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 The Newest Rage –
Webkinz
By Kathryn E. Eriksen
Has your 8-12 year old
child asked you for a Webkinz yet? Just to make certain you will be
prepared for that question, read on.
Webkinz is the hottest toy in the “pre-teen” market. It appeals to
tech-savvy kids who still want to play with stuffed animals, but also
create a virtual world for their toys online.
“I was hesitant to start Webkinz,” says Corlie Storey, mother of
Meredith, age 9. “But after I looked at the website, and saw how fun
it was, I bought our first one.” According to a recent Dallas Morning
News article, the website now has over 1 million online users (my
daughter is user number 1,000,001!).
When you buy a Webkinz (a cute, stuffed animal), it comes with its own
“secret” code. The new owner logs on to Webkinz.com and signs on as a
new user. When prompted, the secret code is used to “adopt” the pet.
Your child chooses the name and is taken to a new room that she will
decorate, using the 2,000 Kinzcash with each pet. It is possible to
link up to 24 different pets to each other, each living in their own
space, decorated by your child.
Part of the Webkinz allure is that your child also has to feed,
exercise, play and bathe their new pets. A meter is provided for each
toy to measure its happiness, health and hunger. The more your child
“plays” with her toy, the higher the score on the various meters. Of
course, Webkinz recommends that your child play with her toy online
every day (www.webkinz.com)
Webkinz are made by the Ganz Company, out of Toronto, Canada. They
claim that more than 2 million have been sold.
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It could be argued that Webkinz teaches kids about the real world –
you have to make money before you spend it. After using the 2,000 in
Kinzcash, your child has to earn more Kinzcash before she can decorate
a room, buy clothes or feed her pet. According to a close source,
“Cash Cow” and “Wheel of Wow” pay the most per game.
The website also claims that it is a learning tool. For example, if
your child visits “Quizzy’s” she will be asked to answer
age-appropriate, educationally-based questions. “Lunch Letters” is an
arcade game that teaches children how to type and spell. “Webkinz Newz”
and the “W Tales” encourage reading. Weekly contests sponsored by the
site encourage writing, creativity and problem-solving.
If you are ready to enter the world of Webkinz, check out their store
locator. In Waxahachie, you can find your new friend inside the Dove’s
Nest, or at the Briarpatch. The Hallmark Card Store also carries this
line of toys. But don’t wait --- as soon as a new shipment comes in,
all of the toys are sold! There have even been stories of women
driving from North Dallas and Plano to Waxahachie to buy up the
stores’ supplies, because Webkinz are so hard to get in their area.
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