Common Sense Media Review
By Ellen Dendy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Nick's green site mixes community, learning, fun.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 23 kid reviews
Kids say they love the website for its positive impact on the environment and how it encourages kids to take action, such as recycling and cleaning up their schools. While it's acknowledged that it may not be the most entertaining site for older users, the overall sentiment is very positive, highlighting its educational value and the motivation to help the planet.
- positive impact
- encourages action
- educational value
- fun for kids
- not for teens
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
Nickelodeon's BIGGREENHELP.COM features resources and activities to inspire kids to take an active role in conserving, renewing, and protecting our valuable natural resources. Daily archived tips provide fresh ideas for being green, and kids can take quizzes to see how much they already know (or how much they have to learn). There's a glossary of Al Gore's favorite words, such as "sustainable" and "greenhouse effect." Budding filmmakers can upload their own videos to show what they're doing to save the planet (such as planting a tree). And when it's time for a little eco-entertainment, there's a game, in which players help Sponge Bob suck up trash-spreading bubbles (and trash) with vacuum cleaners. Nick plans to add more games, and in November 2008, will roll out a "first-of-its-kind global multiplayer online green game for kids."
Is It Any Good?
The site's high-production look is sure to appeal to kids and it imparts good messages and offers some educational information, but one would think that, given Nickelodeon's vast resources, there would be a little more substance. The daily tips, message board, and video upload are the strongest features -- hopefully kids will take advantage of the last two to communicate ideas to keep the Earth healthy. The glossary is good but has a typo or two. Correct answers are not provided for the quiz (which also has some typos) and you never know how many answers you got right. Perhaps this is to keep kids returning to try to improve their rating, but some kids might get frustrated. The Sponge Bob game, which has no educational value, could use more instructions as it took a few tries to figure out that clicking the right mouse button activated the vacuum.
The upcoming multiplayer game sounds promising, and as the video diary and message board continues to grow, BigGreenHelp.com could evolve into an busy online community where kids exchange ideas and share their green efforts.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how much time is enough to play even the best quality online games. What is a fair limit for computer time? When should you log off and play with real-life friends outside, learning about the Earth first-hand? Families can talk also about the new things this site taught them about how to take care of the environment. Can you pick three things you learned on the site that you can start doing today to help our planet?
Website Details
- Genre : Educational
- Pricing structure : Free
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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