There's also the more conventional chat mode ("Standard Safe-Chat") for older kids that lets users type freely. It's filtered to screen out profanity (a swear word will get your penguin banned for 24 hours) and bullying, although the site warns it's not infallible.
A parent's email is required to activate any penguin who wants to use either type of chat, but it's easy for kids to type in their own email address or create an account and have the activation email sent there. For added security, human monitors are watching, and kids can click on an "M" icon on the upper, right-hand portion of the screen to report a "bad" penguin.
Once you've gotten him or her set up, your little penguin lands in the center of town and can explore many rooms and environments—from a café to a pet store to a disco where users can try some fancy dance moves.
For kids who don't enjoy tackling the virtual avatar world (or are too young to know how to), ClubPenguin.com also has fun games to play in almost every place on the site. Kids can catch bags of coffee beans as they're tossed off the delivery truck or race another player down the ski slope.
Finding a game isn't necessarily obvious, though, and most often you'll just happen to stumble upon one. Each game wins you virtual coins, which paid members can use to "buy" virtual clothes and outfit their igloos with the latest gear. Unfortunately, there's very little you can spend the coins on if you're not a paid member.
Kids under 12 probably won't come to ClubPenguin.com to have meaningful conversations and make long-lasting friends, but they'll enjoy just waddling around checking out different scenes and playing the games.
Fans of this site might also enjoy Nicktropolis.com.
Reviewed By: Jean Armour Polly and Heidi Kotansky
