KIDOZ: Keeping Your Kids Safe and Busy Online
One of the problems I frequently face working at home is that my kids want to get on the computer. After all, Mama is on there all the time, it must be fun, right? While I don`t mind the boys hanging out on YouTube to watch music videos or a cartoon site, it`s all too easy for little kids (and even bigger kids) to make a wrong turn and end up looking at something you really wouldn`t want them to see. KIDOZ has solved that problem with their very easy to use browser that is designed just for kids.
I downloaded this browser yesterday with the intention of taking a look and maybe testing it on my 3 year old. The recommended ages are 3-9, though it could really be used for older kids if they didn`t mind the child-friendly design since you can add more sites yourself that you approve of.
First, I tried it out myself. It`s very parent friendly, as well. There are parental settings that can only be accessed by password and you`ll be able to block sites that are already on the page or add new ones. The KIDOZ browser comes with preset sites on popular topics and television shows, but you can get rid of any that you don`t approve of . . . or if you just don`t feel like listening to Barney sing his stupid songs a gazillion times. 
Then, before I could even ask, Dorian, my 3 year old, came running over because he heard the animated voices. He climbed up into my lap and proceeded to navigate (with a little help since his mouse skills aren`t that great yet) around the internet. He LOVED it
Thomas was the first site we visited. Since everything is done with icons and pictures on KIDOZ, my son quickly picked out what he wanted to see. Once he got bored I forced him to take a look at some other sites, we checked out places like Curious George, Pocoyo and Roary. Then I let him surf a bit on his own while I took some pictures and cleaned the kitchen, since I didn`t need to be right on top of him to make sure he didn`t accidentally click through to porn or something!
I think he felt very grown up being on the computer alone. Mostly he colored train engines and watched some cute kid videos that they don`t show here in Guatemala . . . it was great for his English! I should mention here though that you can choose a huge variety of languages, so it would be a simple matter to switch the browser to Spanish (or French, Japanese, etc.).
Overall, KIDOZ was very easy to use, even for a 3 year old with very little computer experience. Things I loved about the browser:
- Easy to change what your kid gets to see
- Animated voices when you mouse over buttons
- Lots of fun sites are included with the download, so it`s ready to go immediately
- Choose from Websites, Games or Videos
- It takes up the entire screen (hiding even the status bar) so your kids aren`t going to be mucking around on your computer desktop . . . they can only use the browser unless they shut it down
- You can set times so your kid can only use the internet for a specific amount of time per day
The only bad thing that I found with this browser was that it turned my son into a mini-me . . . he didn`t want to get off the computer! So, be prepared . . . you may want to get a second computer just for the kids if you start using this.
Here is my review
http://blindfaith73.wordpress.com/2009/05/07/kidoz-safe-and-easy-kid-friendly-browser
That`s great, thank you, Laura. I`ll make sure you`re entered in the contest.
Great post, mmy four year old has started using my computer at home, we will take a look at this together!
yup its really easy to miss use your internet connection by going on the bed sites its really cool stuff given lots of release to the parents ..KIDOZ. its really cool.
My grandaughter wants to go on YouTube but I’m afraid she will run into something like the ballon boy and his brothers in that rap video