If you’re a Nintendo fan, have you had a chance to visit the new Play Nintendo site? Launched at the beginning of October, this site is designed for kids and parents. Kids can access interactive content favorite characters, game tips, and Nintendo news through a highly visual site while Play Nintendo for Parents is a treasure trove for parents aiming to keep up with their game-loving kids.
Play Nintendo for Kids
The highly visual kids side of Play Nintendo makes it easy for kids to navigate thanks to giant colorful blocks that feature inviting graphics. Kids can tell at-a-glance what content they’re accessing when clicking on a colorful buttons thanks to rectangles that read gallery, news, link, video, or free downloads. From a parent perspective, I appreciate the transparency of these buttons to help my kids access the content they want quickly without having to click around too much.
Kids can also access content according to character or type. The red Friends navigational tab across the top of the screen brings up a page of favorite Nintendo characters. Click on any of them to visit content featuring that particular character.
Perhaps your child is looking for a specific kind of content. The Explore button in the navigational bar allows them to access activities, videos, quizzes, polls, galleries, or downloads for all characters across the site.
Play Nintendo for Parents
Designed to be a “go-to-source for all things Nintendo,” Play Nintendo for Parents helps us understand what our kids are playing while providing information on keeping them safe when gaming. The parent side of Play Nintendo can be found by looking for the Parents button on the right hand side of the site in the red navigation bar.
When you’re in the parent site, you’ll notice that the navigation bar is white, instead of red as it is for the kids. The featured content is presented in a similar way to the kids side of the site but scroll down to find a treasure trove of content. Access characters and games just like your kids do but there’s also information on hardware & services and events that your kids don’t see through their section. Most Popular content can be found on the right side of the screen that includes a mashup of practical (Homework: How to Make it Part of Your Kids’ Normal Routine Instead of a Chore) and fun (5 Things You Might Not Know About Princess Peach).
There are also many online resources that assist in providing knowledge about gaming so we can make the best choices for our families. To help us become better informed, Play Nintendo provides tips on managing access to game content and system features for the Nintendo systems in your home through the Tips section that includes pieces like The “Do’s and Don’ts” of Friending While Gaming and Parental Controls on Nintendo Systems. Nintendo also encourages parents to explore the concept of wellness through articles like Good Gaming- Science Looks into the Benefits of Playing Video Games that incorporates findings from the American Psychologist Journal and Psychology Today as we make choices about what a healthy balance means for our families. But wellness isn’t all about gaming! Nintendo looks at the whole child and provides ideas for breakfast on the go and smart after school snacks.
GIVEAWAY! Win a WiiU Mario Kart bundle!
The new Play Nintendo is an amazing resource for families who are Nintendo fans. Visit Play Nintendo and complete the required tasks in the Rafflecopter form below to enter to win 1 of 2 Mario Kart Wii U Bundles like the one pictured above, courtesy of Nintendo. Optional daily entries increase your chance of winning! Good luck!
Please note: Contest is only open to those living in the United States. Winner will be notified and has 24 hours to respond with a US mailing address or forfeits their prize. Nintendo will ship the prize directly to the winner and reserves the right to substitute prizes for a similar item. No P.O. boxes will be accepted as addresses for delivery. Full Tech Savvy Mama Official Sweepstakes Rules can be found here.
I am a participant in the Nintendo Kids Reviewers program and receive free product and access to events but no monetary or other compensation. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Please note my experience may differ from yours. Amazon Affiliate links included in this post.
My son loves to check the site to learn more about his favorite characters. He is such a huge fan of the Nintendo characters….he was even Mario for Halloween! Thanks for the chance.
My daughter, who just received a Nintendo 3DS XL for her 10th birthday, would LOVE the Pokemon Art Academy! She loves Pokemon, and is very artistic – what a perfect combination! Thank you for this amazing giveaway. 🙂
Jenn Foreacre aka kissmykitty
x@jenn.nu
As a parent, I like Nintendo’s crash course in Club Nintendo. My teenaged brothers talk a lot about CN, but I don’t know much about it. Also, a list of the hottest games for the holiday season is perfect for gift shopping!
Jenn Foreacre aka kissmykitty
x@jenn.nu
My kids are BIG Nintendo fans! I’ll have to check out the site. Thanks for sharing!
I am liking they have game, activities, videos and more on their site
I like the Entertainment Software Rating Board with the ating Categories suggest age appropriateness so we can figure out if it is what our kids should be playing
I LOVE the Wii for my kids – I feel like the range of age-appropriate games is much better than other systems.
The kids love the stargazer and mushroom kingdom matchup activities!
I think they would love the gallery pictures and fun trailers.
My kids would love all of the bright colors. And being able to search for all things “Princess”
I think they would also like the fun facts about the various Nintendo characters.
My kids would love the Mushroom Kingdom Match-Up activity! Thanks for the chance to win!
I like the parents section and that it is user friendly
This is so helpful! I need to play WITH them more when they’re using the WiiU! The kids would go crazy if we won this bundle! Thanks so much!
I find the Parental Controls section to be most useful.
We love the stargazer.
Thanks for the heads up! I hadn’t heard of this site, but my kids love video games and our Wii U. I know my son, especially, will love to check this out!
My kids have never played Nintendo. (I haven’t either.) So I appreciate your post, as it gives a nice overview of what to expect from the site – a must have for a novice like me!
I’m still happy that my kids are little and not into the video game scene…yet. I remember how much I loved getting Nintendo for Christmas and someday expect my kids will get that excited too when it arrives.
One of my biggest concerns as we enter the stage of video games is how I can be involved as a parent while they are playing. This interface looks like it makes that piece extremely easy.
