Poptropica is a virtual world for kids to travel, play games, compete in competition, and communicate safely. read books, comics, and more. And one of the best things is that it’s totally free. Also its good for kids from about 6 to 10 so more that siblings can enjoy the same world together.

Tropics themed world
Poptropica is another virtual world for the young child to teenager group. You can choose a characters age, from 6-15 and gender. Then you are assigned an avatar, which looks somewhat like a bug with long skinny legs and a big head. You can change hair color, clothes and other features of the avatar. Then you hop on a hot air balloon and explore the group of islands that make up Poptropica with different themes Sky, Super Power, 24 Carrot, Time Tangled and Early Poptropica to name just a few.

Fees to pop
One nice fact about Poptropica is that it is free. Yes, totally, free. No purchase required literally. Though not totally commercial free, while I explored I saw billboards of a new Disney movie and could enter a movie house with Phineas & Ferb and Hannah Montana themed games. Though I thought that was a small price to pay for not having to subscribe to anything.

Any educational value?
The premise is the same as most, giving kids a way to ‘play’ in a virtual world with friends, chat and talk to them and play some games. Certainly not as educational as some, Poptropica is a fun diversion for an afternoon but I don’t see it becoming the all out craze like some other sites because there doesn’t seem to be any reason to return. Though you are allowed to ’save’ your character and return they openly tell you that they do not save passwords and user names, so if you lose it, you need to start over; a feature that is nice from a security standpoint, but tough on the kids wanting to start where they left off.

Parental controls
From a parent’s perspective there didn’t seem to be any safeguard that would allow you to monitor what your children were doing and whom they were doing it with. Though they only offer ‘pre-scripted chat’ which means you need to choose from a list of things to say to each character, not type any words you want.

Coming Soon
Astro-knights, Big Nate Island, and Reality TV Island are reportedly being added to the Poptropica map sometime this year. Maybe I was wrong, maybe I will return to check out Reality TV Island. I love a good Survivor!

Quick Facts:

6-15, though probably best for 6-10

Free with advertising inside

Personalized avatars

How many ‘Clicks’ does this world get?
We give this site between 6 and 6 1/2 Clicks! What do you think? Send your views and votes to OneClickMoms.

Today’s Reviewer is Deb Golumbek
Deb Golumbek is a full-time mother of two very active boys in elementary school. She is a freelance writer and editor and is a former parenting magazine managing editor. She has published numerous articles geared towards children’s health, educational issues, Internet safety and family fun. She has a background in teaching elementary school-aged children and considers the Internet a great tool that children need lots of supervision to use safely! She lives in Bel Air Maryland with her husband and children.

Coming up next– kids get to help the Nature Conservancy through ZooKaZoo.

]]> http://oneclickmoms.com/archives/533/feed http://oneclickmoms.com/archives/529 http://oneclickmoms.com/archives/529#comments Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:16:55 +0000 One Click Moms http://oneclickmoms.com/?p=529

TestTubeAliens
“From a dying world they are coming to ours.! The better you treat ‘em–the longer they live!” And so the aliens leave their toy boxes and come to life in this virtual world filled with games, adventures, and loads of kid-fun.

Things That Made Me Go Hmmmm….
When I first started reading about these, my first thought was that there were many parallels to “Transformers.” Seeing as how my five-year-old is everything “Transformers,” this was probably an overly-easy connection to make. The aliens are from the dying planet of Naratuko and are looking for a suitable planet to colonize and Earth happens to be the perfect planet for this - go figure.  They can be registered through the computer to keep up with their health, age, etc.

The Downside
I wasn’t able to see much of what the site was capable of as I did not have an alien on hand that was willing to volunteer to interface with my computer… I will say that when visiting the site, my computer fan went nuts and I thought for a moment that it was going to transform into a miniature space ship and blast off of my lap… that’s for another post…  The other downside is that it turns being cruel into a sport where you can poke and prod your alien causing it to panic, or expose it to the elements and damage their health… not the best for smaller children who may hope to get a dog or real pet someday.

Other Thoughts…
The aliens are easy enough to purchase at big box retailers and may end up being a lot of fun, for some - but it seems the packaging and set up of your alien adoptee may be the most entertaining … water, fizz, “sloog” - instant alien, or a big mess!

