The Electric Company (http://pbskids.org/electriccompany/)

common sense media says

Cool word games add extra challenge to friendly edu-site.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this companion site to the television show is a stimulating place for grade-schoolers to learn reading skills such as letter sounds, spelling, and grammar. Guided by the friendly faces from the TV show, the site offers educational games, vignettes from the show and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the people behind the characters. Kids will need basic reading skills to enjoy the site.

Educational value: By completing various games (putting together compound words, adding a silent “e” and so on) users collect points -- called “volts” -- and each show character’s total volts is tallied regularly, which adds a fun challenge to the educational component.
Positive messages: Users will find friendly faces who offer a lot of positive encouragement as they take on various spelling, language, and grammar challenges. The message is that language arts is cool, fun, and funny.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Privacy & safety: Users can set up their own profile, but their options are strictly limited to selecting a username as well as their favorite show personality (whose picture appears on the profile).  

More on The Electric Company

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • How online games can help reinforce some of the language lessons kids learn in school and through educational television programming. How does this help you learn better?

  • Why it’s so much fun to have a competitive element to online games and learning, such as the point system on this site. How does collecting “volts” add to the experience of learning and playing games? How can you ensure you’re not spending too much time playing these games?

  • Why it’s important to maintain a healthy balance when it comes to online entertainment -- even when you’re spending time with positive media such as educational television programs and online learning games.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Parents may fondly recall The Electric Company television show from their youth. The updated version is just as upbeat, educational, and kid-friendly as the 1970’s version, but is far more visually appealing and engaging thanks to modern-day animation, CGI, and effects. Like the TV show, the Web site features colorfully cute animation, photo-and-illustration montages and four real characters who guide users through the various areas of the site. With the help of the on-screen actors and simple, easy-to-follow audio instructions, visitors can view a variety of sketches from the television show, get glimpses into what happens behind the scenes and play assorted word games that help build vocabulary and teach language skills. The site is upbeat, encouraging and full of fun characters and activities that will keep kids so interested they may not realize they’re learning at the same time. Even parents will get a charge out what this new Electric Company offers.

Online interaction: Although users create profiles and can view the profiles of other users, there's no personal information revealed in any of the profiles and there's no user interaction.


This review was written by Conny Coon
 
 

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bardo
kid, 7 years old
 

cookymonster12
kid, 12 years old
 
BEST SHOW EVER
I love it:) i watch it almost ever time its on:)

justin bieber 43
teen, 15 years old
 
hi

sokhoung
kid, 10 years old
 
I love the electric company? what is the electric company e-mail? e-mail me kimnea@yahoo*

collin1367
kid, 10 years old
 
i love it it is so fun for my kid to watch it it is the only show he wants to watch he thinks its the best show

ahall
kid, 7 years old
 
great
great

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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