Look, I’ll be honest, while I love social media for myself, the idea of my kids getting a Facebook page or learning about Twitter terrifies the heck out of me. We aren’t Club Penguin people and for someone who spends most of her day communicating via the internet, my kids are wildly sheltered from almost everything except the most basic websites.
You can trust I’d never recommend anything that I wasn’t 100% sure was safe for both their precious little minds and their future identities and online personas. Also, I’m a little lazy in this area so I’m not very well versed in what’s out there because I just can’t commit to learning and they haven’t really asked so I can almost guarantee I won’t recommend anything else having to do with kids and the computer because I wouldn’t feel comfortable as I am still navigating it all myself.
So when I tell you how much my kids love KidzVuz and that I think yours would too, know that I don’t take this recommendation lightly.
First, I know the founders personally. They are both moms and they are both women of oustanding character who went to great lengths (sometimes I thought they were kind of crazy for doing it all) to ensure this site would be not only iron bar secure, but also user friendly enough to make it truly a site tweens could navigate without too much parental interaction.
I’m not just telling you about KidzVuz because I know the people behind it. The reason I’m writing about KidzVuz is because it makes my kids so happy and when something affects them this much I feel compelled to share it with other parents. It is kind of like me telling everyone I know they should buy Trios for their kids. Our lives have been changed by KidzVuz much like Trios; the kids love them and mom does too.
KidzVuz is a review site for kids by kids. My Tween (and her younger brothers when they’re really lucky and she lets them join her) has an online profile on KidzVuz and she can go online and create videos telling all her pals about the latest book she’s read, movie she’s watched or toy she is “soooo obsessed” with. She can also watch other kids videos, earn points and rewards for posting and commenting and create online friendships that she likes almost more than seeing herself on camera. What’s great is that after the first few tries and then the amazing redesign of the site, she can navigate the entire thing alone and she is the biggest luddite of the family, so if she can do it any kid can.
The best part? I know she’s safe and secure so I can work or cook dinner or read with her brother while she’s reviewing away. I don’t have to worry about online predators, bullies or weird you tube accidents. She’s in a place that she loves, doing something fun and I don’t need to stand over her shoulder. She gets to feel grown up and independent and I get to feel like she’s still protected like my baby. I’m certain that is going to happen less and less as life goes on, so I’ll take it while I can get it.
The next rainy or snowy or just regular day you have when you’re kids are “soooo bored”, send them to KidzVuz where they can be reviewer stars just like our Girl. You know, the one who reviewed her cat.
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