Online Hangouts for Kids

Whether they're using their cellular phones, school computers or at-home computers, kids use the Internet to enjoy their favorite online hangouts that allow them to play games, listen to music, chat, make virtual friends and learn all at the same time. Anastatis Goodstein, author of "Totally Wired: What Teens and Tweens Are Really Doing Online," notes that kid sites promote learning opportunities in reading, writing and communication. She also cautions that while children stand to learn from the sites, parents should put a time limit on children's Internet usage.

  1. Disney Club Penguin

    • Colorfully dressed, tiny avatars fill the online world of Club Penguin where children can create their own penguins, dress them to fit the seasons and their own personal styles, play games, attend parties, get jobs and chat with virtual friends. Community members select igloo homes for their penguins and decorate them with an assortment of furniture items. Children have an opportunity to visit their friends' igloos, go to the virtual pizza shop and concert venue. Great Schools calls the online community a training ground for other virtual worlds including MySpace and Second Life. They note that the site is built for children between 8 and 13 years old. As of 2010, Disney Club Penguin membership is priced at $5.95 monthly, $29.95 for six months or $57.95 for a year.

    Barbie Girls

    • Barbie Girls is an online community where kids can go to pick a character, design clothes for her, come up with cool hairstyles and shop for everything from shoes and jewelry to furniture and pets. The website offers kids a host of games to play and activities to complete that help them earn "B Bucks" they can spend during their shopping adventures. Family Circle, an online site for families, notes that parents can use, "The Parents' Place" section to choose how much time their child can spend on the site at a time. Barbie Girls offers guests the option of a basic or a V.I.P. Membership. Basic members are limited to designing a character, decorating your room, visiting friend's rooms, chatting with friends, playing "basic" games and earning "B Bucks". V.I.P members can adopt pets, participate in fashions shows, access additional games, give and get virtual makeovers and more. As of 2010, V.I.P. Membership a $5.99 per month.

    Millsberry

    • Millsberry is an online community created by General Mills. Described as a virtual city, Millsberry lets children create a citizen they can use to explore the city. Children have to ensure that their citizen eats, gets his proper exercise, challenges his intelligence by solving puzzles and riddles, socializes with his friends and even set up a bank account to manage his money. As of 2010, Millsberry is free. Users can simply sign up, create a citizen and begin exploring.

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