Always Icecream {Review}

 

I know I’ve shared this before but here it goes again – I’m always looking for ways to include technology into my homeschool.  I’m kind of overprotective and a little bit of a control freak … so it doesn’t happen as much as it probably should.  My husband is always reminding me of how technology can be a really good thing when we are teaching many kids because there are some things that I can schedule in by using our computer.  Sigh.  It takes me a while to get that message because despite running this blog, I’m kind of old school.  My daughter doesn’t do a lot of screen time – no video games and rarely any TV.  However, I stumbled across a very cool website that is just for girls in grades K-8, called Always Icecream.

Always Icecream is a unique website because it is made up of educational activities, rewards, fun games, and social community.  It is not solely a curriculum for homeschoolers but I would say it compliments what my daughter is learning in her studies.  I love that it makes the perfect companion to our homeschooling.  I’m thinking of this as some “homeschool enrichment”.

Educational

The educational component is divided up into 8 different sections including language arts, life skills, math, science, Biblical studies, foreign language, music & arts, and geography & history.  There are quizzes for each section that build on each other – once you complete a section you can move to the next.  There are educational videos, as well for each section.  I love that there is an option to assign her certain quizzes and material for her to do before she can play with the other sections of the website.  You can make it as academic focused as you want to!

Social

In addition to the education content, there is a social side to Always Icecream.  I want to quickly note that there is a very easy way to block this part of the website – so if it is not something you are comfortable with, it is easy to ignore this part altogether.  My daughter has enjoyed being able to “talk” with other girls through this website.  I like that it is heavily monitored by the Always Icecream Admins and I am able to see all of her interactions, as well.  There was a point, however, that I did turn off this feature because I wasn’t sure I wanted my daughter being so social at a young age.  If your child is begging for a facebook account or another social media, I would think this would be a much safer alternative, though.

 

Rewards

The rewards page is something my daughter is very fond of.  Always Icecream rewards girls for completing their educational games, with their own form of currency called “scoops”.  With the scoops, your daughter will be able to buy furniture, art, and clothing to use in their virtual world.  My daughter loves being able to create her own little virtual house, have her own virtual pet, create her own avatar, and enter her writing into the weekly newspaper.

Premium Parent Account

I was also given the opportunity to review the Premium Parent Account for Always Icecream.  This is a fantastic feature!  Through the Premium Parent Account, you can choose your child’s grade level.  Once set, the child can access that grade level or higher but nothing lower than that.  You can set the social/community features that you want to allow (or not allow), you have the ability to assign them homework that needs to get done before the “rewards” can be played with on their account.  Parents can check up on their child’s activity (how often they use the site) what hours and for how long.  I think it is vital to be aware of what your kids are doing on the internet.  I also like that with an easy check of a box you can decide if you want Always Icecream to send you weekly emails updating you about your child’s activity on the website.

 

 

My daughter’s favorite things about Always Icecream are: 

• Writing articles (These get published in the News Stand on Always Icecream)

 

• Running a business (by creating little items for other girls to buy for their virtual world.  Your child makes the price and then other girls can buy it with their “scoop” money.)

 

• Creating and decorating a home

 

• Mini-Me – (Writing about her favorite things and decorating her own avatar).

 

• Friends  (Only available when “All Community Features” is checked in the parent website portal.  Girls send invitations to other girls and then you can accept or block friends, e-mail them through the Always Icecream website, plan little parties for your pets and friends, you can see their virtual “houses” on Always Icecream neighborhood feature.)

 

• Quizzes: Instrument Quiz & Language Arts Quizzes (She has played a lot of the quizzes but these are her favorites).

 

• Pet World (There are mystery eggs that you can buy with your scoops, you have to wait for the egg to hatch, then you have a pet you have to feed and take care of!)

 

• Earning awards for completing assignments (She said she loves to try to get the diamond which is the highest award – but sometimes gets the bronze or silver medal instead.)

 

I hope that gives you a good idea of how we have used Always Icecream to enrich our homeschool and playtime!  To find out more info on Always Icecream just click here.

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I received a free subscription of Always Icecream in exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are mine. Please see my disclosure page.