• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 12; suggested age 12.

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Award-laden learning hub gets a C for consumerism.

Why We Rated This for Ages 12 and Up

The good stuff

• Educational value:

  Overall this is an excellent learning tool for curious kids with lots of nuts-and-bolts questions.
• Messages:

  Not an issue.

What to watch out for

• Violence:

  Educational entries about the history of particular weapons and how they work; searches may result in links to ammunitions dealers in the "Featured Sponsored Results" section.
• Sex:

  Many articles on human reproduction, but they never go beyond what's taught in most public schools. Diagrams are anatomical, and animations are either anatomical or kid-friendly cartoons. Includes a resource for parents explaining sex to kids entitled "Makin' Babies," with topics from conception to childbirth. There's a less detailed version for younger kids.
• Language:

  Not an issue.
• Consumerism:

  The site's consumer focus, while quite prevalent, is not force-fed. Along with links to commercial sites and many ads, an article page may also include links to the HowStuffWorks Consumer Guide, a partner site that offers product and price comparisons, reviews, and other articles.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Entries about illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are informative, not glorified. Some even link to sites that promote a drug-free lifestyle.

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