Sprout Online

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Videos, activities for preschool fans of TV channel's shows.
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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Learning2
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

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Sprout Online is an extension of the PBS Kids Sprout cable channel for preschoolers. Most of the content comes directly from the channel's popular shows, including the videos, but you can upload your own photos and videos here, too. The site is fun and visually notable so that kids won't mind seeing the same stuff online. The games are straightforward enough for most preschoolers to play unassisted after an adult reads the directions to them (though we still recommend sitting with preschoolers at the computer), and there are lots of printables and offline activity ideas like recipes and birthday party ideas.

  • In the games, activities, and videos there are positive messages about the importance of family, developing a love of learning, and healthy eating. Also, there are lots of activities here to print out and color or create by hand, sending the message to kids that they can have just as much fun offline.
  • Not applicable.
  • Not applicable.
  • Not applicable.
  • The site runs ads and promotes PBS shows and characters -- many of which, like Bob the Builder, have become pretty commercialized.
  • To register on this site, parents must provide their own date of birth, full name, email, and full mailing address. There are two boxes to uncheck if you don't want to receive email and snail mail from PBS Sprout and their advertising partners. If you sign up for your child's birthday email it "may be announced during Sprout television programming or on SproutOnline.com and you may receive a birthday message to share with your child via email, this website, or postal mail." Your child’s first name and birth date information that you provide on the registration page will not be shared with third parties for any other purpose. Parents can create a password-protected area for their kids' artwork created on the site that only they can see, choose whether or not they want their child's birthday to be recognized publicly, and add people to their contacts list to allow communication with them via Sprout Mail.

What kids can learn

2

Kids can learn developmental preschool skills like counting, storytelling, solving puzzles, self-expression, and fine motor skills as they watch videos and play games tied to PBS Kids Sprout television programming.  Games that target specific skills are helpfully organized by type in a parents' area. Preschoolers will have endless fun with their favorite TV characters, but games need more substance so that kids' learning sticks.

Subjects
  • Science
  • Social Studies
Skills
  • Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Creativity
    imagination
  • Emotional Development
  • Health & Fitness
    fine motor skills
  • Responsibility & Ethics

What's it about?

Sprout Online cleanly separates experiences for parents and kids. The kids', or "Sproutlets" section is straightforward; kids click "games" to play games, or "videos" to watch videos. They can also scroll through portraits of characters to select activities by show. A third option, "Send to Sprout" lets registered users submit photos and videos of birthday cards or kids making recipes or crafts, which might be displayed online or on TV. "Send to Sprout" games allow kids to personalize their play by inserting personal photos into an activity.


Is it any good?

 

SPROUT ONLINE's content is entertaining and fairly well done for the preschool set. As the companion website to the 24-hour cable channel PBS Kids Sprout (dedicated to preschool kids ages 2-5), young kids will find many of their favorite Sprout characters on this site. But the real stars are the crew from the Good Night Show, as well as old standards like Barney, Bob the Builder, and Thomas the Train. Most of the site's video content is recycled directly from the channel's popular shows. The games section offers simple, age-appropriate activities from almost all of Sprout's shows. Some of the games link off to other sites (often to PBSKids.org), and most require a bit of reading to get started.

Online interaction: Sprout "Mail" allows you to send and receive messages from people that you put on your family’s contact list.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about setting computer time limits so kids, especially in the preschool years, don't spend too much time online.

  • Families can talk about Internet safety so even the youngest kids start becoming aware of good online behavior.


This review was written by Dana Villamagna

What kids can learn

2

Kids can learn developmental preschool skills like counting, storytelling, solving puzzles, self-expression, and fine motor skills as they watch videos and play games tied to PBS Kids Sprout television programming.  Games that target specific skills are helpfully organized by type in a parents' area. Preschoolers will have endless fun with their favorite TV characters, but games need more substance so that kids' learning sticks.


Subjects
  • Arts: music
  • Hobbies:
  • Language & Reading: letter or word recognition, spelling, storytelling
  • Math: counting, numbers
  • Science:
  • Social Studies:
Skills
  • Collaboration:
  • Communication:
  • Creativity: imagination
  • Emotional Development:
  • Health & Fitness: fine motor skills
  • Responsibility & Ethics:
  • Self-Direction:
  • Tech Skills:
  • Thinking & Reasoning: solving puzzles

What's it about?

Sprout Online cleanly separates experiences for parents and kids. The kids', or "Sproutlets" section is straightforward; kids click "games" to play games, or "videos" to watch videos. They can also scroll through portraits of characters to select activities by show. A third option, "Send to Sprout" lets registered users submit photos and videos of birthday cards or kids making recipes or crafts, which might be displayed online or on TV. "Send to Sprout" games allow kids to personalize their play by inserting personal photos into an activity.


How kids will learn

Kids will find Sprout Online a fun place to play. Preschoolers like repetition and activities are the right length for requests to "do it again… and again." Game instructions vary, and feedback is limited to cheers for right moves and buzzes for wrong ones, so parents may need to help. Check out the "Grown-ups" area, where videos are organized by show (by topic would be better) and games are categorized by skill level, type, and show. This area also has recipes, craft ideas, and worksheets to extend the fun and articles with parenting tips.


How parents can help

  • Play "Send to Sprout" games so kids can see themselves with their favorite characters. Review uploading and privacy in the FAQs.
  • No time for a full episode on TV? Watch short segments from your kids' favorite shows. Spend less than 2 minutes with Elmo and Jack Black learning about octagons, or identifying sounds at the park with Caillou.

This review was written by Michelle Kitt
Kid, 11 years old
June 27, 2010
 
sprout is awsome
i love this website it is raelly fun to watsh it my favorite show is callu

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Parent
July 23, 2010
 
GGGGGGGGGGGGreat
I think that it's great my triplets love it

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 

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Kid, 10 years old
July 26, 2010
 
With all the options you have there,Sprout Online is the perfect website for 4-year olds and up.

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Kid, 2 years old
July 28, 2010
 
sprout channel is wonderful for all ages
my daughter is 10 months old and the sprout channel is her favorite and she loves chica and pajanimals and she is learning sign channel which is a positive thing cause her uncle is deaf

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Parent of 7 year old
October 19, 2010
 
wonderful shows
My children love it

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Kid, 10 years old
May 17, 2011
 
Obviously fine
To everyone who says its dangerous PLEASE LEAVE THE SITE FOREVER, I mean it, parents this is fine for all your kids

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Parent of 3 year old
July 28, 2010
 
great

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Parent of 2 year old
December 25, 2010
 
great for the pre-school children..
I'm a grandmother and watch Sprout with my grand-sons .we enjoy your programs very much..Happy G-Ma!,

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Kid, 7 years old
June 13, 2010
 

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This review was written by Dana Villamagna
Genre:Educational

This review was written by Dana Villamagna

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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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