From Popular Mechanics…giving even more pause to parents

“Finally, a toy that invites children to explore the nature of cruelty. In fact, Electronic Test Tube Aliens ($15) are either the most cynical and ill-conceived toys on the market, or the world’s first truly existential toy. The story is simple: There’s an alien invasion on, and you get to be a collaborator by taking care of a Wi-Fi-enabled, battery-powered alien adoptee. Three of the aliens are good and three are evil; whether yours is good or evil has no bearing on how your creature will behave, since these test-tube babies can’t fight each other or really do anything. Except die. In fact, that’s their specialty.” Click here to read the entire review.

Quick Facts
* Ages 7 and up
* Must purchase alien to use the site (at any toy store or big box store)
*Games
*Teaches Responsibility (though in a round about way)

How many ‘Clicks’ does this world get?
We like this site and give it between 5 and 6 Clicks! What do you think? Send your views and votes to OneClickMoms.

Today’s Reviewer is Meredith Gilley
Meredith Gilley is the Managing Editor for CIRCA magazine, a home and lifestyle publication, contributing writer for The Rolesvile Buzz, and owner of TheMerryWriter.com a custom content and editing service for businesses and their web sites. Meredith works from home and has two children, Alek, who is almost five and Amelia, who recently turned two. Finding balance while working from home has often been a challenge and Meredith often finds herself wearing one of her daughter’s tiaras, and holding her son’s Transformers in one hand while typing, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

Coming up next
We visit a virtual world for kids with the fun name of Poptropica! Please join us.

Kinsaki is an online virtual avatar community where you can meet new friends and hang out. You can create your own avatar, and personalize yourself.

Free to Be You and Me
Kinsaki is a highly customizable online avatar community for people of all ages. There are a multitude of choices when creating an avatar; avatars can also be dressed up. There are also games, forums, and shopping at the site.

Mother, May I?
While Kinsaki is for users of all ages (and users are reminded that in order to keep the site relatively clean), anyone wishing to join under the age of 13 must have permission from his or her parents.

Breaking the Bank
Users can earn points by playing games and chatting. Points can be exchanged to buy gear or clothing; users can also trade items. By registering, a user only gets 50 points-and most items cost much more than that, so users must either earn more points or purchase credits at $.10 each.

Quick Facts

All ages

Users under 13 require parental permission

Personalized

Free registration and play

How many ‘Clicks’ does this world get?
We think this site has a way to go to really grow and engage users so right now we give it 6 Clicks! What do you think? Send your views and votes to OneClickMoms.

Today’s Reviewer is Sara Schmidt
Sara Schmidt is a mom, activist (self-proclaimed “momtivist”), writer and graduate student from Missouri. The former editor of YouthNoise.com, Sara has also taught Romany children in Spain, debated across the Midwest through NEDA, and managed a restaurant. During her junior year as an undergraduate, Sara went into premature labor while on fall break-3,000 miles from home! With her miracle baby born at 25 weeks, she was then introduced to the many nuances of the “Preemie Underground”. Married to her high school sweetheart, Sara loves to explore the web, play with her three-year-old daughter, Sage, and write-all the time!

Coming up next

We plug in our TestTubeAliens and see what adventures this virtual world offers.

GridClub This is a learning website  from Britain for kids 5 to 12. It is used in thousands of schools and homes to support and enrich the education of children. All of the activities are linked to the curriculum and cover English, maths, science, history, geography, art, music, health, modern foreign languages and even more. The site is designed to be highly motivating and rewarding. It has won many awards for its innovative approach and its comprehensive coverage of the curriculum.

GridClub: Where learning is fun!
GridClub Learning Center isn’t just a video game site for kids; it’s an internationally used teaching tool designed to enhance your child’s educational curriculum. Subjects covered are English, math, sciences, history, music, foreign languages and more, on a K-6th grade level.

Award Winning Site
BAFTA Award for Online Learning
EMMA Award for best eLearning Site
ISPA IWF Award for ‘Contribution to a Safer Internet’

What Can Kids Do Here?
Kids can engage in over 500 activities, with varying levels of academic challenge. Whether your child has a hard time in school or is a little genius, Grid Club will inspire, motivate and reward eager learning. Plus, gaming options-like playing chess or making music-encourage parents to take part in the fun.

