 | ON: Content is age-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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
MoshiMonsters
Common Sense Media says
Take care of creatures and learn a little in virtual world.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the Moshi Monsters virtual world site is more entertainment than educational. Kids take care of cute little creatures and earn points to "buy" stuff for their computer-based pet while being introduced to online social networking. There are numerous ways for kids to interact here, although most of the site's focus seems to be on playing games, caring for your own pet, and decorating your own virtual world. Even so, make sure your child knows how to block unwanted friend requests and report posts that are rude or inappropriate, just in case. There's a reassuring section for parents that explains the site's concept and safety measures.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn how to be responsible, make decisions, and handle consequences as they care for a monster in a virtual world. A happy, healthy monster requires food and entertainment, which any parent knows means money. Kids earn money, called Rox, by playing games or solving puzzles and then can spend it in various specialty stores. There are also some limited social networking features. Moshi Monsters is fun, but you need to be a very conscientious monster parent to learn a few life skills.
Skills
- Collaboration
- Communicationfriendship building
- Creativity
- Emotional Development
- Health & Fitness
- Responsibility & Ethicsfiscal responsibility, learning from consequences, making wise decisions
- Self-Direction
- Tech Skills
- Thinking & Reasoningsolving puzzles
What's it about?
Kids customize and name their choice of monster, which can be active in three places: its home, its garden, and in Monstro City. Kids can access Rox-earning puzzles from home, or click a map of Monstro City to go places to play games and shop. (A few locations are open to paid members only). To add friends, players must know each other's usernames, and once added, they can trade messages on a "pin board."
Is it any good?
MOSHIMONSTERS.COM belongs in the increasingly long line of sites where kids take care of little creatures and earn points to "buy" stuff for their computer-based pet while being introduced to virtual worlds and online social networking. This site's creators know that cute monsters and colorful graphics catch kids' eyes and keep their attention online. A UK-created site for grade-school readers, it includes some games that are well constructed, quick, and fun enough to disguise the fact that kids are actually learning. Monster owners' ages, home countries, and gender are visible, which may be objectionable to some parents.
Online interaction: Some limited social networking features. Players can leave comments on their friends' "pinboards" in their rooms. To make friends, kids are supposed to know their friends' screen names, but players can also find that out online via the forums, community section features, and just by wandering around the virtual world.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the safety features and interaction with other players on this site compare to other similar sites. Read Common Sense Media's Online Worlds for Young Kids Tips.
What does it means to "know" someone, and are online "friends" really friends? It's never too early to start planting seeds about Internet safety, even with elementary school-age kids.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn how to be responsible, make decisions, and handle consequences as they care for a monster in a virtual world. A happy, healthy monster requires food and entertainment, which any parent knows means money. Kids earn money, called Rox, by playing games or solving puzzles and then can spend it in various specialty stores. There are also some limited social networking features. Moshi Monsters is fun, but you need to be a very conscientious monster parent to learn a few life skills.
Subjects
- Arts:
- Hobbies: pets
- Language & Reading:
- Math:
- Science:
- Social Studies: exploration
Skills
- Collaboration:
- Communication: friendship building
- Creativity:
- Emotional Development:
- Health & Fitness:
- Responsibility & Ethics: fiscal responsibility, learning from consequences, making wise decisions
- Self-Direction:
- Tech Skills:
- Thinking & Reasoning: solving puzzles
How kids will learn
Kids are empowered by their responsibility to their monster. At all times, they must be aware of and respond to how their monster is feeling. They must keep track of their Rox supply, choose games to replenish it, and take time to shop for their little adoptee. Kids can learn from Challenge and Training puzzles related to math, spelling, or spatial reasoning, and can play engaging physics-based games at the "Puzzle Palace." A forum and blog facilitate social interaction, and any messages undergo an approval process before they are posted.
How parents can help
- Conduct surprise health and happiness checks on kids' monsters. If they’re not doing well, discuss ways to improve how the monster is feeling.
- Help kids use the forum feature. Its approval process makes it a safe place to learn to use tools that will soon be part of daily life (discussion boards, social networking sites, and so on).
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 11 years old
October 9, 2010
AGE
Annoying Nagging Website
Moshi Monsters Is Great... Until They Start Nagging For Membership Moshi Monsters Used To Be A Kid Friendly Website Until They Introduced More Member Features These Include
Game Starcade Gift island (Send Gifts Best Frind Ever Exetra) The Port Which Includes 4 Shops You Can Change Colour Shake A Rox Tree Go To Harrods And Underground Disco More Moshiling Seeds (A.K.A More Moshlings) A Moshling Zoo Upgrade Your Tree House Also Non Members Are Looked Down On By Members And The Language Is Not Always Safe This includes Swearing And Stuff Like That This due To No Live Moderaters
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AGE
Harmless except for the free range messaging
The Pinboard (messaging) is the only problem with this site. The user can read all messages on their friends' pinboard, and the friends who are friends with their friends. So even after taking the time to make sure my daughter is only friends with children she knows who are her age, she can read the messages from other children we don't know who may not be monitored by their parents
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AGE
i love moshi monsters!!!
i have 6 moshi monsters and i go on them all every day i love it and it taught my 10 yr. old brother so many flags from the game flag frenzy. i love it! :')
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AGE
Parents, keep a close eye on what your children are sharing here.
The following part of the Common Sense Media review is inaccurate or outdated: "The limited social networking features allow kids to send free form messages only to friends whose email addresses they already know, and to send prescripted messages to others who they approve to be their friends."
Kids can send unlimited messages to their friends on their pinboards, including friends they've met in the game and do not know offline, and often seem to share personal information that they shouldn't (name, school, location).
Therefore, I recommend that parents keep a close eye on what their children are sharing. It's a good opportunity to set, and explain, rules about what it is and is not appropriate to share online.
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Kid, 12 years old
March 19, 2011
AGE
I would rate it iffy for 9,10, and 11 year olds.
I think Moshi Monsters is a website where if you are 9,10,or 11, you should go on there with your parents. They might not let you on because you can type WHATEVER you want to on your pinboard. Some bad people post BAD STUFF. Talk to your parents before going on Moshi Monsters. Other than the pinboard, I think it is a good website. Also, if you want to become a member, it takes money. You can have up to 11 best friends and go to exclusive places. I was a member once but, I don't think being a member is that great. And for example with the pinboard, this one person asked me for my password and my parent's credit card number. But, there is educational games at the Puzzle Palace for Daily Challenges and Hall Of Puzzles.
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AGE
good for all
it is great i love "it it is the best website i have ever been on" my kid 13 year old daughter ally said it is just so much fun i am so glad i found out about it from her
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Kid, 11 years old
August 24, 2011
AGE
Grew Out Of It Way To Quickly
It is a very fun game, but I warn you: DO NOT GET THE MEMBERSHIP. After a few moths you will notice you only go on the website occasionally, and that it is not worth the money. I am 10 and feel a little to old for this game.
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Kid, 10 years old
June 6, 2011
AGE
Great!
This website is good. It has many games, and it is pretty safe. They have a forum, too! Common Sense Media is right when they said forums can get friendly to fiesty. It doesn't appear often on Moshi Monsters, though.
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| Genre: | Virtual Worlds |
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