Club Penguin Review and Giveaway + Info on Special Earth Day Fun

In March 2005, the founders of Club Penguin set out to create an ad-free, virtual world where children could play games, have fun and interact. After months of research and testing, Club Penguin opened to the public in October 2005. In August 2007, Club Penguin joined the Walt Disney Company in a partnership designed to provide access to unprecedented resources and unique development opportunities.

Club Penguin is safe for kids. The site does not collect any of your child’s personal information and children are not allowed to disclose any of their personal information while interacting with others. Parents can choose from two chat options. Ultimate Safe Chat limits what users can say to pre-scripted greetings, questions and statements, as well as emotes, actions and greeting cards. Standard Safe Chat allows players to type their own messages to other users. Every message is filtered to allow only preapproved words to be displayed to other players, and block attempts to communicate problem phrases, a phone number or other personally identifiable information. The filter is continuously updated to account for shifts in language and pop culture trends. Club Penguin employs on-site staff to monitor activity and chat, receive reports of misconduct, and provide personalized player support. An “M” icon on the upper, right-hand portion of the screen reminds players a moderator is available to help. Those who engage in inappropriate behavior can be silenced or banned from playing.

So, what is Club Penguin? Club Penguin is a snow-covered virtual playground populated by colorful, animated penguins. Players design their own penguin and waddle around the island of Club Penguin, engaging in a variety of fun and imaginative activities. Penguins can chat with friends, play games and explore the virutal world.

This week, my oldest son, Aidan, asked if we could sign up for Club Penguin after seeing his friend’s account at a birthday party last weekend. About a year ago, I checked it out for him, but given the fact that he couldn’t read, it wasn’t a good fit. Now that he is a big time Kindergarten kid who can read, the time is now right for his Club Penguin adventure. My son loves playing games and “earning coins” to purchase new things. And while I’m not a huge gamer, I really like Club Penguin–it’s cute, engaging, and really easy for kids to navigate. I can totally admit that I really like some of the games and have “helped” him win. I also like the fact that my son can grow with it. His skills and wants are pretty simple at this point, but as he gets older, he will be able to engage more with other players and really get into it.

Earth Day is tomorrow, and Club Penguin is doing its part to empower children to help protect the planet. They are celebrating Earth Day in the virtual world with special online fun in the Club Penguin playground. Now through April 27, members can use the virtual coins they earn playing games to “purchase” Earth Day-themed costumes for their penguins. Plus, players will also be able to visit areas of the virtual world that have been redesigned to look like the natural habitat of some endangered species and learn about those species and what is threatens their existence. Here in the real world, Disney Online Studios, which produces Club Penguin, is donating $100,000 to help protect the planet and some of the creatures that call it home.

You can experience Club Penguin with your child today by going to www.clubpenguin.com. There are two modes for Club Penguin; children can play in a “free mode” which gives them limited access to the virtual world or subscribe to Club Penguin which opens up the entire Club Penguin universe, endless activities and fun, and access to the Earth Day fun. (Memberships are at $5.95 per month.)

Club Penguin is giving away a prize pack to one lucky Babes In Disneyland reader! The prize pack includes a 6-month Club Penguin membership and Club Penguin plush. There’s no “mandatory entry” this time. Simply enter using the methods below. Make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry!

1. Subscribe to my blog via email or RSS feed. (1 entry each)

2. Follow my blog. (1 entry)

3. Grab my button and post it on your blog. Please leave the URL in your comment. (2 entries) If you post the button about my book on your blog, give yourself FIVE extra entries!

4. Like Babes in Disneyland on Facebook. (1 entry)

5. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. (1 entry per day.)
6. Tell me why you want to win. (1 entry)
7. Tell me who you want to win this for. (1 entry)

Contest ends at 11:59pm PST on April 30, 2011 and the winner will be chosen via random.org. PLEASE leave your email address if it is not visible on your profile–even if you have commented on my blog before and I responded to your comment. I will notify the winner via email and they will have 36 hours to respond! This was not a paid post and honest opinions were used. See my disclosure statement for more information on my policies.

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