About The Money
A free 24-hour trial will let you sample the site before committing to a one- or two-year membership. If you’re a little weary about paying via credit card online, there is the option to send a check to GridClub’s London, England headquarters.

What Moms Need to Know
* Granted the Internet Watch Foundation Award by the Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA UK) for an outstanding contribution to online safety.

* Each game includes a note on how it’s relevant to the curriculum.

* Children can connect and group with other members who share the same interests. Music, Animals and Sports are only a few of the specialty clubs offered. Kids interact within their small groups by publishing articles, sending messages, having debates and more.

Getting Started
No downloads needed! Pay by credit or debit card for instant access, or send in a check and your account will be activated once payment is received.

Quick Facts
* Educational play targeting 5-12 year olds.
* Limited social networking. Is more about fostering collaborations between parent and child.
* Offers over 500 games, each with distinct connections to the school curriculum.
* One- or two-year mandatory paid membership to join.
* No downloading required.
* Requires Flash 7 capabilities or higher.

How many ‘Clicks’ does this world get?
We like this site and give it 8 1/2 Clicks! What do you think? Send your views and votes to OneClickMoms.

Today’s Reviewer is Nicole Milliner
Nicole Milliner is a copywriter, wife and mother of two living in San Francisco with her family. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in English; Creative Writing and has a background in Early Childhood Education. Her absolute favorite gaming site for children (so far, anyway) is a toss-up between pbskids.com and sesamestreet.com.

Coming up next
Check it out…Kinsaki…for kids of all ages!

]]> http://oneclickmoms.com/archives/521/feed http://oneclickmoms.com/archives/517 http://oneclickmoms.com/archives/517#comments Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:03:41 +0000 One Click Moms http://oneclickmoms.com/?p=517

Milling About in Mokitown

A virtual world sponsored by DaimlerChrysler to teach children ages 8 to 12 about road and traffic safety through cartoon characters and the earning of points which can then be used to buy virtual stuff.

Kids go mobile
Mobile kids (Mokis) earn mobility points as they learn about traffic safety. Benedikt,  an airborne robot, asks questions and plays games with Mokis.  Spend points on virtual pizza, skateboards and other accessories. Be careful to obey all traffic rules to avoid losing mobility points. Kids can chat with fellow Mokis all over the world with virtual cell phones as they visit each section of Mokitown. No phone? Send an e-card from the Town Plaza newsstand.

Just for Moms
Parents can appreciate the lessons that Daimler wants to convey. Safety topics include crossing the road safely, the importance of being seen in traffic, and wearing bike helmets. Subscribe to the email newsletter or click on “information for parents” for more helpful resources. Chat rules called “Mokitown Manners” teach children about Internet safety.

Become a Moki
Mokitown is free, so all that’s needed to get started is a Shockwave plug-in on your computer.

Quick Facts

Daimler-Chrysler product

Kids ages 8 to 12

Teaches geography and road safety

Chat with Mokis worldwide

Free to play

Requires Shockwave plug-in

How many ‘Clicks’ does this world get?
We like this site and give it 7 1/2 Clicks! What do you think? Send your views and votes to OneClickMoms.

Today’s Reviewer is Erica Roth
Erica Roth is a former reference librarian turned freelance copywriter, as well as the mom of two elementary school-age boys. She has more than 10 years of professional research experience from her librarian days at the College of Southern Maryland, where she taught students how to use and evaluate academic resources. She has written articles on a wide variety of topics, including health and fitness, business and finance, and games and recreation. In her spare time, Erica enjoys cooking, scrapbooking, reading and music. Erica and her family live in Southern Maryland.

Coming up next
Get ready ’cause here comes GridClub a virtual world where learning is really fun!

GalaxSeeds is an MMORPG for kids 8 to 12 in which they get to explore a universe, create an avatar, customize living spaces, and earn wealth and fame by raising plants to fight evil forces. The result? A game with a big ‘green’ mission.

The GalaXseeds Chronicles: The Beginning of the End
“Long ago, in a time that has since been forgotten, lived a vastly different GalaXseeds. A GalaXseeds unlike anything you or I have ever bore witness to. A sole planet, Kalos, suspended high above the darkest cosmos, was inhabited by an entire population of skilled gardeners. They are our ancestors. They are our history. But their story has long since been buried amongst the rubble of crushed dreams, the consequences of greed and the scars of forgotten memories”…and so begins the journey and the play!

