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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 0, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Entertaining yet educational place to go to learn.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Much to learn from the Smithsonian's wide range of collections, installations, and research (there are also external links to dozens of other Smithsonian sites, from the African Art Museum to the National Zoo).

  • Messages:

    Promotes interest in the Smithsonian and opens the door to all the wonderful learning opportunities that museums have to offer; fun interactive learning sections get kids engaged in learning.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Weapons, war, and crimes are mentioned in historical context; no interactive areas. Some of the external sites may mention weapons, war, and crimes in more detail and may have interactive areas.

  • Sex:

    No sexual content; no interactive areas. Some of the external sites may touch on mating behavior of humans and animals in scientific context and may have interactive areas.

  • Language:

    No foul language. Some of the external sites may include colorful language in historical context.

  • Consumerism:

    No commercialism on Smithsonian's site except for museum's historical coverage of pop culture icons like the Muppets; includes a link to Smithsonian's online store. Most of the many external links connect to the online components of other prominent educational institutions, but some of those sites linked to more commercial sites including SeaWorld.com.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    May include mentions of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs in historical context; no interactive areas.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Smithsonian Education for Kids

Parents need to know that the Smithsonian Institution's online kids' area is an excellent and entertaining educational resource. It offers content and activities for preschoolers on up to older teens, but age ranges aren't provided for the many activities and interactive learning areas. There's no foul language, no mentions of sexual behavior, and no commercialism except for historical information on pop icons and a link to the museum's online store. Weapons, war, and crimes (such as Lincoln's assassination) are mentioned in historical context.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the differences between classroom learning and learning through a museum experience. What makes the Smithsonian and other museums such great educational resources? Which topics and areas are the most interesting to you, and why? If you created your own museum, what would you put in it? If you decided to become a collector, what would you collect?
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  1. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    spidersmart6
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
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