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Make: Online (http://makezine.com/)

common sense media says

DIY site encourages kids to tinker, create, invent, think.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this online version of Make Magazine encourages people to take on a wide variety of interesting projects, from creating homemade musical instruments to building toys to customizing and modifying common electronics. Most of the projects require a certain amount of technical skills and a grasp of basic electronics, and are better suited for older teens. The site promotes the magazine, and the DIY subculture.

Educational value: The site promotes hands-on technology projects that can teach a variety of scientific concepts, including electronics, music and physics.
Positive messages: The site’s online forums encourage people to ask for, and offer, advice about a wide range of do-it-yourself projects, and the community is generally quite helpful.
Violence: Not applicable.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: The site is affiliated with the magazine Make. It also sells a variety of kits for interesting do-it-yourself projects. There is a fair amount of advertising on the site.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

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What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about do-it-yourself projects. Does this site inspire you to take on a new project? Or does the idea of tinkering with home electronics or building a gadget from scratch seem too intimidating? Can the detailed guides help you feel more confident about such a job? Do you think today’s culture of disposability makes people less inclined to build something new?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

People who enjoy tinkering will find plenty of inspiration here, and the broad range of subjects and difficulty levels means there's something for just about anyone. The projects range from reasonably simple to pretty advanced, but the in-depth instructions can help users learn new tasks and may prompt people to branch out into new and entertaining areas. Be advised that this site seems aimed more at the skilled hobbyist; young kids may find many of these projects appealing, but will probably need adult help.

This review was written by Will Wade
 
 

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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