Flex your green thumb as a Seedizen Gardener of GalaXseed

Player Fun
GalaXseed seedizen’s explore amazing worlds, create their own character, customize their room, earn wealth and fame by raising plants and help save the galaxy from the evil Spaceticides.

Gardening and Life Skills
Players grow and sell plants to earn Botanickels which can be spent to purchase seeds, tools, outfits and furniture for their Pods. By combining different seeds and growing conditions, players can create new plants that are more amazing and more valuable.

Seedizens can talk with others using the safe chat system, play mini games with them, trade with them and visit their Pods. There are also Clan missions that can only be completed when Seedizens work together.

Parent’s minds at ease
Player’s safety is maintained by strict privacy policies and a unique chat word dictionary that allows self-expression while keeping users safe. Parental consent is required before accounts can be activated.

Quick Facts
·         Ages 8 - 12
·         Personalized, multiplayer game
·         Free
·         Mac & Windows
·         No download required
·         Free GalaXseed Wallpaper downloads

How many ‘Clicks’ does this world get?
We like this site and give it between 7 and 8 Clicks! What do you think? Send your views and votes to OneClickMoms.

Today’s Reviewer is Laura Polk
Laura Polk is a freelance writer who has contributed to Focus on the Family Magazine, Christian Parenting Today and Gifted for Leadership.  She has a passion for teaching women and children alike that God is in the details of family life. She is a wife and mother of three who blogs regularly on her website “Contemplations of a Crispy Mom” at www.laurapolk.com.  She is currently working on her first non-fiction book “Confessions of a Crispy Mom - One Mom’s Ally” as well as a tween fiction book entitled “They Call Me Roxie”.

Coming up next
MokiTown a virtual world sponsored by DaimlerChrysler to teach kids ages 8 to 12 about road and traffic safety…fasten your seatbelts

Join Cartoon Network characters in a battle to save the universe. FusionFall is a massive multiplayer online game for kids of all ages!

The Cartoon Network brings a kid MMORPG to virtual life!
FusionFall.com is a massive multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG) designed to appeal to Cartoon Network fans of all ages. The worlds are created in brilliant 3D graphics, and are people by CN characters past and present.

What Can Kids Do Here?
Kids can create avatars to explore and play hero to the various worlds that make up this Cartoon Network Universe. Throughout their journeys, players interact with and gain powers from their favorite Cartoon Network characters (or Nanos). Powers can be switched out, and come in handy when faced with defeating the villainous Fuse and his band of aliens.

About The Money
FusionFall offers a couple of different pricing plans. There’s the free membership, which allows for two character creations, limited “Nanos” that can be collected and access to only a designated portion of the universe. No credit card is needed to enroll for free membership. Unlimited access membership is available in one-month, three-month and one-year plans. Plus, they offer a discounted family rate. With the paid membership your child will have full play in all areas of FusionFall, can access Live Support Chat if needed, and can interact socially with other players through Open Chat and Buddy Email.

What Moms Need to Know
* Membership options and site activity are monitored and regulated through a parent-created Master Account, which is linked to the child’s profile. For example, only a parent Master Account can authorize Open Chat.

* There is a Game Resting System in place that rewards players for spending less time with the game to commit more time to homework, outside play and other activities.

* Live staff members at Cartoon Network moderate the forums to ensure safe communication between gamers. There is zero-tolerance for internet bullying, and the exchange of personal information is prohibited.

Getting Started
Parents will need to install the Unity Web Player in order
to download and play FusionFall. Unity Web is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, and Intel Macs with operating systems OSX 10.4 or higher. Detailed instructions are available on the FusionFall website.

Cool News
FusionFall will host a panel at Comic Con 2009 in New York City

Quick Facts
* Kid-centered interactive role-play
* Social networking capabilities optional and monitored
* Virtual world
* 100,000 million avatars
* Free to join with limited play. Unlimited access plans optional.
* Requires downloading
* Works with Windows XP, Vista, and Intel Macs with operating systems OSX
10.4 or higher

How many ‘Clicks’ does this world get?
We like this site and give it 8 1/ 2 Clicks! What do you think? Send your views and votes to OneClickMoms.

