.
See our privacy policy, community guidelines, and terms of use.