Dinokids (http://dinokids.com/)

common sense media says

Fee-based dino world offers extensive parental controls.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this colorful site is simple enough for younger users to find their way around, but there isn't a tremendous amount to do. Kids will find an activity or game or two in each section. Really tech-savvy kids may also be frustrated with the site’s navigation -- dors are opened using the space bar, and the arrow keys help avatars move around, which can be cumbersome.

Educational value: Some of the games are nominally educational, but the site itself is littered with typos and oddly worded language.
Positive messages: Some games encourage positive behavior, such as one based on recycling  by sorting paper, plastic, cans, and glass into the right bins.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: A filter helps weed out swear words and phone numbers or other personal info from online chats. Although communication is monitored, the site owners warn that comments that could be offensive to some players may occasionally get through.
Consumerism: The site offers both a free and a heavily promoted paid subscription option.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Privacy & safety: The site practices strong privacy measures. Parents can limit their child's online interaction and the amount of time they spend on the site -- if they pay for a site subscription.

More on Dinokids

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about how to behave in online worlds for the best experience.
  • Families can talk about screen time limits so kids don't spend too much time on the computer.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
At the time of review, the site was still adding content to make the world more robust, so it's hard to say whether a subscription is worth the money. Kids can choose the dinosaur type, name, and color for their avatar and play games -- many of which are environmentally themed -- all for free. Younger kids may also enjoy climbing up and down the site's ladders and levels. However, the free version doesn't include a lot of activities, and might not keep older kids interested for long  (it’s probably best for kids in the 5- to 7-year-old range). The real incentive for shelling out the cash for a site subscription? Parental controls. You’re able to predetermine your kids’ playtime, chat options, and site profile. If you’re hesitant to sign up for six months or a year, there’s also an option to pay $4.25 to test the monthly plan out, which includes a 7-day free trial. But take note: Any plan you pick will renew automatically after you charge it to your credit card.

Online interaction: Kids have a lot of interactive options, including two kinds of chat, multiplayer games, a "movie theater" that they can watch and discuss remotely with a friend, a screenshot-sharing tool, and more. The site uses filters and monitors to keep it clean.


This review was written by Erin Brereton
 
 

Review It

 

Review Dinokids





Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

What parents & educators say

7

Most useful reviews by all members

NinaMom
parent of 10 year old
 
I and my kids enjoyed dinokids very much. I recommend it. Nina's Mom

DeepBlue
parent of 10 year old
 
Pretty good website for kids
I have a kids aged 8. I played the Dinokids with my kid. He really likes it. I think the content is well balances between educational and gaming. I recommend this web site for kids.

rasmali
kid, 12 years old
 

Helen7
parent of 12 year old
 
good site also for girls !!
I played with my 4th grade girl. The most impressive one are very cute dino characters and fine animation backgrounds with no violence. We enjoyed it very much.

ad2
parent of 7 and 9 year old
 
Stay away. A hangout for perverts pretending to be kids.
I saw users giving out phone numbers and soliciting contact. Kids get to have a room (really a bedroom) where they get to invite other back to. The sole activity seems to be making girlfriend / boyfriend relationships. This site is so scarily off-base it's not funny. I blocked my 8 yro from accessing it.

bigdaddy7
parent of 10 year old
 
cool site for kids..I'll let my kids play this site.

lucasgoode
kid, 9 years old
 
dont play it online daters
it disgusts me that well the fact that people ask for BF GF stuff like...really?

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
 

vote now

Will you visit Dinokids?


Already visited it? What do you think?

 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors


About our rating system
ON: Content is 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