 | 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. |
Pocoyo World
Common Sense Media says
Virtual world preschoolers can enjoy with adult help.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Pocoyo World is a virtual world that includes avatar customization, games, videos, and other activities based on the Pocoyo ("little me" in Spanish) animation series, seen in more than 100 countries. You need to be 18 to register, so parents should fill out the online form. (Also, take note: When you sign up, you'll be automatically registered to receive a regular newsletter from the site.) Registration is free. For $3.90 a month, kids can join the world's premium club, which they'll need to do to buy certain costumes, toys, and other special avatar accessories -- but there's plenty to do without a paid subscription. You'll need to start at the main Pocoyo.com site to get to the virtual world; parents need to know that the main site has links to YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Although the virtual world is simple enough for young children to navigate, parents should explore the site with their kids, and not leave them unattended.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn to sharpen their memory by repeating dance moves and other rote activities in some of Pocoyo World's games. Kids can also practice reading by following along as a narrator explains instructions. Playing games earns you tickets that can be used to buy avatar accessories, which helps kids set goals, save, and spend. Younger users can improve their reading and gain other essential skills in some games, while having a lot of fun.
Subjects
- Language & Readingfollowing directions, reading
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
- Artsmovement, playing
- Hobbies
Skills
- Thinking & Reasoning
- Creativity
- Self-Directioninitiative, set objectives
- Emotional Development
- Communicationasking questions, listening
- Collaboration
- Responsibility & Ethics
- Tech Skills
- Health & Fitness
What's it about?
Based on the Pocoyo ("little me" in Spanish) animation series, Pocoyo World lets kids create an avatar and cruise around the zoo, amusement park, playground, and other areas, jumping, dancing, and exploring. The site also offers fun, graphically impressive -- yet simple to play -- games that are targeted at younger kids. Kids can also friend each other, but can’t chat or directly interact in the virtual world.
Is it any good?
POCOYO WORLD lets kids create a customized avatar and cruise around the zoo, amusement park, playground, and other areas, jumping, dancing, and exploring while peppy music plays. The virtual world also includes several fun, graphically impressive games that younger kids are bound to love -- such as a golf game where the ball bounces off characters and objects before landing near the hole.
Playing games earns users tickets, which can be used to buy accessories and stamps for their online character-based stamp collection, but the emphasis is on having fun, not earning credit. Supportive messages like "hooray for Pocoyo!" at the end of some of the games reflect the site's cheerful, supportive tone -- and thanks to the constant guidance about what to see and do from a British narrator, even very young kids can easily find their way around Pocoyo World.
Online interaction: Pocoyo World is super safe. Kids can pick from a number of emotions, like frazzled or sleepy, that can be broadcast over their head, or can blow a kiss or dance, but can't directly chat.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Why is it fun -- and also safer -- to be able to dance with, throw a kiss at, or just see other people in a virtual world -- as opposed to actually talking to them?
If you are on a site where you can chat with other members, what kinds of things should you be careful not to say? And what kinds of things are not OK for people to ask you?
What kids can learn
Kids can learn to sharpen their memory by repeating dance moves and other rote activities in some of Pocoyo World's games. Kids can also practice reading by following along as a narrator explains instructions. Playing games earns you tickets that can be used to buy avatar accessories, which helps kids set goals, save, and spend. Younger users can improve their reading and gain other essential skills in some games, while having a lot of fun.
Subjects
- Language & Reading: following directions, reading
- Math:
- Science:
- Social Studies:
- Arts: movement, playing
- Hobbies:
Skills
- Thinking & Reasoning:
- Creativity:
- Self-Direction: initiative, set objectives
- Emotional Development:
- Communication: asking questions, listening
- Collaboration:
- Responsibility & Ethics:
- Tech Skills:
- Health & Fitness:
How kids will learn
Many of Pocoyo World’s games reinforce basic skills. For example, one asks kids to trace a number and then identify how many items are in a group. Kids can practice reading as a narrator slowly dictates sets of instructions for games. They’ll also get a chance to assert some independence as they move their avatar around the zoo, playground, and other parts of Pocoyo World, and express themselves by dancing or blowing kisses. Supportive messages such as "Come on, it’s not that hard" reflect the site's cheerful, supportive tone.
How parents can help
- Travel in the virtual world with your kids. The site is simple enough for them to use, but having you there can make the experience more enriching.
- Encourage kids to play the games more than once to reinforce skills. See if they can score better with each round.
- Read the narrator’s text aloud with your child to strengthen reading skills.
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
Kid, 9 years old
April 13, 2011
AGE
Finally,a virtual world for my little brother!
Even though I don't play it.My little brother does!The world looks so colorful and bright!When he plays it he has a lot of fun!Even though I look too old for that virtual world.I might just want sign up and experience the awesome pleasure!
What other families should know:
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Parent of 3 year old
October 25, 2010
AGE
I love it!!!!!
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Parent of 6 year old
October 25, 2010
AGE
don't miss it!!!
This is so much fun to play with your children, they feel like they are grown up playing as their elder siblings but absolutely safe.
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Parent of 3 year old
November 15, 2011
AGE
Frustration
I gave up trying to registering, it was literally impossible for me to come up with a login that I would remember that did not use any personal information of my child. And when I thought I succeeded the password they gave me does not work
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Teen, 15 years old
May 18, 2012
AGE
My computer must be broken, PW pulled up In Spanish. O_O
Is it just me or did the Pocoyo site pull up In Spanish???
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Kid, 8 years old
July 16, 2012
AGE
>:-(
Stupid!A 2 year old site a BLOCK on it.
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Teen, 13 years old
November 20, 2012
AGE
nooooooooo
My kid was kiss kiss kissing online i do not let her play on it
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Parent of 6 year old
October 21, 2012
AGE
pocoyo world
people in a virtual world -- as opposed to actually talking to them?
If you are on a site where you can chat with other members, what kinds of things should you be careful not to say? And what kinds of things are not OK for people to ask you?
What other families should know:
Was this review useful?
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| Genre: | Virtual Worlds |
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