Zoodles Kid Mode is a web browser designed specifically for children, allowing the youngest users to explore the Internet safely and enjoyably. Every piece of content visible to kids—videos, games, and more—must be approved by Zoodles first.
You could also think of the platform as a vast website full of children's content.
Getting Started and Parental Controls
After downloading the program from its official site, you'll need to create an account (using your Facebook or Google profile) to access the environment and set the platform's parental controls.
Beyond trusting the safe browsing the tool provides, parents also get advanced features to monitor their kids' progress.
Games, Videos, and Art
One of the browser's biggest draws is the games section, where kids can play interactive games tailored to their profile (created earlier). If a game hasn't been approved, the tool displays a blocking alert. Younger users can also watch age-appropriate videos, which the browser pulls from YouTube (though it also includes other broadcasting platforms). In the 'Art' section, there's a painting program that lets kids paint, draw, and create entirely original, personalized shapes.
Storybooks and Recording
The books section offers a wide variety of children's stories, but it's worth noting that most are in the commercial version and many are in English. A handy feature is the ability to record a story narration and host it on the browser's server, so other users can enjoy a range of storytellers to listen to with the little ones. You can choose whether to make recording viewing open or closed to family members.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this kids' web browser is a solid choice. Though profile setup and downloading are a bit tedious, it's a good option for letting children browse the Internet safely—or more precisely, for browsing within Zoodles Kid Mode.
Zoodles Kid Mode is a free web browser available for Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, and Android. It also has a commercial version, and requires Adobe AIR to run.
