Mindspring - believe it or not - has some great features for kids. And they don't look baby-ish like some other options we looked into.
I set up my son's email account and put on the spam filter that they offer. I tested it for a couple of weeks first and found that it worked very well. ZERO spam - I think it's some sort of miracle. lol
I also installed my own version of spy ware however - just because I'm one of those paranoid parents.... I set up his email to leave a copy on the server and once a week I scan (on my PC) his email account to make sure nobody is sending him stuff I don't want him to see. And again...no problems. It really seems to be working even though he's signed up to receive newletters, joined online kids' clubs, etc.
They also offer a special web browser (Monkey something? I dunno - we didn't use it) that you can use for the kids that comes in multiple levels all the way from stuff for the very little to the more mature (in between age). Mine are 12 & 14 Colin...I totally know what you're talking about.
It's a "fun" age...or so they tell me. lol
