WHILE MOM'S AWAY....

My kids did Club Penguin and now they're on to Runescape (at the same site). They're 11 and 7. The 11 year old is definitely more into it than my 7 year old. I will often sit with them for a few minutes at a time while their playing. That way they know that I might pop in and watch. I also ask them what they did in the game and remind them frequently not to give our their real names or personal information.

And we limit the amount of time they're online as well. I personally think that many of these games provide useful skills as well as entertainment, but that needs to be balance with reading, board games, and outdoor activities.

i have somethin t say abot clubpenguin it safe i plaeyed on it my son member its the best but i will not let him on myspace

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Clubpenguin is a safe site that influences the right online behavior for children. I'm sure that there will be no stalkers on Clubpenguin. I think it is the safest site that your kids could possibly get involoved with. If they give out their address or phone number or any personal info like that it goes through a very technical filter and will not be seen on the other player's screen. They are not allowed to use inappropriate language on Clubpenguin either. They will be banned for a certain amount of time, and if they do use suck language it wil not show up on someoneelse's screen as it has gone through the filter. There are also moderators who monitor activity on Clubpenguin. A moderator has to be at leaser 18 years of age and has to be very responsible. I highly recommend Clubpenguin to all parents and their children as it is made just for children and to promote appropriate online activity.

My brother has just taken my Mum's card and without her consent signed up. He's been mildly addicted to it, and the fact that all you need is a pseudonym and e-mail address made me think that he could potentially (and very plausably) be talking to a psycho on the other end. He's not really done anything as bad as this and is now surely banned from the internet for the next few months without even slight doubt. It's addictive and easy to sign up, with virtually NO safeguards or parental consent needed to begin membership. One shouldn't be able to access this site without some adult confirmation. Lots of other kids do well and are monitored. He was monitered and would wait till backs were turned. No way to tell what's going on, although this is a personal story, one should be very cautious.

i think that clubpenguin has been some issue to my children too becouse they have tryed to stell my credit card to sign up relly what kind of carzy act is that i found out in my bill that he stoll it and signd up so i took his rights from the computer away for a long time but the point is im trying to teach him that its just not right to do that.

i let my kids useclub penguin and i think it is perfectly safe
i read through all the parents bit and privacy and safety and it is completly safe
it also teaches your kids the rules of chatting online and i would reccomend it to every one else

alright you realy need to cool down ok the web site is fully moderated and your way too strict with your kids ok!! you know you can't block everything forever now come on lady the site is fully moderated and then if anyone ask for pesonal info they are banned and its better than them seeing a blood and sex and other weird things heck they could be on myspace then when a naked lady is there background its alot safer on club penguin then myspace ever was heck dont take my word for it check the parents section on the site at http://www.clubpenguin.com/parents.htm please listen to me i know my facts

One day I came home from work and found my child playing on Club Penguin. I asked her what she was doing and told me all about Club Penguin. She seemed very excited about it and even recomended me to read the parent question/answer screen. I was very impressed on how well monitered Club Penguin was. I allowed her to play it and she often gives me updates on what sort of events are happening. One thing I was very impressed by was how the 'newspaper' is always suggesting online safty. For parents that are still conccerned I recomend using the 'Ultimate Safe Chat.' It is a feature where your child can only say a list of things provided for them. One last thing: my child told me that there is one special feature she really likes. It is a secret agency formed for the children. It gives them the power to report other children who have been breaking the rules by swearing, using sexual talk, or being rude or mean. There is no need to worry about children on Club Penguin because it is a safe online enviroment made for children.

I agree. Though The same thing has happened too me Come home my kids are playing on the internet. At first the thoughts of my kids on the internet were bad ones. But They told me about club penguin and I asked them well whats it about? They said it,s about playing games and chatting with real people!!! And said if you wanna read about it you can. I reveiwed the rules and found no fault at all in club penguin. I even granted them membership and now there always showing off there igloo too me. By the way I got two kids one is 9 other is 11. I find club penguin very entertaining and perfectly safe for your kids!!!

Girl your freakin over nothing its safe your just over sheltering them!

