Free Virtual World Games for Kids
In a virtual world, you can create an online character called an avatar and then use it to safely explore the environment and achieve goals. You can become a knight in a medieval fantasy, an astronaut traveling to the far reaches of the galaxy or a fashion maven designing the latest haute couture. Worlds created for kids offer the same challenges and imaginative play but protect the younger ones from negative influences through parental controls and limits on chats.
Barbie Girls
Though the cartoon avatars of this world look more like Bratz dolls than Barbies, Barbie Girls is free, though girls get additional benefits from owning Barbie devices. They can create and clothe their own characters, fill their pads with furniture, shop for goodies in town, play games or chat with friends.
A special section, Parents' Place, encourages mom and dad to monitor all activities. Kids never share personal identifying information beyond their parents' email addresses. Parents can control the chat levels: B Chat is the default, allowing communication only through preset phrases. Secret B Chat is only available in the child's virtual room and only with real-life friends using words approved by filtering software. Super B Chat is similar to the previous chat level but with all girls of the same chat level. Furthermore, all activity is monitored by the website.
Secret Builders
Secret Builders hides learning and culture in activities that involve famous people like Shakespeare, Alice in Wonderland and Sherlock Holmes. Participants can explore different lands, uncover quests, raise a pet, build the world with their ideas and imagination, and publish their writing in an online magazine.
Postings in private and public spaces are reviewed before going live. No information is collected from the children, though contact information must come from the parents. Restricted chat for those nine and under involve preset phrases, and free chat screens out inappropriate language. Finally, additions to a kid's chat buddy list require parental approval.
Teen Second Life
Designed for kids ages 13 to 17, Teen Second Life requires a download to create an avatar and explore a three-dimensional world where landscapes, buildings, items and clothing are under the total control of the user. Users can create their own objects using three-dimensional shapes, program them with the built-in language, and import creations from other programs. Unusual for virtual games, the in-game currency can be traded for U.S. dollars, allowing the budding designer, virtual club owner or store manager to make real cash for their play.
Though the game is free, paying a monthly charge allows ownership of land to build permanent structures and environments. Activities are monitored but otherwise uncensored, though teens can report terms-of-service violators to roaming company staff known as Liaisons. Any warnings issued to the participants are automatically sent to the parents as well.
Tags: Barbie Girls, chat level, Free Virtual, Free Virtual World, Games Kids, preset phrases, Second Life