with 2 sleeps to go

School holidays and the kids are in a virtual world of their own. Do you know where they are on line?

Have a read of this from The Age, Technology, and maybe you can steer them somewhere safer Have a think about it and decide for yourself OR

Get in The Game, READ, school holiday activities are now filling fast @ Hobsons Bay Libraries, book now.


In a world of their own The Age, December 29, 2008
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Virtual worlds can be a mystery to parents. Lia Timson guides you through the most suitable for children.
Some children may know more about computers than their parents and when it comes to virtual worlds they can be years ahead. But it pays to keep an eye out to ensure they don't stray too far.
These multi-player computer-simulated environments are a world unto themselves, with shops, meeting places and their own fictional currencies. Here children can play with others in real time and can communicate via special in-world language, gestures, chat and occasionally voice.
Some virtual worlds are free to join, others require paid subscription or the purchase of currency with real money.
The thing to remember is that this is their world. One that children can - for the most part - control. They choose where to go, who to play with, what to buy and who to be. Frankly, that's a lot more freedom than they have at home, so it's no wonder the online experience is so fun and popular.
But it doesn't always make it safe, hence with school holidays upon us we've fashioned a guide to some entertaining and secure virtual destinations.
As always, go online with your children to ensure they are safe and watch for any changes in the site or games available. You could even create your own avatar and check it out for yourself. Some virtual worlds were designed for adults and although some children fake their age when registering, they are not for them - so check the parent pages if in doubt. Here are a few sites we recommend:

CLUB PENGUIN
clubpenguin.com

This Canadian site is still a primary-schoolers' favourite. Take on a penguin persona, decorate your own igloo, adopt a pet "Puffle", play games and meet up with friends at arranged times after school.
A basic account is free but membership starts at $6.95 a month, which guarantees an advertising-free site. One of the founders of Club Penguin, Lane Merrifield, told us he wanted to create a safe cyber playground for his kids and their friends. Merrifield's own experience as the recipient of bullying at school shaped his desire to shield children from predators.
"We want kids to feel safe like they are walking down in the middle of Disneyland," he says.
The Disney-owned site comes with a live moderating panel that, together with word filters, ensures safety. The company opened an Australian office this year, so phone support now resolves parents' questions and account suspensions in local time. An unavoidable consequence of "Disneyfication", however, is the now available Penguin merchandise through the online store. Other Disney sites in the same vein include the new disneyfairies.com.au, sure to capture the imagination of young girls everywhere.

POPTROPICA
poptropica.com

This one-year-old virtual world is proving a hit with youngsters. It is owned by Pearson Education, a worldwide publisher of educational books and multimedia courses, so expect fun but meaningful games. It is devoid of instructions and visual pollution but somehow children have managed to navigate their way to and through the site with ease.
No email address or personal information is required for joining Poptropica and it is free and has no advertising.

TOONTOWN
toontown.com

Also a Disney-owned site, Toontown is now using the expertise of Club Penguin's founders as company employees, so expect it to become more user-friendly. Unlike its sister site, it feels more like a CD-ROM game and requires a special software download, which in our experience was clunky. Basic membership is free but paid options afford special benefits.
It's a good clean game (except for the pie-throwing), full of familiar Disney characters for very young children who can read.

THE HABBO HOTEL
habbo.com.au

This hotel-like world bills itself as a hangout for teens (13+) and you'll see why. It has public rooms, games and organised events, as well as customisable guest-rooms. It began in Finland but 100 million teenagers worldwide are hooked, so now there are several local versions, including in Australia. It's free to join but purchases in-world are paid with real money via card, money order, SMS or phone bill - so check this premium service doesn't blow your budget.
One teenager we spoke to felt not everyone in the place was nice. But that is the lesson to take away from all virtual experiences - players must use their judgment to decide who to socialise with. The site says it employs police-vetted safety moderators that screen chat and messages. They are available for live consultation during the hotel opening times of 6am to 2am.
It is a known advertising platform to reach teenagers, with ads appearing in-game, on recommended pages and as flashes between room changes. Habbo Club VIP memberships attract extra costs.

TEEN SECOND LIFE
teen.secondlife.com

This is not just a game, it's a parallel universe. It feels like play because residents must create a persona, learn to navigate the 3D islands and become familiar with the gestures and rules of the place but real-world properties such as universities, shops and brands have islands here, so it's also an opportunity to socialise, learn and do business.
You must download the proprietary software to play but basic membership is free. It is separate from the adult version of Second Life to help keep it safer for under-18s. Parents are encouraged to go on a tour with their children to learn more about it.