 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
BellaSara
Common Sense Media says
Care for horses in a safe virtual world; no chat.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Internet safety is of little concern here, since there's no way for members to chat or contact each other. Upon sign-up -- which kids under 12 must have approved by an adult -- each member is given one free online horse; to add more horses, however, members must purchase Bella Sara trading cards ($2.50 a pack; there are links to retailers that sell them). And only by adding horses can members earn horseshoes, the Bella Sara currency that allows them to "buy" items to furnish their online cottages.
What's it about?
BELLASARA.COM is a virtual world where grade-schoolers and tweens can learn about horses and the joys of owning and caring for them (virtual ones, anyway). The free sign-up gets you one online horse; after that, you need to purchase Bella Sara trading cards (each one has a unique horse with a registration code) in order to add horses to the virtual stable. Each horse comes with a positive-reinforcement message that's displayed each time you go to its stable to feed and care for it. With each horse added, you get horseshoes, the Bella Sara currency that allows you to "buy" furnishings, decorations, and more for your cottage. The site also has a horse encyclopedia; fanciful, kid-friendly games and online jigsaw puzzles; horse images to color (online or printed out); plus quizzes, wallpaper, and other fun stuff. Kids can even email a question to Sara, the young daughter of the Bella Sara founder, who owns and trains two horses.
Is it any good?
This site is a delightful, fantasy-filled place where girls will enjoy spending their time (though parents need to make sure it's a reasonable amount of time). The only downside is that if a kid is unable to buy a lot of cards and add horses fairly often, he or she may eventually run out of things to do.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the pros and cons of computer play. How much is OK, and when is it better to play in the real world? Families can also talk about horses and what it takes to care for one. How do you think caring for a real horse would be different from caring for an online horse?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 12 years old
February 22, 2011
AGE
Perfect for little kids
I have a younger sister and she plays this and I think that it is a good site.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
i dont play on Bella Sara i used to i like the website its safe and kids can learn about diffrent types of horses
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
March 12, 2011
AGE
Great for young horse lovers
Very good, site for horse lovers. I played it a little too late an dgot bored with it, I've only been on onces :p. If you out- grow bella sarah I suggest horwse it is like bella sarah but you don't have to buy trading cards, and it is more mature (not that it is too mature), and has better graphics site.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 11 years old
March 8, 2010
AGE
ilove it because bellasara chat with the coummity keep stuff prieavet
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
olny 4 pip in 4th grade and older
i love it because if you want to get a real horse you will now what it is like to have a horse
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Genre: | Virtual Worlds |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already visited it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
