Habitat Heroes - socialt nätverkande för eco-kids

Habitat Heroes is the first global, social networking site for eco-kids. Habitat Heroes is designed for kids 6-12 years old and is free to join.

Habitat Heroes is an interactive online destination where kids can adopt an endangered animal, create a life for it, play games, learn facts about the planet, and communicate with other young conservationists. Kids can create and personalize animal avatars.

It was created by Sharon Lowe, an Australian mother of three, after she observed her daughter playing/chatting online. Lowe decided her daughter and children like her needed a safe social network that was entertaining as well as worthwhile.

Receiving help from environmental experts the site was created and launched just in time for Earth Day 2009.

Habitat Heroes looks like a fabulous site where kids can play, interact and learn. It is something to keep them busy while educating them about recycling, the environment, endangered species and other important topics.

Safety features have been built into the site. Online chats are closely monitored to keep out predators and inappropriate content while parents also have the option to limit use of this function or any other aspect of the site.

In addition to environmental topics kids can explore other continents, learn about healthy eating, and learn about celebrity eco-heroes.

Finally a site that is green and I believe one does not have to worry about kids getting into any trouble while playing on it.
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Play the Planet - MokuZoku

I know, the weather is finally great, we feel-smell-enjoy the beauty of the summer, and here I write about computer games... Well, this computer game seems different, with no intention to glue our kids to the screen, on the contrary, rather to motivate kids to get out and play. Maybe you can check out the MokuZoku site, with your kids on a rainy day? Just an idea, a green and a great one, I think :-)


About the game (from MokuZoku site): “MokuZoku is tackling a growing problem facing childhood development– too much time in front of computer and television screens, and not enough unstructured outdoor play. MokuZoku is revolutionizing how kids learn and play by creating an interactive world where online games motivate kids to get outside and learn about their environment. In doing so, we hope to stimulate a movement back to a simpler, healthier form of play and adventure that extends far beyond their computer. By partaking in our unique hybrid of online gaming and outdoor activity, children develop the connection with nature that is so essential to human mental and physical development.”

MokuZoku has only recently been launched, and more great things are still to be seen on their site. For the kids to be able to participate in outdoor challenges to earn "MokuBerries", an outdoor component will be added to the games, with outdoor gaming gear that provides an access code to the website. This is the main difference to other online children games: MokuZoku game gives an incentive to get out and play, by getting credit for outside activities.

About the company: MokuZoku "parents" are Joshua Baylin and Scott Pardo. The company
is forming partnerships with organizations and companies devoted to sustainability and social action, such as the Pollinator Partnership by donating 10% of its profits to the animals (and their habitats) featured in the MokuZoku games.

The company also volunteers with World Camp, a non-profit organization utilizing education as a tool to empower children in impoverished communities around the world. They traveled to Malawi, Africa to feed over 2,000 schoolchildren and to teach them about issues such as HIV/AIDS prevention, nutrition, gender equality, environmental awareness and human rights. MokuZoku also planted over 1,500 trees in Malawi, based on the points earned by kids playing the game (it added up to one tree planted for every two minutes that kids played the MokuZoku).

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Planeträddarna

Planeträddarna är ett spel baserat på frågesport (utgivare WWF och Söderenergi) för 10 till 12-åringar. Spännande och lärorikt (mycket fakta). Man kommer även, inom kort att ta fram en handledning för lärare som ger tips på hur spelet kan användas som verktyg i undervisningen.

Hur ska det gå för de fyra ungdomarna Nemi, Ming, Rosanna och Simon? Kommer de att kunna hjälpa jorden med hjälp av sin kunskap om energi och klimat?

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Faktabank om vår planet

A GREAT way, for children (and ourselves :-), to learn about our planet! Check this out, I am sure you will enjoy. Read more...