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  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 5; suggested age 6.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Cute characters deliver surprisingly comprehensive eco info.

On this site kids can:   do activities, get news, learn about a specific topic, play games

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Kids, parents, and teachers alike will find more than 350 pages of environmental information, all geared toward teaching children to be good stewards of the planet. The activities, crafts, and facts are all presented in age-appropriate context and language.

  • User-created content:

    Not an issue.

  • Messages:

    This site is all about taking steps to learn about our universe, save the planet, and conserve natural resources. It encourages social consciousness, creativity, problem-solving skills, and environmental awareness.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    There are quite a few rotating ads interspersed throughout the pages of the site, but the products (eg. Pet hair removal from Scotch brand) are not questionable. There’s a steady assortment of reference and ecology books featured and available by linking to Amazon and a variety of links that rotate via Google Ads. There are also various PlanetPals products available for sale in the online store. Also there is a section devoted entirely to offering licensing opportunities for the PlanetPals characters. PlanetPals will grant toy manufacturers, schools, publishers, etc. the opportunity -- for a fee -- to use their characters on products.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About PlanetPals

Parents need to know that this ecological education site is a safe place for kids to learn about the planet, the environment, recycling and the world around them. Though there are quite a few ads on its Web pages and some significant self-promotion of products, the bulk of the site is full of informative facts and information. Its kid-centric illustrations are geared to elementary-aged children who might be interested in learning more about the earth and how to save it -- or just how to treat it well. 

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how it’s necessary on any Web site -- even those with cute illustrated characters -- to use the Internet safely.
  • Families can also talk about how the Internet and Web sites like this can help motivate and organize people when it comes to helping the environment.
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