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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 3, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 7.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Grown-up Dora doll mixes social responsibility with fashion.

On this site kids can:   design clothes, do activities, play games, play in a virtual world

Why We Rated This on for Ages 7 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Spanish words are scattered throughout the dialogue and all dialogue is voiced by the characters as the matching text appears on the screen. Users also have to follow instructions and use logic to solve the mysteries.

     

  • User-created content:

    It is up to the user to unlock items and features by solving mysteries that are explained throughout the site. You can change Dora's room, her hair style, and jewelry in some activities.
  • Messages:

    Dora and friends solve mysteries that usually have a social responsibility theme. Volunteerism, water conservation, and recycling all are discussed and the girls can be seen organizing a beach clean-up, volunteering at an animal shelter, and planting community gardens. The five main characters each are shown to like different things, such as sports, science, reading, and music.

 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.
  • Sex:

    Not an issue.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    In order to unlock some locations in Dora's world, users need to purchase additional accessories, fashion packs, or dolls.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

How safe is it?

  • Personal privacy:

    No personal information is collected by the site or the online game.
  • Online interaction:

    Young users can interact with fictional Dora characters, but there is no way to chat or communicate with other players.
  • Parental controls:

    There are no parental controls set up, probably because the site is designed to be safe for young children. In the "Help" field, users are asked to visit the Dora Links Web site with their parents to learn more about features that require additional purchases.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Dora Links

Parents need to know that Dora Links is a $59.99 13-inch Dora the Explorer doll that connects to a PC's USB port and interacts with the companion Web site, lighting up at different moments and speaking at others. The doll is also a receiver for updated games and additional mysteries, as even when it is not attached to the computer, the Dora Links doll can let users know when new features have been added. Some of the Web features are "locked" and require an in-game purchase (with real money) for access. You don't have to buy them to enjoy the game, but kids might ask for them.

Dora Links has grown up a bit from her preschool adventures, and today is a chic tween. Her animal buddies have been replace by a band of girlfriends who go on socially-concious challenges with her.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how the new Dora has changed. Do you like the new look of this familiar character or do you miss the little girl that she used to be? Do you think it makes sense for a character to grow up with her fans?
  • Families can talk about gender stereotypes. The younger Dora was interested in animals and always wore the same clothes. Today's older Dora has many different outfits and lots of fashion accessories, from jewelry to headbands. Do most girls become more interested in fashion and appearance as they get older? Is this a good or bad thing?
  • Families can talk about setting screen time limits. This is a game that is designed to lead you to solve mysteries and explore a content-rich online world. Do you think it is more difficult to leave cyberspace when there are this many fun things to do online? Does it make it more difficult when the Dora doll alerts you to new online features that have just been added?
  • Families can talk about learning to handle money responsibly. In this interactive world, you can earn virtual cash. Because it is easy to earn this pretend money, does it make spending it easier?

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Dora Links?
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See all 7 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    good for kids

    good for every kid who wants to learn.

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 16 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    good for kids

    good for every kid who wants to learn.

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • User content isn't age appropriate

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    doralinks rock

    i like doralinks a lot

  4. I rate this title off for age 9 and give it 1.0

    Dum.

    tHAT IS SO DUM.

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Massachusetts
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Safety isn't an issue
    • User content is age appropriate

    Only little kids will like this!

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