Website Review: KidRocket.org
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know this site offers a stellar kid friendly
Web browser that has lots of cool features along with
completely safe surfing -- and it's free! Kids only have access
to a limited number of kid-safe sites (
PBS,
Disney,
Crayola,
and the like…). KidRocket can block or allow kids access
to printing, pop-ups, email, and also includes a timer or time
lock feature that will disable the browser after an allotted
time. It's important to note, however, if pop-ups are not
blocked, kids can easily click on links that take them off
these sites. A download is required, but a program isn't added
to your computer -- only a folder to save images and email
preferences.
Families can talk about the timer and time lock feature on this browser and why they're there. What's an appropriate amount of time to spend exploring and playing around on the Web? Are these features helpful to keep usage within reasonable limits or are kids able to self-regulate their time on the computer?
Common Sense Media Review
Kids can blast off with KIDROCKET.COM, the totally safe
internet browser that gives them access to limited Web sites
and not the innards of your computer or the big -- and
sometimes inappropriate -- World Wide Web. In lock mode, kids
can't access your computer without a password. Instead of
filtering out the bad stuff, KidRocket allows kids to choose
from only a short list of sites. Email, printing, pop-ups, and
even the amount of time kids spend browsing through the
directory can be controlled. KidRocket also provides a doodling
page, jigsaw puzzles, as well as the oldie-but-goodie arcade
games Pac-Man, Asteroids, Space Invaders, and more.
The KidRocket browser is a very handy application if your kids love to explore popular kid sites on the Internet such as Nickelodeon, Crayola, and PBS. If these are sites you don't want your kids poking around in, then this tool is definitely not for your family. There's no substitute for parental supervision, but using the KidRocket browser and its features unquestionably makes the World Wide Web not as wide and definitely a whole lot safer.
For another kid-safe browser choice, check out: KidZui.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
