Internet Coach for Safety

Copyright: KBkids.com

How on earth do you teach your children to be safe on the Internet without sounding like a paranoid, preaching parent who is giving yet another lecture? Children have a way of tuning out anything which sounds like a lecture from their parents. Internet Coach for Net Safety contains a cute, yet simplistic, game which will allows you to discuss some basic Internet safety guidelines with your children.

Internet Coach for Net Safety contains a trial version of Cyber Patrol, one of the more popular Internet filters. The other feature on this CD-ROM is a game called Pizza Panic. This game is where the real power of the program lies. Do not expect excellent sound or graphics. The graphics are mediocre at best, and the sound is rather poor. The content of this game makes it worth having, however, if you are having a difficult time broaching the subject of Internet safety, regardless of the graphical quality. There is also little replay value here. Once your child has solved the puzzles, the mystery is gone from the game.

Pizza Panic is the story of a boy who has lost his pet monkey during a massive pizza craving attack. He must now explore his house, the school and the zoo (during a school field trip) in order to find his missing monkey. The regular version of this game is simply a problem solving game with Internet lessons subtly hidden just below the surface. The Pizza Panic Plus game (also included on the CD) contains pop up items which allow you to discuss in detail the safety mistakes the boy makes throughout the program.

You and your children will find a locker with a combination taped to the front, and a nasty surprise inside because of the boys' carelessness with personal information. The same holds true as the boy discovers some mysterious fines on his library card. The lesson of protecting passwords and especially personal information of any kind can not be overstated! As you and your child work through the Pizza Panic Plus game, pop-up screens appear which explain dangers found on-line. When the locker password is discovered, for example, a screen appears which discusses the dangers of giving out passwords and personal information. Tips are also available which show you how to pick a good password versus a bad password. These screens must be read aloud and should be discussed between parent and child. The regular version of the game is identical except there are not discussion pop-up screens.

As the game continues, you will have the opportunity to discuss financial scams which abound on the Internet as the boy learns that an advertisement he sees is not all it is cracked up to be. He also learns about viruses from some gorillas who give him an apple full of worms. One of the more important lessons, and a difficult one for children to learn, is the lesson taught by the zoo elephants. The boy learns the hard way that the 'friendly' elephants are not all they are cracked up to be, and are actually imposters.

You will not be impressed with the quality of this program itself, but the lessons learned may save your child's life. This is a fun way to discuss the subject of Internet safety, especially with younger children who may not understand more sophisticated ways of explaining the dangers which lurk on-line. Older teens will find it 'babyish', but the lessons are just as important. The game itself can be played in a half hour or so depending on the child, but your discussions are the most important factor.

Bottom Line: A poor quality program with outstanding lessons that every child must be made aware of.

Ratings: (based on KBkids.com's 4 star rating system)

Overall: 2 1/2

BrainGain: 2 1/2

FunFactor: 1 1/2

EasePlease: 4

This program is available from http://www.apte.com