My 7-year-old has been playing Club Penguin for a few months now after everyone in his class started playing it and the teacher lets them after lunch each day (each kid gets 8 min.). The problem is, my son can never get enough. One day I experimented at home and he played 4 hours and would have kept going. He didn't even get up to go the bathroom. Now I limit it to 20 min. a day. My problem with this game is that it's all about making money and acquiring stuff. My son still needs to learn values, morals, how to be a friend -- all sorts of things that are not about material goods! I think the game also overstimulates him and he should be reading books or playing in his free time. I don't see any educational value and I don't like the idea of strangers asking to be his friends when I am telling him in the real world not to talk to strangers (we live in a large city). Lastly, this game is set up to lure your kid and then they ask for money. Then your kid comes and bugs you to join, every day, constantly, because he keeps bumping up against the need to be a member to play the game fully. He wanted to steal a credit card, too, just like someone else said on this list. I couldn't believe it -- my son has never stolen anything. I think this game is addictive, encourages kids to think they are being like a grown up to do all this spending, buying and owning things -- and there's so much more to life than this. They cleverly have kids earning hundreds of pretend money so a kid can't see why we wouldn't pay a measily $6 a month for their membership. The message is get lots of money and spends lots of money. Is that what we want to teach our kids? I hope my comments have been helpful to all you caring parents on this list :)

Mom45

My child has been going on club penguin and it is very nice!! The kids have a fun and safe website and even older people can have a penguin! I even have one!!!! My older daughter who is 14 has a 'boyfriend' on club penguin! IT ROCKS!!!!!! :-) ;-p

I personally think that club penguin is a friendly site unlike some of the comments posted on this list. The website enhances your knowledge about the real world around kids. Spending money saving money, making friends are all part of life. Even if they get to say practically whatever they want, if something bad is said another kid could report them or the filter could catch it. Of course parents have to be protective but not so much "puppygaurding" than just limiting the amount of time spent on club penguin or the friends or "buddies" they can have. The events, games, and the thrill of free items and making new friends are some of the many bonuses of the site. Also about the money they are charging, I agree with it simply because they have to make some kind of a living someway!

I hope this was helpful to you all! :0 :) :P

I have seen so many sites and other things I had no idea my 13 and 11 year old were doing online when I was not home or watching, even with the computer in the main room. Swearing and cursing and some wierd internet code on chat. I put a monitoring service on the computer since I am a non computer person called momsmonitor.com. Wow kids are nasty when they know parents aren't watching them. I love the 8 tips you gave and safekids.com is good too. Parenting is a love marathon which takes work and responsibility everyday. There will be a bigger better ClubPenguin next month as well. Have you had the webkins.com experience yet??

How do you you contact this company by phone. I would like to talk to someone about a problem we are having with them
Thanks
R. Powers

I was pleased to find the forum on Club Penguin. Like the rest of us I am also concerned about my child’s safety. The lack of security when setting up an acct did make me uncomfortable but I have not seen anything yet to worry me. Internet safety starts with knowledge and respect instilled in our children by us the parents in my eyes. My daughter asked if she could use her Christmas money to sign up. I looked into it and agreed. I used my credit card and she paid me. I limited her membership to a month to test things out. I talk with her about the good and very bad things available online. She has shown nothing but respect for the computer and me. We cannot protect them from everything or stop them from being online but we can educate them.

I think that club penguin can be safe if you have the ultra safe chatting program
but if you dont peronal info can be revaeld

I don’t think Club Penguin would have been the greatest example for foul online activities. Club Penguin is safe and always monitored. If your concerned with the loquacious behavior of online chatting, then try Club Penguin’s Safe Chat. Don’t be too concerned unless it involves sites like Myspace.

cp is an educational site that teaches children the value of money. why are you preventing your kids from playing it! they might get a little hooked at first but after a while they settle down they just log in for new catalogues and free items. they can play wonderful games that can keep them satisfied for a while when you are doing something. cp even donates half the money they make to charity! its a nice kid friendly site and you should just be able to accept that after reading the parents guide i dont see why you cant

Hey I play Cp and its safe the preson who made this is a super over protective mum let yer kids play it its safe and u cant type numbers on club penguin which is good but some times I want to type in I have 50000000000 coins or some thing the preson who made this also made a bad example she shoulda used Myspace insteed!