To get the most out of Club Penguin, you'll need to do more than simply create an account. Try some of the ideas below or submit your own in the comment field at the bottom of the page.

Self-Awareness Activity

When your child goes to create her account, she will be asked to create a name and select a color for her penguin character. She will also have the option of designing her igloo as she progresses. This is the first step to creating her online identity in the Club Penguin community. Make sure your child chooses a name and password that she will remember, or write down her account information in a secure place.

Before she can create the account, your child will also need to read the rules of Club Penguin, which include a no-bullying rule, and restrictions on bad language and sharing personal information. Make sure to click the link to see the rules, rather than just clicking the "agree" box and moving on. This will ensure that your child knows what is expected of her while she is using the internet and visiting Club Penguin. This can also open up a discussion about rules for behavior in school, other other areas.

Self-Control Activity

After signing up for her account, you will receive an email to activate your child's Club Penguin and set up her limitations. You can choose to allow her to type her own responses, or use Club Penguin's list of greetings and responses. Talk to your child about appropriate conversation and using Self-Control when interacting with others on the Internet and in real life. Show your child how certain phrases or words can be difficult to interpret without being able to hear someone's voice or see their face; she'll have to learn how to express herself clearly and concisely in order to interact with other members.

Club Penguin is just one example of a fun online community designed for children. Try some of the alternatives below, and let us know what you think in the comment field at the bottom of the page!

WhyVille

WhyVille is a popular “edu-gaming” site designed to allow children and adolescents to interact and learn together. Users create a custom avatar and travel around WhyVille completing tasks while learning about a variety of topics. Find out more in our WhyVille review.

Neopets.com:

Neopets is a fun community of creatures, designed and cared for by Neopets users. Here your child can play games, care for their virtual pet, and interact with other community members. Find out more here.

Planet Cazmo:

Planet Cazmo is similar to Neopets and Club Penguin, but with monsters! Your child can design her own monster, play mini-games, and interact with other monsters. Find out more here.