The overall numbers are surprisingly high (more on that in a second), but worth noting about UK-based virtual-world market-research firm KZero's latest data is the growth figure: "the largest quarterly increase since we started tracking in 2008" – an increase of 214 million accounts between Q1 and Q2 2011, KZero says. This is kid virtual-world users we're talking about. The fastest-growing worlds … [Read more...] about Kids’ virtual worlds thriving
Poptropica
Tools & sites aimed at better kid time online
There seems to be this firewall between kids' products that kids like and kids' products that parents like. It's rare and amazing when that wall collapses, but I think what helps is when the product, while passing parental muster, is just plain useful to kids. Kid-friendly online utilitiesChildren's Web browser Kidzui meets those criteria – after all, kids need to browse the Web, and a lot of … [Read more...] about Tools & sites aimed at better kid time online
Undercover Mom in Poptropica, Part 2: The Apple Jacks of kids’ virtual worlds
By Sharon Duke EstroffLast week I detailed the good things I discovered in this popular kids' virtual world for 5-to-10-year-olds. This week...What I wasn't crazy about Video Game Overtones. Gallant educational effort aside, my suspicions were correct. Kids aren’t flocking to Poptropica.com by the tens of millions out of a quest for learning, they’re flocking there for the highly addictive video … [Read more...] about Undercover Mom in Poptropica, Part 2: The Apple Jacks of kids’ virtual worlds
Undercover Mom in Poptropica, Part 1: Virtual World with educational elements
By Sharon Duke EstroffI chose Poptropica.com as the site of my latest undercover mom investigation because of its first-place ranking in the 5-to-10-year-old bracket. With 20 million unique accounts and counting, it is indeed a heavy hitter in the burgeoning children’s virtual world market.But I was also intrigued by the Poptropica's educational spin. The site's parent company is Family Education … [Read more...] about Undercover Mom in Poptropica, Part 1: Virtual World with educational elements