Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this inspiring eco-education site focuses mainly on soil-related environmentalism (activities and articles cover gardening, composting, contaminant-free products, etc.). There are separate areas for kids, parents, and educators, but the entire site is squeaky clean for kids, with no inappropriate content. There are quite a few links to other reputable, similarly-themed sites but not all of them are geared specifically to youngsters so parents may want to monitor kids who navigate off of the site. Kids send ideas and other content to staff via email; email addresses and the other basic information gathered is never shared according to the site's privacy policy (which adheres to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act guidelines). Joining the Kids' Club requires an adult's permission, and site visitors can't contact each other directly.
Families can talk about how sites like this one help kids understand their connection to the environment. Name one activity on the site that you could start doing today to help keep the environment -- and yourself -- healthy. Which projects would be a fun way for families to spend time together while giving back to the environment?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Ellen Dendy
KIDSREGEN.COM encourages kids and families to take care of the environment and themselves by using recycled materials, growing their own organic produce, and other eco-aware activities. Part of The Rodale Institute's educational program, the site emphasizes the connections between "healthy soil/environment, healthy food, and healthy people." Kidsregen.com ("regen" is short for regeneration) offers an abundance of things to learn and do: informative articles, tips, fun facts, question-answer areas, indoor/outdoor activities, games, contests, fitness programs, recipes and healthy eating tips, and more. Kids contribute to the site by submitting ideas, artwork, letters, and questions via an email to staff or by filling in a Web-based form (the site follows a strict privacy code).
Kidsregen.com is an excellent resource for kids and families looking for ways they can help keep themselves and the world they live in healthy and happy. The site is run by an agricultural organization so content sticks mainly to soil-related environmentalism (a major link in the ecological chain), but even with this limitation Kidsregen.com covers a lot of ground and does it very well. A bonus: The content is varied including topics such as organic gardening success stories, an illustrated step-by-step yoga class, and fascinating facts about root veggies.
Other environmentally-conscious sites include GlobalBroadcast4Kids.com, WebRangers, and EekoWorld.
Reviewed: 01/18/2008
Rate It!
| Content | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS | adults | kids | ||
Sexual Content |
 |
|||
Violence |
|
|||
Language |
|
|||
Message |
|
|||
Social BehaviorEncourages kids to take an active role in caring for the environment and themselves. |
 |
|||
CommercialismNo advertising but there's a link to the online eco-store of The Rodale Institute, the nonprofit behind the kids' site. |
 |
|||
Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco |
|
|||
Educational ValueLots of hands-on environmental activities and loads of engaging educational content. |
|
|||
