Browsers: KidRocket
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: child, security, safety | Themes: Software
3. Browsers: KidRocket
“Protect your kids from the Internet and your computer from the kids!”
Cost: Free
This rocket ship themed download is actually a browser in itself (meaning, it doesn’t work with an existing browser as a toolbar or plugin). Designed with big, bold icons and graphics, it’s geared toward a younger audience, although parents can adapt it to be appropriate for kids as old as 11.
The browser was easy to download and install, taking less than two minutes with a high-speed connection. There was no email confirmation as everything is housed within the browser itself. Once parents launch it the first time, they can set a password and adjust the controls to keep kids from closing out the browser without permission and prevent any unwanted activity on the rest of the computer. Acceptable sites are set up ahead of time, giving parents a variety of places for their children to explore, even if they make up no more than 12 total domains. At the time of this review, there was no ability to add additional sites to the browsing list.
Some of the perks within the parental controls include email contact addition/blocking, print enabling/disabling, a built-in pop-up blocker, and vocal prompts that help kids know how to get around (in short, it talks). Because KidRocket includes features like desktop lockdown and a timer lock that limits a kid’s time on the computer, this tool is on par with many paid programs.
What makes KidRocket a bit different from the rest of the kid-safe browsers in our roundup is its use of flashcards. With addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division available, kids can practice math while within the KidRocket program, and parents can customize the cards to only display content at a child’s level. For multiplication, for example, a parent may choose to only show cards with multiples of three or lower.
KidRocket also provides two clever art activities within the browser: Doodle, which is like a Paint program for kids, and StarBrite, which is a computer version of a Lite Brite toy. Both will likely keep kids in the three to six year old age range working creatively for hours.
While not yet as refined as many commercial tools available to families, KidRocket has a solid history of updates and upgrades. With no cost barrier, it’s a great starting browser for parents looking to get into the world of safe Internet activities.
- Previous page Browsers: KidZui
- Next page Browsers: Glubble
Nicely written-- I like seeing Tom's branch out into a variety of interest areas, even if they arent thrilling.
What i miss in this topic is, how does the Microsoft Parenting control stand out to these programs.
I hope the 12 year olds read this after they get back from school.
What i miss in this topic is, how does the Microsoft Parenting control stand out to these programs.
Thanks for the question mkrijt. Linsey Knerl offers these comments about Windows and other OS parent control tools: "While they had some good features, (like site blocking, permissions requests, time-limits, etc.) it was hard to integrate over several different computers. It also didn't lock down the browser so kids couldn't escape and mess up your desktop folders.
One major complaint to the operating-system based tools that Apple and Microsoft offer, is that they want to tie everything back into your Windows Live or Apple accounts. (So if my 3-year-old wants to have a special collection of websites that he can access on our computer, I'd have to set him up for a Windows account that the computer can access and associate with his preferences.) I'm not a huge fan of having to have my kids set up as "accounts", which is why I like the independently-developed tools. They usually just need me to assign a name and password for my kid, and it isn't stored in my PC.
Another disadvantage to the OS based options is that they aren't practical for multiple environments. Let's say little Johnny has security settings at home all set up, but then wants to go to Grandma's to play games. I'd have to go to Grandma's and find out how her operating system works, and if it isn't the same as what we have, I'd have to reset all the settings on her system. (A lot of work.) With independent browsers, we just download on Grandma's PC, and the web-based settings automatically take effect.
Basically, there's no easy way to use the OS based browsers between machines that are not using the same OS."
Wonderful article. very objective and informative. Thanks for writing it. Good articles like this give me hope for Toms... it's almost funny to me that before I knew who wrote this I assumed it wasn't Marcus Yam because it was actually helpful and intelligent. Linsey Knerl FTW
If children at the age of 3 know those words already then they need more help than what software can do.
But anyways it's not like young kids enjoy watching porn or anything like that. Most kids don't go on very many sites, and site blockers are probably the worst thing ever created. At school we can't even use google images on school projects.
Wouldn't OpenDNS be better for blocking sites? It does so at the "source" rather than having to install a program on everyone's machines. I block all DNS queries and then explicitly allow OpenDNS servers with filtering set to moderate. Works like a charm, no adult content for anyone using anything on my internet connection. And it's FREE for home users!!!
The internet is a place for adults. Do you leave your child in a room with an adult you do not know?
DON'T leave the child alone on the net.
Nice article, it would be a nice thing to do for every OS in the market to adopt the tendency of adding one of these browsers as option for the little ones.
Most parents are not really aware of what internet means, just because they don't care about the non-4child content, or because they doesn't realize about how dangerous for a growing mind that content could be.
Many of us surfers of the web we actually don't pay attention to the stupid propaganda, sex adds and all that crap, because most of us know that those links will probably end up in some weird site asking for personal data, etc.. etc.. etc.. KIDS CAN NOT TELL IF IT'S GOOD OR BAD! THEY JUST CLICK ON IT.