Arthur

One of the Internet's best offerings for kids.

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About Our Ratings

Common Sense rates it

Seen the site?

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URL: http://pbskids.org/arthur/index.html
Entertainment Value: High

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that there are links to PBS sponsors, including the manufacturers of Juicy Juice, Teddy Grahams, and the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant chain on the home page, but other than that, there is no commercial marketing to kids.

Families can talk about the games on the site. Which one is your favorite? Why? Can you name three things that you learned from playing on this site?

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Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Jean Armour Polly

Join Arthur and his friends in a series of entertaining and educational games, experiences, and explorations. Each teaches children to use their powers of observation and their creative problem-solving skills. In "Scoop," Buster's behind the counter at an ice cream stand, where you'll need to help him consult the menu. "Virtual Goose" is a pattern matching game involving a noisy goose with colorful eggs. In "Muffy's Wardrobe," you select an activity, then dress Muffy accordingly. And "DW's Art Studio" allows kids to paint and rubber-stamp an online coloring book, while "Baby Kate Stickers" is for the very smallest pre-reader.

Is it any good?

Arthur the human-like aardvark plays out well on the Web. The site is full of age-appropriate games that fans of the cute creature -- and those who've never even watched the TV show -- can get into. And the best part? The games are actually teaching your kids something. The Music Box might be the most unique part of the site as it combines music and learning, so much so that kids won't even realize that they're figuring out space relations, hand-eye coordination, and mousing skills as they jam along to upbeat tunes.