• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tech Savvy Mama

Parenting in the Digital Age

  • About
    • Affiliations & Honors
    • Contributors
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Technology
    • YouTube
    • Social Media
  • Lifestyle
    • Parenting
    • Travel
    • Safety
  • Education
  • Causes
  • Gift Guides
  • CONTACT
    • Work with Me

An Introduction to Club Penguin

May 14, 2013 By Leticia

Introduction to Club Penguin TechSavvyMama.com

In a world filled with penguins, puffles, and igloos, Club Penguin empowers kids to be who they want to be through online game play in a fun digital playground that introduces them how to interact socially in a virtual space in a safe way. Last month I had the opportunity to visit Club Penguin headquarters in Kelowna, British Columbia as they opened their doors for to media for the very first time for a peek inside their igloo. What I discovered was a company filled with employees who genuinely love their jobs and care deeply about the kids who inhabit the Club Penguin world.

Disclosure: I was invited to Club Penguin headquarters as part of a press trip with Disney Interactive who covered my travel expenses to attend.  I was not asked or required to publish content related to Club Penguin and all opinions are my own. Photos courtesy of Club Penguin and Disney Interactive.

#ClubPenguinMediaSummit TechSavvyMama.com

If you’re not familiar with Club Penguin, the Canadian-based company was started in 2005 by two fathers who wanted a safe place for kids to play online. Today it’s the #1 virtual world for kids globally. Through the years, over 200,000,000 (yes, million!) penguins have been created by those living in 190 countries and playing in 5 different languages. These days the average time spent playing Club Penguin is 30-40 minutes three times a week. There’s always lots more traffic on the servers before or after school with an increase over the weekend too.

P4110132

The Club Penguin world is incredibly diverse not only because of the worldwide appeal but also because it is a site that boys and girls inhabit equally. According to Chris Heatherly, the Vice President and General Manager of Disney Interactive Worlds (aka Spike Hike in the Club Penguin world), penguins aren’t gender specific and kids cross gender lines in their online game play.

In the land of Club Penguin, inhabitants have the opportunity to do four things: role play, socialization, customization, and game play. Game play involves kids having their penguin to visit multiple indoor and outdoor rooms that spark community, role play, and social interaction. Kids go to certain places in the online environment for a certain type of interaction and play.

P4110153

The Club Penguin team has noticed that what is happening in a player’s life or in current events, such as the election, Super Bowl, pop culture, or natural disasters is also reflected online. For example, following Hurricane Sandy, Club Penguin moderators noticed that kids pulled together, rallying the community to stay safe.

P4110157

Club Penguin also encourages their players to be who they are through self-expression. They’re able to customize their penguin avatar through clothing, hair styles, and accessories using coins earned by playing any one of the 26 available games. The coins are the Club Penguin currency that are used to shop for additional outfits for their penguin, items for their igloo, or nurture and care for their pet Puffles.

P4110151

At any given time, there are 40 different areas that encompass Club Penguin world but this also ebbs and flow based on specially themed parties that are always eagerly anticipated by players. Parties provide the audience with an opportunity to purchase special outfits for their penguins during a limited period of time, visit an area that has been completely re-imagined, earn special badges or backgrounds for their penguin trading cards, and play games that are not usually available.

The Club Penguin world encourages open ended play that is recognized and celebrated by Club Penguin staffers who like to “encourage kids to be wacky, crazy, be themselves” by paying close attention to what the community wants. Heatherly says, ““Club Penguin is like a cardboard box. Kids have props to make their own creative stuff. We give them the tools and let them make the play.”

P4110131

Club Penguin’s 4 aspects of putting kids first

Heatherly also expressed the importance of listening to their audience and incorporating ideas into products they make by saying, “anytime an idea comes from a kid, it’s more powerful than when it comes from us.” Case in point- the rainbow puffle. It had been something Club Penguin players had been asking about for awhile. This spring penguins could earn the coveted rainbow puffle through a series of game play challenges that needed to occur over a series of days but cumulatively only took 15 minutes of game time.

Club Penguin members can join for free and or pay a monthly subscription where a flat monthly fee allows them full access to the various parts of the Penguin universe and the myriad of games. Unlike other online sites for kids, Club Penguin game play does not require any additional payments outside the monthly cost. This puts parents’ minds at ease. Hooray for no astronomical surprise credit card bills!

Coming next: How Club Penguin Teaches Kids About Safe Social Networking

Related

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: #ClubPenguinSummit, Club Penguin, Disney Interactive, online gaming for kids

Previous Post: « Shoot, Create and Share from Your iPhone with Disney’s New Story App
Next Post: How Club Penguin Teaches Kids About Safe Social Networking »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The Common Mom says

    May 14, 2013 at 3:34 pm

    Thank you for sharing this – my daughter and her friends have recently found out about Club Penguin but I haven’t had a chance to vet it. I’ve been cautious about letting 7 and 8 year olds become involved in a social media site.

