Secret Builders is an educational game for kids that was launched in 2007 by Renaissance 2.0 Media. The site is aimed at children from age 5 to 14. The site is a combination of social chatting and educational features. Players are introduced to historical characters and learn basic concepts in math, science and the humanities. Children are given the opportunity to express themselves through creative writing and artwork.
The appeal of the website is its vast array of online games that children can play and the social interaction between the members. Memberships begin at $5.95 per month with discounts at the 6 and 12 month levels. As with most online games, a reward system pays players for winning games and completing tasks, and allows them to upgrade their membership and their virtual world. Children can play for free; however, their movement within the world is limited. The website is the base for the game. There is no need to download a separate program to operate the game.
Features
New members create an avatar from the available designs to use as their virtual personality. Players are able to customize themselves by changing their appearance, color, design or accessories. Players need to earn money or ‘shills’ to purchase goods and services in the virtual world. ‘Shills’ are commonly awarded to players when they successfully complete games on the website. Players have plenty of different opportunities to earn their ‘shills’ as there are many different games within each game category. Many of the games are educational in nature where players work with historical figures to solve puzzles; answer scientific questions; solve mathematic problems; and use their creativity with art and writing. Two creative outlets called ‘The Crooked Pencil’ and ‘Build It!’ allow players to post creative writing and suggestions for the Secret Builders website, respectively. Like many other MMOG websites, Secret Builders allow chatting and interacting with other players. Making friends, sending messages and chatting in a social chat room are major elements of the online experience.
What’s Good
Secret Builders is a social website that will appeal mainly to tween boys and girls who are interested in making friends online. There are no adult themes in the games or on the website. There is no violence, drinking, smoking, drug use, sex or offensive language. The membership fee is a good value for the variety and amount of games that are available. The graphics are clear, clean and crisp.
The best component that Secret Builders has to offer to children is the educational element of the virtual world. Children learn about history, science and language arts in a non-confrontational and no-pressure environment. There are very few virtual worlds that enable children to use their creativity as much as Secret Builders. ‘The Crooked Pencil’ and ‘Build It!’ components are innovative and much needed in an online environment filled with frivolous, commercialized websites aimed at children.
What’s Bad
Some of the female avatars are overly sexualized with exaggerated curves, adult-style haircuts and dressed in provocative clothing similar to cocktail dresses. Portraying an avatar as an innocent, child-like character is not bad – what is bad is dressing it up to look like an adult. Parents need to be aware of the potential messages these themes send to their children. These disconcerting adult themes clash with the educational side of the website. Secret Builders needs to decide what is more important: the positive education of children or sending children into adulthood before their time.
The most confusing thing about Secret Builders is that it appears to be two different websites. There is the educational side of the website where children learn by answering problems and gaining monetary rewards; and there is the social chatting side which has nothing to do with the education component. It’s as if the education element exists only to draw children into the social chat element. It certainly doesn’t seem like it’s the other way around.
Online Safety
Although the website has done an average job of promoting online safety, several users and parents have voiced concerns over inappropriate language and content that have made their way through into open chat areas. Secret Builders offers a safe chat mode where children can only use predetermined phrases, images and emoticons. In open chat, filters are in place, but may not catch unwanted comments. Parents need to be vigilant about their child’s online activity and report any inappropriate messages to the website moderator.
The Summary
Target Demography:
The age range is a little too wide, especially for social chat.
Graphics: B-
Although the design is good, some avatars may be construed as inappropriate.
Educational Value: A+
Learning about practical skills is more important than the social chat element.
Entertainment Value: B+
Both the education element and social element will keep players busy.
Price:
$5.95/month. Discounts for a 6 or 12 month membership. Free membership with limited access to advanced features.
Visit Secret Builders at www.secretbuilders.com.
The above Secret Builders review was written by a responsible parent and media professional who believes that child safety on the internet must be observed as a top priority. Contact us if you would like your virtual world reviewed too.
Hey!
My user in this website is Alexzendrea7
meet you all there!
Angelina you’re right!!!
This is the best virtual world ever!!!
This is the best virtual world ever!
I’ve tried so many virtual worlds none of them was good and they were boring except secretbuilders. At this website you can adopt your own wee pet, decorate your tree house and colour it, you can join the fashion show,you can meet new friends, you can like someones home if you like it, you can like someone if u think his/her outfit is beautiful, you can buzz and locate buddies, you can trow parties, you can earn gold coins and silver coins by playing games and taking quizzes and more to do…
If you become a super builder you can convert shills/silver coins into gold coins.
Enjoy!
this is boring