Today’s Reviewer is Nicole Milliner
Nicole Milliner is a copywriter, wife and mother of two living in San Francisco with her family. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in English; Creative Writing and has a background in Early Childhood Education. Her absolute favorite gaming site for children (so far, anyway) is a toss-up between pbskids.com and sesamestreet.com.

Coming up next

Get out your green thumbs…we are all going ‘gardening’ with GalaxSeeds

A virtual world of learning–Spanish–where Pandas are the adorable protagonists of Panfu, a new virtual world for young children—that’s Panfu

Panfu: Who Knew Pandas Could Be So Much Fun?
A child-friendly, 2-D virtual world for ages 4 and up where players can create a panda avatar, play games, chat with other children, send greeting cards and learn basic Spanish through immersive learning opportunities.

Getting Started
No purchase required. Simply register at the web site and start playing!

About the Money
Panfu players can earn virtual money, called Panfu coins, by helping other pandas and playing games. Players can use Panfu coins to purchase clothing for their pandas, buy own pets and decorate their tree houses. The web site bills it as a fun way for kids to learn how to manage money.

What Moms Should Know
Panfu is an ad-free zone! (The site is funded entirely by user subscriptions)
Panfu includes both standard and high security chat modes to ensure that players have a safe and secure experience. With the high security mode, players choose from pre-determined phrases, questions and greetings. Standard security mode allows players to write their own messages, but each message is screened for inappropriate content.

A Bit of Extra Info
While it’s free to register and play on Panfu, paying subscribers can buy clothes, pets, decorate their tree house and take advantage of extra Spanish content. One-month, three-month and six-month packages are available.

Quick Facts
·         2-D, multi-player virtual world
·         Browser-based
·         For ages 4 and up
·         Safe, child-friendly chat
·         Learn Spanish
·         Play games
·         Play for free or buy subscription
·         No download required

How many ‘Clicks’ does this world get?
We like this site and give it 8 Clicks! What do you think? Send your views and votes to OneClickMoms.

Today’s Reviewer is Kevin Miller
Kevin Miller is a versatile writer who has applied his craft to books, films, articles and web content. His credits include over 40 published books and hundreds of articles, profiles and reviews. Kevin’s writing has been translated into French, Russian, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Hindi and Swedish. As a father, Kevin is equally “prolific.” He and his wife Heidi have four children: Huw (8), Gretchen (6), Zeph (4) and Lark (11 months). When he’s not writing or spending time with his family, Kevin enjoys hiking, fishing, traveling, camping and otherwise exploring his world.

Coming up next
From the Cartoon Network comes a very cool MMORPG designed to appeal to the kid-set called FusionFall.

Create to-do lists, printable chore charts and set fun goals for kids. Handipoints is a game parents play with kids to teach responsible habits. In the land of Handiland, a fun virtual world where kids can choose a Cool Cat character, play games online, kids learn that chores and homework can be fun!

Rewards for Responsibility
Parents and kids make a behavior and chore chart. Checks and points are added (or subtracted! ) for earning rewards to accessorize the child’s “Cool Cat” avatar, and participate in games, shows, and “communicating” with other “cats”while cruising “Handiland”.

Awards
International Academy of Visual Arts W3 Award-Best Parenting Website 2008
Parenting Magazine-Listed as “Must Visit” website

How It Works
Free registration receives cat avatar and some appearance choices. Parent and child create a task chart from a pull down list, or your own. After child inputs compliance checks, parent verifies, and points are added. Earned points buy rewards from parent, and/or having fun in Handiland–leading “cool cat” around for games, to decorate, and communicate. Membership adds additional rewards for purchase by parent online or in “walk-in” store.

Pluses
·         Completing tasks positively reinforced with fun as a reward
·         Healthy habits, responsibility fostered with a consistent plan
·         Parent/child together recognize child’s participation in home
·         Fun, lively games (educational too at the library-”Cat-a-Log”)
·         Canned “chat” and emoticoms only in safe virtual world
·         Most virtual rewards are free
·         Fosters association of buying with earning

Minuses
·         Parent must track child’s input for reward
·         Pop ups
·         Membership needed to unlock extras and for real life items ($5.95/mo.,$29.95/6mo.)
·         Site may become boring without new rewards

Good To Know
·         For slightly older kids’ interests: “cool” and fun news, the “cool cats club”, submitted jokes,  daily scavenger hunt, clues for decorating and visiting member’s houses
·         Great parenting blog on the site
·         Goals and savings plan on the site