    • Leticia says

      May 14, 2013 at 3:40 pm

      Hi! Thanks for your comment! I have a 6 and 9 year old and after getting an in-depth look at how Club Penguin works tirelessly to ensure that their members stay safe, I am confident that it’s a safe place to let my kids play though it’s definitely worth sitting down to explore the world of Club Penguin before you share it with your kids and then sitting down together as they start to play. Hope that helps and please let me know if you have any questions as you get started! Happy to help!

Trackbacks

  1. How Club Penguin Teaches Kids About Safe Social Networking | Tech Savvy Mama says:
    May 15, 2013 at 8:01 am

    […] To learn more about Club Penguin, visit my post: An Introduction to Club Penguin  […]

  2. Club Penguin Star Wars Takeover Coming Thursday! (w. giveaway) | Tech Savvy Mama says:
    July 22, 2013 at 10:43 am

    […] An Introduction to Club Penguin […]

  3. 2013 Gift Guide: Best Gifts for Early Elementary Ages (5-8) | Tech Savvy Mama says:
    November 13, 2013 at 12:03 am

    […] igloos, playing fun games, and just plain waddling around! Read more about Club Penguin through my Introduction to Club Penguin and How Club Penguin Teaches Kids About Safe Social Networking […]

  4. Club Penguin’s Coins for Change is Way for Kids to Give Back Through Online Play | Tech Savvy Mama says:
    December 26, 2013 at 9:34 am

    […] I visited Club Penguin headquarters in Kelowna, Canada last year, my kids have been eagerly anticipating Coins for Change. They love […]

Primary Sidebar

about sidebar pic_profile pic

Hi! I'm Leticia, founder of Tech Savvy Mama! I'm an award-winning blogger, Washington, DC area mom of teens, middle school computer science teacher, and education consultant.  Read more...

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

AFFILIATIONS & HONORS

_YouTube Parent Panel

_top50momblogger

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

Subscribe

Never Miss a Post!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Consent*
Yes, I consent to being emailed
No, I do not want to be emailed
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
No spam, ever. Promise!

Tech Savvy Mama on YouTube

<<< View More >>>

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

INSTAGRAMMIN’

techsavvymama

DC area blogger & middle school computer science teacher focused on edu, family tech & teens. ❤s= 🚀 #STEM 🏃 #StJudeHeroes #legacyteamnuun 🏝 #Haiti

It was such a joy to be able to celebrate this mil It was such a joy to be able to celebrate this milestone! 🎉 Huge congratulations to Thomas and the Class of 2024! 🎓 #classof2024 #graduation
Happy Global Running Day! 🏃🏻‍♀️If you Happy Global Running Day! 🏃🏻‍♀️If you know me, you know you can always find me in Memphis running a race the first weekend in December for @stjude . I ❤️love ❤️ love ❤️ love ❤️this race because the race course is pretty flat, the weather is amazing, and the whole city of Memphis comes to cheer you on, you get to run through the St. Jude campus which is always inspiring, and it is just SO fun! 🎉 If you’ve ever thought of running a 5K, 10k, half, or full marathon, I invite you to register! Sign up to join me to run/walk/run+walk any distance and not only will I cheer you on as you get race ready but I will be your Marathon Weekend buddy. 🙌🏼 I promise to help get you race ready, will take you to all the best places in Memphis before the race, and to celebrate after with post-race drinks at the Peabody Hotel. 🍹Who is going to join me? Link to register in the first comment! 🏃🏻‍♀️ #stjudeheroes #globalrunningday #memphis #stjude #stjudedmv
The best part of @solairesocial is the incredible The best part of @solairesocial is the incredible variety of delicious food available in one place! 🎉 Our family of adventurous eaters has been anxiously awaiting the opening of this culinary collective and our first visit did not disappoint! 💕 Here’s a look at the diverse food concepts that @chefakhtar has carefully curated to be part of the Solaire Social culinary experience. 👀 Huge thanks to Solaire Social for inviting us to their influencer preview to enjoy the amazing culinary cultural concepts that we’re happy to have right in our backyard! I know the hardest part about our next visit will be choosing among all the incredible food at these 8 amazing restaurants! 🍽️ 

