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Jaroo (http://www.jaroo.com)

common sense media says

Ad-supported video site provides wholesome if mindless fun.

parents & educators say
See 2 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this fledgling video site for kids is good innocent fun. Kids don’t have to pay a subscription or share any private info, just navigate annoying commercials in order to enjoy a nice variety of cartoons and live-action TV shows spanning the last 20 years or so.

Educational value: The site's mostly for fun, not educational purposes, though some cartoon characters do have adventures against historical backdrops such as Neil Armstrong's moon walk.  And Cake, a teen show-within-a-fictional cable show, teaches fashion and crafts.
Positive messages: Parents can feel pretty good about the messages kids get here. For instance, Strawberry Shortcake promotes acceptance, Paddington Bear sets good examples for preschoolers, brave Madeline is “small but inside she’s big.”  There are plenty of empty viewing calories as well, but overall kids see lots of positive, socially responsible behavior being modeled.
Violence: Minimal carnage, although the Tex Avery cartoons have shootouts, and random violence crops up in some of the other adventure cartoons. For instance, a bad guy is dropped screaming into a pit of carnivorous plants.
Sex: Squeaky clean unless you count the busty bikini-clad girls of Beverly Hills Teens, the vintage cartoon about  over-privileged kids.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: There are only a couple of advertisers, and the ads are for Happy Meal tie-ins and kid-friendly movies. But the movie trailers that play before every video are long, loud and annoying.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Privacy & safety:
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What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • The movie trailers on Jaroo are persistent and unavoidable. Read our tips on helping your children deal with advertising aimed at kids.
  • What were parents’ favorite cartoons growing up? What did they like about the characters and what did they learn?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
This new video site from Toronto-based Cookie Jar Entertainment offers safe, wholesome cartoons and  kids’ TV shows, mostly from the ‘80s and ‘90s.  So far the lineup is thin but the site is still in beta and the variety is good, ranging from old stop-action Paddington Bear episodes to quality live action drama such as Emily of New Moon. Jaroo might lack CartoonNetwork's breadth, but it’s more suitable for all ages.

Online interaction: Kids have no way to interact, only the option to rate cartoon episodes and email friends with links to their favorite videos. 

This review was written by Carla Thornton
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

dvanosdol
parent of 6 and 8 year old
3
 
TOO MANY ADS
Too much advertising!
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (4) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (7)
cammy48
kid, 11 years old
6
 
too many ads
everything here is appropiate for an average of about 7 year olds. the ads are frequent too.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (8) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (3)

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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
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