parents FAQs

What is Playnormous?

Playnormous is an online community where children, their parents, and teachers can learn about health in a fun, interactive way. Playnormous health games are for everyone but are specifically conceptualized for K-5. However, children as young as 3 have said they love our games, and adults as old as 65 have found them entertaining and informative.

Who created Playnormous?

The Playnormous team is an energetic and talented group of game developers, artists, web designers, and animators. We strive to make fun games and interactive content for kids that will help them live healthier lives.

During the last decade we've been working with our colleagues in the health research arena to find ways to reach kids with a healthy message through entertaining media. Improving nutrition and increasing physical activity is our ultimate goal.

The work we're doing with researchers at institutions like Baylor College of Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center, USDA, and the National Institutes of Health is making its way onto the Playnormous website. Your children will be the beneficiaries of these partnerships because Playnormous content comes from our work with the medical research community.

What does Playnormous cost?

The short answer is that Playnormous costs you "NOTHING." Joining Playnormous is FREE. The mission of Playnormous is to improve the health and lives of children. This applies to all children, big and small, rich and poor.

Who should use Playnormous?

Playnormous games are for everyone and have proven to appeal to a very wide audience. Playnormous can be used as a learning tool or just for fun.

Parents, we encourage you to play our games with your child. This is a great opportunity to not only spend time with your child but to also learn a thing or two you may not have known about health.

Is Playnormous safe for kids?

We take online safety very seriously at Playnormous. Because of this, Playnormous users are not able to display personal information of any kind. If your child is 12 years old or younger, we do not ask for any personal information, including their personal email address. Should your child wish to participate in a contest, parental approval is required via email.

Are there any chat features on Playnormous?

To maximize safety, we do not offer users the ability to communicate directly on the Playnormous site. There are no messaging abilities or chat forums on Playnormous.

Is your site educational or just for fun?

We strive to make Playnormous both fun and educational for kids of all ages. Every Playnormous game is designed to teach your child about health using accurate content from our research partners and credible federal agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Teacher guides and class activities are included with each game to maximize the learning experience when used in a classroom. We encourage parents to participate as well by viewing our parent game guides and talking to your child about the health topics covered in each game.

What will my child learn at Playnormous?

Playnormous health games focus on healthy eating and physical activity. Topics currently covered include food selection, sedentary versus active living, aerobic versus strength activities, portion size, food groups, smart beverage choices, what's a fruit, and what's a vegetable. We are constantly updating the website so this list will grow as Playnormous continues to grow.

Why should I become a member of Playnormous?

Becoming a member of Playnormous gives you access to lots of fun features that non-members cannot access. For example, as a Playnormous member, you can post your high scores and create a monster avatar. You can see an entire list of membership benefits by visiting our membership page.

How do I become a member?

It's easy to become a member of Playnormous. Simply click on the "Free Sign Up" button in the upper right hand corner of your screen to get started.

Does it cost anything to become a member of Playnormous?

You can become a Playnormous member for FREE. We want everyone to have access to our site, its health games, and fun features.

Why did I just receive an email saying my child joined Playnormous?

We want the Playnormous site to be a safe one. Because of this, we always want to notify parents when their child has created a username. That gives you the ability to contact us about your child's membership should you need to do so.

In addition, parent approval is required to activate contest participation features for children 12 and under. If you wish to allow your child to participate in contests where he or she can win a real prize, you must send us approval by clicking on the link or button in the email we sent you.

How do I report a problem?

If you ever experience a problem on the Playnormous website, contact us. A member of the Playnormous team will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.

    • Colorful classroom posters now available in the Monster Gear Store!

    • Playnormous is recognized as a quality health information website for children and parents.

    • Playnormous health games on CD-ROM

    • FREE teacher guides available, complete with student assessments and classroom activities.

    • Connect with your inner cook and explore our wide variety of fun, healthy, kid-friendly recipes.

    • "The best part of this journey has been the lifestyle changes that I, and my family, have made based on what has been learned playing your games. I want to sincerely thank you and Playnormous for helping me become more educated with regards to nutrition."
    • - Theresa, Mom and 2nd Grade Teacher
    • "I did not know that there were so many fruit choices out there. I now go to the grocery store with my mom and tell her which fruits to get us."
    • - E.D.C., High School Student
    • "[Playnormous] has impacted me - and my mom too."
    • - Elizabeth, Kindergartener
    • "I feel fortunate to have been introduced to Playnormous - your program validates what I am teaching at home."
    • - Helen Ann, Mom and 1st Grade Teacher