#SolaireSocial #SilverSpring #silverspringmd #montgomerycountymd #dmvfoodie #fifteensecondsofsummer
Chincoteague = Our island in the sun ☀️ Until Chincoteague = Our island in the sun ☀️ Until next time! 💕 more than #fifteensecondsofsummer #chincoteague #assateague #loveva #islandlife
The best way to start any day in Chincoteague is a The best way to start any day in Chincoteague is at @amarin_coffee_usa ! Their fresh baked buttery croissants (that are almost as big as your head!) are always such a treat when we’re here! 🥐❤️🥐 #fifteensecondsofsummer #chincoteague #civa #esva #coffeelovers
Fifteen seconds of sunset for #fifteensecondsofsum Fifteen seconds of sunset for #fifteensecondsofsummer ! 🌅 #chincoteague #loveva #esva #sunsetlovers
Is it officially summer for your family? It is for Is it officially summer for your family? It is for ours! ☀️Thomas finished his last day of high school and Emily is home from college for a bit so it’s summer in our house. 🙌🏼 We kicked off our summer at a @nationals game that included a win with 3 home runs! ⚾️ This year I’m joining @lashawnwiltz in 15 seconds of summer, sharing 15 seconds from my days so at the end, I can look back and remember the great things we did as a family before Thomas heads to college in the fall. 😢 Join in the fun by recording and sharing 15 seconds of your summer days and use the hashtag #fifteensecondsofsummer. It officially starts June 1 but join in whenever your summer begins! 🕶️🍉⛱️ #washingtondc #washingtonnationals #nats #baseball #summer
Today we’re celebrating National Rescue Dog Day Today we’re celebrating National Rescue Dog Day because we’re so glad Goldie and Murphy are part of our family! 🐶 We gave Goldie her forever home when she was 6 months old. She had been given up by her original family because she was just too much for them. She was an enthusiastic pup who loved to jump straight up in the air when she got excited and she used to hop the fence in the mornings to go visit her best dog friend, Katy, over our back fence. She still jumps from standing when she sees a deer, meets a favorite dog friend, or gets a visit from @lisatasch but now at age 5, she’s more calm and forever faithful. 🦮We met Murphy and his 9 brothers and sisters just days after he was born although we didn’t know he would be the puppy we’d claim as ours. Murphy has that puppy energy but in his quiet moments is a total love bug. He hogs the free space in our king bed (he even has his own pillow!) and loves nothing more than to press his body into me or lie directly on me. 🐾 Goldie and Murphy came to us through @labrescuelrcp and we couldn’t be happier that they’re part of our family! ❤️ #rescuedogday #labrescue #labrador #adoptdontshop
After 3 days at St. Jude Children’s Research Hos After 3 days at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, I’m leaving Memphis so very grateful to be able to support St. Jude’s mission of working to end childhood cancer. ❤️ Spending time connecting, brainstorming, and absorbing the wisdom of fellow Hero Ambassadors from around the country was inspiring because the work we do fundraising through our endurance events helps St. Jude do the incredible work they do to ensure families never receive a bill for their child’s treatment, housing, travel, or food and continue important research that will continue to reduce rates of pediatric cancer and other childhood diseases. I am so looking forward to running in Memphis again this December! 🎉 If you’ve ever thought of running a race that does so much good in the world, join me! I’d love to have you come to Memphis and run with me! Or you can always donate through the fundraising link in my bio. ❤️ #stjude #stjudeheroes #memphis #stjudedmv
Prom 2024! ❤️ #prom #classof2024 #senioryear # Prom 2024! ❤️ #prom #classof2024 #senioryear #lastfridaynight #latergram
When we bought our house 24 years ago, it came wit When we bought our house 24 years ago, it came with many things we didn’t love like rotted porch boards, 1 bathroom, and peeling paint (inside and out!) but it also came with things we did love like old, mature trees, crazy shaped boxwood bushes, and these spectacular peonies! 🌸 Every year when they bloom I’m so glad that these beauties conveyed with the purchase of our house and I’m glad we rebuilt our porch so we can step out our front door to admire them in their glory! 🩷#peonies #peonyseason #garden #blooms #spring
As a teacher and parent, I am well aware of the me As a teacher and parent, I am well aware of the mental health challenges our youth face and am really pleased to share that over the weekend I became certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing! 🎉 I’ve always worked to build relationships with the young people in my life- whether my kids’ friends or students- and this certification has made me more mindful of the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges so I can have important and supportive conversations when symptoms first start to appear. 🗣️A big component of the training also included developing a self-care plan which is critical when supporting others. 💕 I’m so grateful to have taken this certification for free through the University of Maryland whose blended learning format (2 hours of self paced online work + 5 hour instructor led class over Zoom) was fantastic! 💻 The teacher in me really applauds the course design and I’m glad to join the 3 million+ in the U.S. certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid. 🏥 If this is something you’re interested in doing, University of Maryland has free courses on Saturdays or Sundays from 10-4pm between June-October. Swipe ⬅️ for more information, including a QR code with more information and a survey to take as part of the sign up process. And if you have any questions- leave a comment or DM me. I’m happy to help you get certified too! ❤️ #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthfirstaid #youthmentalhealth #mentalhealthawarenessmonth
Follow on Instagram

TechSavvyMama logo board_sidebar divider

SAVVY FINDS

Footer

Tech Savvy Businesswoman

Check me out across my social media channels for examples of how I can help amplify your company's brand, product, or cause!

_YouTube Parent Panel

techsavvymamasquarelogo_techsavvymama square logo

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Looking for Something?

Search by category…

or by date

DISCLOSURE POLICY

Copyright © 2025 Tech Savvy Mama · Designed by Hustle & Sway · Log in

 

Loading Comments...