Thank you to Fooz Kids for providing me with an All-In-One pack to review. The opinions I’ve expressed here are solely my own and represent my honest viewpoint.
About Fooz Kids
Fooz Kids is a new application that allows parents to control their child’s exploration of the internet in an age appropriate way. It provides a list of recommended websites based on age that can be edited by through the Parental Dashboard while also limiting contact to a trusted network of pre-approved friends. For an annual fee of $11.99, Fooz Kids is downloaded and installed as a software program that takes over the desktop and serves as a portal to websites, email, and social networking, making it easy for a parent to manage internet usage in their home through a single interface.
Fooz Kids Setup
Setting up accounts using the Parental Dashboard is easy and can be completed in mere minutes. Enter in the child’s name, username, and birthday and then toggle between the members of your family in the upper left corner of the screen using the appropriate icon. More time is needed to screen the websites, videos, games, and crafts that are automatically available to your child.
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| Easy to use Parental Dashboard navigation |
Once accounts are set up for each child, Fooz Kids automatically selects pre-screened content that they deem as age appropriate. The list is extensive and curates websites, videos, games, and crafts throughout the internet from sites like PBSKids, Disney, NickJr, etc. It’s worthwhile to go through the recommended content and edit using the Fooz Kids List feature. Otherwise the list is overwhelming for kids and may not be the most age appropriate content based on your child’s needs. To narrow the list, simply uncheck the box next to each one and it won’t show up on the dashboard viewed by your child.
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| Edit Fooz Kids recommendations to fit your child’s needs |
If your child has a favorite that’s not already part of Fooz Kids, it can be added using the MyChannel feature for additional customization.
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| MyChannel is a way to add favorite sites |
Click on the gray add button and a search box will pop up, allowing you to enter search terms to locate favorite content.
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| Search for favorite sites within FoozKids |
Fooz Kids Dashboard- A Child’s View
When Fooz Kids is launched, it takes over the monitor and has a simple interface that allows children to click on their avatar to access their specific content.
Content is presented through icons and limited text, making it easy for non-readers to find the content they want to use. Content is listed in alphabetical order, reinforcing the ABCs for younger users.
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| Scroll through the alphabetical listing of icons using the orange arrow on the right |
Besides the alphabetical list, children can also access content according to type. The big buttons and icons keep with the kid-friendly easy-to-navigate style of the site.
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| Or select content based on type |
Advantages of Fooz Kids
- Makes content easy to find. Often times parents don’t know where to start looking for good sites for their kids. Fooz Kids provides a wealth of content that is filtered according to the child’s age eliminating some guesswork about where to go.
- Takes over the desktop to protect files. When Fooz Kids is launched, it takes over the desktop of the computer. Kids can’t get to other items unless the account password is entered. This is great if it’s being used on a designated kid computer but could be an annoyance on a shared machine. Regardless, locking down the desktop with Fooz Kids helps protect files and other sensitive documents that you don’t want your child to accidentally click on or delete.
- Create accounts for each child. The ability to create as many accounts as needed for children in the family allows customization according to age, skills, and interests.
- Install on multiple computers. Add Fooz Kids to other computers in your house by visiting the site and logging into your account. The application can be downloaded for free for additional machines.
- Monitor activity through Fooz Kids University. Fooz Kids U provides a report card- an overview of lessons completed by grade, time spent on the computer, and progress.
- Works with Macs and PCs.
- Affordable. It costs $11.99/ year but I can give my friends a so feel free to try it and let me know what you think.
Summary
The affordable price and easy-to-use interface of Fooz Kids makes it an appealing choice for families with kids who are beginning to explore the internet. While the site does provide a multitude of parental control features to limit content and interactions while monitoring online activity, it should never be a replacement for personally reviewing content or having conversations with your child about topics relating to online safety.
Please click here to learn more about Fooz Kids. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own. #cleverfooz
Please click here to learn more about Fooz Kids. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions are my own. #cleverfooz
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Original post by Tech Savvy Mama
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