Heard on the “Cat Walk”- “I wanna follow Lizard Boy to the Library…”

Testimonials

“I supervise several Sylvan Learning Centers and use handipoints for my 7 year old and have recommended it to friends as well as clients. It’s nice to be able to support a resource that is positive, motivational, and technological . . . and makes doing chores FUN! Hello! What’s not to love about that!?!?!”
- Dulce A.
New Orleans

“My kids, 9 and 5 LOVE it - especially the 9 year old - he is crazy about the missions and stamp packs and he loves buying things for his cat with his bonus points.”
- Leanne

Fast Facts
·         An organized task chart with system for tracking and fun rewards for kids
·         Motivates and rewards responsibilities and behaviors
·         Kids learn responsible habits through updating checklist
·         Fun and educational games for play in rewards system
·         Kids learn value of their work to save up points for items

Recommended Use

Cat lovers, kids 4-10 (especially younger)

How many ‘Clicks’ does this world get?
We like this site and give it a pretty amazing 9 1/2 Clicks! What do you think? Send your views and votes to OneClickMoms.

Today’s Reviewer is Cynthia Lechan Goodman
Cynthia Lechan-Goodman is a seasoned educator/counselor/writer/artist. She has a Master’s Degree in Education and Counseling from Columbia, a B.S. in Elementary Education, and what she considers to be the highest levels of advanced education– marriage and being a mommy!
Cynthia writes on parenting and families for publications including Mother and Daughter Bonding, Family Maker Magazine, DUO Miami, is a family entertainment Miami contributor to The Gather Group, has written and edited elementary school books for Scholastic Inc., and taught and tutored from New York down the coast to Florida. For this column on the internet, she brings the grand appreciation of one who has used technology that began with typewriters to the fascination of cyberspace today.

Coming Up Next
Education and learning is fun tomorrow when we go to Panfu…a kids’ world with a wonderful panda theme dedicated to teaching Spanish to little ones.

Jelly Bean Friends
Just when you thought your little one was over the Webkinz craze, a new little stuffed bundle of joy comes along - the Jellybean Friend also known as a Jellybeanie. These cute little furry creatures can be bought on the Jellybean Friends web site and their special code will allow you access to their very bright and magical world.

A virtual world for toddlers!
Just when you thought your little one was over the Webkinz craze, a new little stuffed bundle of joy comes along - the Jellybean Friend also known as a Jellybeanie. These cute little furry creatures can be bought on the Jellybean Friends web site and their special code will allow you access to their very bright and magical world, called Chroma.

Adorable stuffed toys
Very similar to the Webkinz franchise, Jellybean Friends have the happiness, health and hunger meters as well as a friendship meter to help insure the good care of your child’s new friend. They can choose clothes and accessories to personalize their friend and there are currently eight different friends available ranging from a vanilla armadillo to a green mint mouse - all with their own personalities and scent. Think Teletubbie meets Care Bears, meets Strawberry Shortcake and you get the idea…

The safety factor
As far as safety goes - a very important aspect of any site our children visit –  the chat function for every JellyRoom environment has a child protective chat tool in place. Only members can chat with each other, and they can only use pre-constructed messages - you are not able to type a personal message. You can also block members, and all chat if needed. The site is still under development, so there may be some bugs; they will also be adding more features over time as the community grows.

Something very ‘cool’
These toys come with their own scent that lasts and lasts…a fun idea!

Quick Facts
Ages 3 and up
Customizable
Free registration with purchase of a Jellybean Friend
Scent lasts up to 20 months

How many ‘Clicks’ does this world get?
We like this site and give it 8 1/2 Clicks! What do you think? Send your views and votes to OneClickMoms.

Today’s Reviewer is Meredith Gilley
Meredith Gilley is the current Managing Editor for CIRCA magazine, a home and lifestyle publication, contributing writer for The Rolesvile Buzz, and owner of TheMerryWriter.com a custom content and editing service for businesses and their web sites. Meredith works from home and has two children, Alek, who is almost five and Amelia, who recently turned two. Finding balance while working from home has often been a challenge and Meredith often finds herself wearing one of her daughter’s tiaras, and holding her son’s Transformers in one hand while typing with the other, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

Coming Up Next

Handipoints is a very interesting site for kids and parents…oh and did we mention chores?