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Kidnetic (http://www.kidnetic.com/)

common sense media says

Fitness site encourages kids to back away from the computer.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this site was created by the International Food Information Council to get families excited about -- and actually practicing -- healthy lifestyles. With practical tips, easy-to-understand articles, fun games, and kid-friendly recipes, the site is entirely geared towards the importance of being active, eating well, and maintaining emotional well-being. Younger kids will need some supervision using the food section, as there are few warnings about kitchen safety.

Educational value: Lots of educational material presented in an easily digestible format. Kids can click on a colorful human body to learn about specific organs and their functions to learn about the biology behind physical health. There's also an article section for parents.
Positive messages: The site shows that staying fit is easy to do and that exercising and eating right are healthy choices that can even improve your overall well-being. When tackling the delicate topic of weight and kids, the advice is presented in a friendly, reassuring tone that emphasizes overall health rather than an ideal body type.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: The site has a "no advertising" policy. It receives funding from companies such as PepsiCo, Kellogg’s, and Kraft, but the names of these companies are never mentioned on the actual kid's site and none of their products are included in the recipe section.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Privacy & safety: In general the site doesn't require users to submit any personal information. There's no membership requests and anyone can play the games and read the info without giving a single bit of personal information. The site's privacy policy does allow for the occasional collection of information for contests and other special programs, however the policy states that this information is deleted once the program is over. There are no parental controls offered by the site, but that's mainly because the site's content is OK for all age groups. Kids can use the site's email system to send a note to their parents, which is one way parents and kids can stay connected and involved in their efforts to lead an active family life.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Kidnetic

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • How much time does each family member spend in front of a screen each day? In contrast, how much time do you spend doing physical activity daily? Read our Tips for a Healthy Media Diet to find out how you can keep things in balance.
  • Do you think unhealthy foods are marketed more to kids than adults? Read our Junk Food Ad Tips to learn how to avoid falling for clever food advertising.
  • Do you think you are a healthy weight right now? If not, how did you base your decision? Check out the Girls and Body Image Tips and the Boys and Body Image Tips.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Don't hold the fact that Kidnetic is a Web site against it. This is one site firmly grounded in reality, rather than cyberspace. Encouraging kids to play hopscotch, do jumping jacks, and cook up a yummy dish AWAY from the computer is an admirable goal, and the site achieves it through kid-friendly language and colorful and funky graphics. Recipes are designed to appeal to kids with names like Blood and Guts Soup and Brewed Monkey Brain Stew (which thankfully contains no simian gray matter). A lot of the exercise tips are things kids can do very easily, like the around-the-house scavenger hunt.  With its emphasis on "do now" activities, don't be surprised to see your child hopping around on one leg next to the computer.

Online interaction: Because the site is designed to get kids playing together in real life, there are no opportunities for online interaction. Kids can connect with their parents via the Kidnector email messenger service, but that's the extent of interactive capabilities.

This review was written by Jacqueline Rupp
 
 

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Sabinka_Inka
teen, 16 years old
7
 
This is an educational website, teaching children about different things. I love it! Especially the body diagram, filling each blank space with the correct body part.
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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
Our child development rating guidelines