My kids are so into video games and I’m happy for it. Both of my daughters have fine motor issues and video games are actually helping them in a therapeutic fashion!
My son will love the tips section.
One thing my kids would love about the Play Nintendo site is the activities, especially the mushroom kingdom matchup.
The resource I find most useful is the article on Using Parental Controls on Nintendo Systems. Love this!
I found the Hardware and Services section most useful. You can find out what else you can do
I hadn’t a clue that Nintendo provided such a great resource for parents. Play Nintendo looks like a both the kids and mom & dad could find some useful info! Thanks!
My son would love the activities.
I like that you can set up the parental controls when using a Nintendo system
I think my daughter would love the activities on the site!
I find the Entertainment Software Rating Board most useful.
My kids would like the activities, like the Mushroom Kingdom Match -up.
Parental controls is the one I like
Five Games with Spooky Levels to Play in the Dark because I love spooky theme things! 😀
Dude… this looks super cool! I must confess that I’m not much of a gamer, but my husband and kids love spending time together playing video games. I’m definitely going to have to share this with them so they can get in on the fun. Thanks for sharing!
My daughter is a big Nintendo fan and she will love this site to keep up on all her gaming news and all the videos about her favorite games.
I think the Parent’s Guide is a great resource and gives some good info.
My boys will love this site. They enjoy watching video game videos on YouTube, but this would be fun, safe videos for them.
My kids would love the tips.
my son loves the videos
My son would love to learn more about his fave characters especially pokemon. He cant wait till Santa brings the newestgames
My kids would love to watch the videos under explore.
They will enjoy the various activities on the site
the wellness tips would be very helpful
They would love the the Tips & Tricks section because they are always looking to show off their game mastery to their friends.
All I can say is that my younger granddaughter’s are huge Nintendo fans and know they would love this site. As I am not into any type of gaming or accessing games on-line, I really don’t know what they would love.
The videos of games to watch.
He loves to watch the videos, and the stargazer!
We love all the fun family friendly Wii U games and activites that he can play!
I started my journey into videogames with Nintendo on the original NES, but I don’t have it anymore and would like my younger brother and younger sister to start theirs with the family friendly company that Nintendo is.
My kids would enjoy the activities with their favorite Mario characters.
Loving the games and videos available on the site as well as the Holiday Gift Guide
The Crash Course: Club Nintendo Article was pretty useful to me. Gotta get up to speed with things ha ha
Here is a link to the article – http://play.nintendo.com/parents/games-characters/hardware-services/crash-course-club-nintendo/
I like the tips and games
The Kids Would Love The Games, News And Tips On The Play Nintendo Site.
Oh he would love watching the videos on their website!!!
My kids will love the activities on the site, especially the Mushroom Kingdom Match-up!
I think the A Handy Guide to the Best Games for Art-Loving Kids would be useful for my children!
I think they will love the downloads & activities! Thank you for the chance to win!
Joey J.
I like the draw pokemon area, my kids would love to do that!!
As a parent I like the holiday gift guide
My kids love all the extra activities on the site!
Fun surprises!
The crash course on Miiverse could be useful
My daughter would like the stargazer activity
Draw your Halloween Themed pokemon. My boys are obsessed with POKEMON too
I like the tips. My kids would love this. They are big nintendo fans!
I found this article very useful! thank you!
http://play.nintendo.com/parents/parenting/wellness/good-gaming-science-benefits-playing-video-games/
Joey J.
One thing? Are you kidding? They would love everything about this site. I can’t see one thing they wouldn’t like about it unless they don’t have something that’s on there. hehehe
One thing? Are you kidding? They would love everything about this site. I can’t see one thing they wouldn’t like about it unless they don’t have something that’s on there. hehehe
Also, I’m trying to make a comment on another one of your Posts, but it seems every one I go to the comments are closed. 🙁
I believe games is the best resource on the whole site.
i think he would like the news and tips section very interesting
The Pokemon draw like an artist app
The Dos and Donts of friending while gaming is great info
My daughter would love the videos section — she loves watching video game videos!
I found the holiday gift guide on the Play Nintendo site useful.
e Pokemon drawing academy is very nce and since my niece loves aart she of course loves it- I had to call and ask her!
A Handy Guide to the Best Games for Art-Loving Kids is the most useful my niece is a budding artist 🙂
my kids like the tips & tricks & the holiday gift guide for making holiday wish lists.
I like the parent’s guide
The Mushroom Kingdom is what my kids love.
Parent section is great. Lots of insights..
My little girl would love the activitie
My kids liked that the site was easy to navigate and they found their favorite characters quickly!
On the parents site, I really loved the crash course!!!! That would be so helpful!! Sometimes I feel so out of the loop!
My nice would like the stargazer activity
The holiday gift guide looks helpful.
My kids will like the quizzes.
I find the How to Raise an Active (and Happy!) Game resource most useful.
I like the Holiday Gift Guide!
its nice they think about the -arents and give us a guide to navigate
They would love the trailers.
Love the videos and quizzes, my daughter would love the mushroom kingdom.
I like the tips and guides.
My son would love the tips and tricks, and really the whole site! Thanks for the great giveaway!
They will love the holiday gift guide.
I answered the survey and input my email but did not see anything about the prizes offered.
They would like to section called Everybody Saw Awwww
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
They would love the Holiday Gift guide to help them make their Christmas lists!
I find the Parent tab the most useful!
Mario has aged well, lol! Looks exactly the same from when I was a kid.
They will like the which charector are you post.
I like the parent’s guide and the information on the ESRB.
The. resourse I like the best is the article on the hottest Nintendo games this holiday season.
I like the parent’s guide to Parental Controls.
They love all the characters.
I love the activites!