National Geographic Little Kids

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Stories and activities introduce the world to preschoolers.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning1
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this preschooler-friendly site provides a variety of games, activities and videos and encourages exploration of the world and nature. Like its companion print magazine (National Geographic Little Kids), this site gives little kids a safe spot to learn about animals, geography, and science. Its simple games and activities include easy-to-follow audio instructions that even the tiniest visitor can follow and enjoy, though younger users may need some assistance from an adult. There’s plenty on this easy-to-navigate site to keep kids interested, but not so much that it’ll be hard to pry them away.

  • Through a variety of interactive tools, this site encourages preschoolers to examine and discover the world in a safe and fun manner.
  • Not applicable.
  • Not applicable.
  • Not applicable.
  • The only advertisements or products on this site are cross-promotional items such as National Geographic Little Kids magazine or the National Geographic Kids Web site. Some characters from PBS programming -- Toot & Puddle, Mama Mirabelle -- are also featured in various videos, but require a link to the National Geographic Kids site that is equally as clean but skews to slightly older elementary-aged kids.
  • The site doesn’t make use of personal information unless it's to respond to a one-time request question or request for information from a child, to allow a child to send an ecard to a friend or to award prizes in a game or sweepstakes. Information is not shared with third parties. Anyone can visit the site and access the games, activities and videos, and parents are encouraged to participate in their child’s online experience.

What kids can learn

1

Kids can learn a little about animals, geography, and science through videos and various do-at-home activities. Interactive games on the site lack a strong learning component, but kids can improve fine motor skills and computer proficiency as they drag and drop seeds to plant a friendship garden, or help a dolphin family find their friends in a maze. A smattering of hands-on, do-at-home learning opportunities include recipes and some simple science experiments. Learning is mostly passive on this entertaining, well-intentioned nature site.

Subjects
  • Arts
  • Hobbies
  • Language & Reading
  • Math
Skills
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Creativity

What's it about?

Like its companion print magazine (National Geographic Little Kids), this preschooler-friendly site offers a variety of games, activities and videos. Content is primarily entertaining, but also encourages exploration and understanding of the world, nature, and other cultures. Age-appropriate activities cover a lot of ground, from science experiments to simple recipes to crafts and coloring pages.


Is it any good?

 

National Geographic Little Kids offers the youngest users a place of their own to explore the world. A series of videos featuring cuddly animals shows how animal parents act similarly to human parents. Kids will find clips and games from the popular Toot & Puddle characters (from the children’s books and Nickelodeon series) entertaining. Kids can plant a friendship garden by dragging and dropping seeds or help a dolphin family find their friends in a maze.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about what is an appropriate amount of time to spend playing around on the Web. Why is it important to explore the world outside your backdoor as well as the world inside your computer? Are there other ways you can you learn about the world without being in front of a screen?

  • Why it’s important to only visit Web sites like this with your parents’ permission. Even though it’s fun to explore and play on the Internet, it’s never too early to start learning how to play it safe online.


This review was written by Conny Coon

What kids can learn

1

Kids can learn a little about animals, geography, and science through videos and various do-at-home activities. Interactive games on the site lack a strong learning component, but kids can improve fine motor skills and computer proficiency as they drag and drop seeds to plant a friendship garden, or help a dolphin family find their friends in a maze. A smattering of hands-on, do-at-home learning opportunities include recipes and some simple science experiments. Learning is mostly passive on this entertaining, well-intentioned nature site.


Subjects
  • Arts:
  • Hobbies:
  • Language & Reading:
  • Math:
  • Science: plants, weather
  • Social Studies: events, geography, global awareness
Skills
  • Collaboration:
  • Communication:
  • Creativity:
  • Emotional Development: identifying emotions
  • Health & Fitness:
  • Responsibility & Ethics:
  • Self-Direction:
  • Tech Skills:
  • Thinking & Reasoning: asking questions, investigation

What's it about?

Like its companion print magazine (National Geographic Little Kids), this preschooler-friendly site offers a variety of games, activities and videos. Content is primarily entertaining, but also encourages exploration and understanding of the world, nature, and other cultures. Age-appropriate activities cover a lot of ground, from science experiments to simple recipes to crafts and coloring pages.


How kids will learn

Kids can watch various videos about animals and several informative series devoted to exposing kids to nature, wildlife, and the world around them. When kids attempt a simple science experiment at home or prepare a recipe for "blue goo," they follow directions and actively participate in the learning process. On the whole, though, learning is limited a handful of nature videos, some Toot & Puddle animated episodes, and a series of videos that follow real siblings as they explore other cultures.


How parents can help

  • Compare and contrast the different cultures showcased in the videos. Discuss how kids around the world are both similar and different.
  • Assist kids with science experiments and at-home activities to reinforce their interest in science, geography, or other topics.

This review was written by Conny Coon
Parent
June 28, 2010
 

Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 9 years old
November 15, 2011
 
great lerning
i like to learn so this is the perfect thing for me.it can tell you all about animals and has good games. this website will make your kid happy.

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Conny Coon
Genre:Educational

This review was written by Conny Coon

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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