Webkinz

[columbusmomma]

DS just got one from a friend for his 6th birthday. So tell me, what's up with these "virtual pets", I see you adopt them online, play with them or what not? I haven't looked into them yet so just wondering!

[Stella_luna]

They're really fun. DD and her friends all love them. The online site is actually pretty cool, the pet gets a room to start with and your child can go to a virtual store to buy things to decorate it, and for food and clothes for the pet, etc. Then you can add rooms to the house. All with virtual dollars--you get a lot when you first sign up the pet, and earn more by playing games and answering quizzes and things. They even have jobs the pet can do to earn Kinzcash. If your child has friends with Webkinz, they can visit each other online. It's quite elaborate. It doesn't cost a dime of real money, and it's fun.

[NolaRiordan]

My DD just got one for her 8th b-day. Previously she claimed she was the ONLY kid in her class that didn't have one. She's played with it 2 or 3 times now and it seems OK. I haven't found anything I really object to about the games. Mostly she seems to be interested in decorating her pet's room.

[SAHDS]

There are tons of these virtual pet websites (webkinz, epets, penguins, etc.) and they all scare me, to be honest. Who knows what kind of person is lurking on these, talking to children. And, because the website seems so 'safe', many people don't think twice about these.

I know, I am over-protective, but they make me nervous.

And, yes we talk to our kids about strangers, the Internet, etc. but you just never know.

That being said, my kids both have a Webkinz (from b-day gifts), but they use them to play with each other and have yet to register them online.

[Jessy1019]

My 5.5 year old has quite the collection and enjoys playing with them online . . . she never goes on long, but she likes to do the jobs, shop, and decorate their rooms, and give them baths.

[karen ann]

Originally Posted by SAHDS

There are tons of these virtual pet websites (webkinz, epets, penguins, etc.) and they all scare me, to be honest. Who knows what kind of person is lurking on these, talking to children. And, because the website seems so 'safe', many people don't think twice about these.

I know, I am over-protective, but they make me nervous.

And, yes we talk to our kids about strangers, the Internet, etc. but you just never know.

That being said, my kids both have a Webkinz (from b-day gifts), but they use them to play with each other and have yet to register them online.

With Webkinz at least, you can set it up so that the only "chat" options are from pre-selected drop down menus, stuff like "good move" when you're playing a game against another person.

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Both of my kids (5 and 8) have one and really like them, both as cuddly toys and online pets. My 8 1/2 YO DS plays a lot of games with other kids online and has virtual playdates with his school friends which is great because we live 20 miles from the rest of his classmates and regular playdates are rarely logistically possible.

5 YO DD is more likely to play with her pet online, rather than play the games -- she "grooms" it, buys it stuff and plays with its toys. She has a bit of trouble with the games, so I tend to play more of them for her to earn her the money she likes to spend on her pet. Very spoiled unicorn she has, too. Its pushing her to learn to read faster because the pet only talks in text bubbles.

I feel like its very safe because we only use the protected chat, so the kids can't give out any personal information or anything. They can only choose pre-selected phrases.

The funniest thing is that my kids have a tendency to bicker when they are together, but they can have a virtual playdate online with their pets and they get along great when they are sitting back to back and interacting on the computer, whereas if they turned around and interacted "live" they would be fighting within seconds. Go figure -- I'm just glad they've found at least one way to play together nicely!

[Mere]

Alright, I just have to say it - I think the whole Webkinz craze is a little creepy. I feel like it is grooming young children for further online socialization, like Second Life and who knows what else. Nothing against people who are really into virtual lives, but it seems a little skewed to put so much time and effort into something that *is not real*, when you could be out there doing something that is real, like working on real relationships with real people, engaging in real hobbies, reading real books...

Especially kids, I think they should playing outside or something, not playing pointless little games for which they get virtual money to buy virtual furniture for their virtual Webkinz houses.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox. I skimmed through that other Webkinz thread and was surprised to see that everyone else seems to think Webkinz are good clean fun for kids. So maybe it's just me :....is it?

[muldey]

My dd and I love Webbies.We both have our own accounts,it's so much fun.Like others said,we only use the safe chat option,but even when they had the option to type your own messages,it was very limited.They did end up closing that part as far as I know.We love the games,Quizzys,gardening,grooming and dressing our pets,decorating their rooms,cooking,and just playing with their toys.You can send notes and gifts to friends(you can pick from a few messages) and have them visit your house.

[mamazee]

My daughter likes it but doesn't spend much time playing it online. Maybe if the weather is bad she'll play for a little bit. It's cute.

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Originally Posted by Mere

Nothing against people who are really into virtual lives, but it seems a little skewed to put so much time and effort into something that *is not real*, when you could be out there doing something that is real, like working on real relationships with real people, engaging in real hobbies, reading real books...

Especially kids, I think they should playing outside or something, not playing pointless little games for which they get virtual money to buy virtual furniture for their virtual Webkinz houses.

I think its about balance. Kid's can't play outside all the time -- it gets dark, rainy, too hot, just plain boring, whatever. They can't always be playing sports, though both of my kids spend 3-5 hours a week on various sports. There are no other kids to play with on the street, and the kids a few streets over are strangers to my children because they go to private school some distance away, so easy neighborhood playdates don't happen. They spend 6+ hours a day at school developing "real relationships" -- so at some point I think its OK for them to check out of the social scene.

So, when they are ready to play inside largely by themselves, does it really matter if they are playing with a real stuffed animal or a virtual one? I can't see how it does. Does it matter if they hold a "real" checker in their hand or a mouse to manipulate a virtual one? I'm not sure that it does. Is there a difference between playing a computer game vs. watching TV? Actually, I'd rather have them play on the computer because its more interactive and less violent than the stuff my DS wants to watch as he gets older. I suppose if you were anti-media, then the computer would also raise questions, but I'm not. I think everyone needs downtime, and my kids find in with the computer. One of them doesn't read yet and one of them doesn't especially like to read, so I'm not going to force books -- and since they want downtime at the same time I do, I'm not up for reading too them at that particular stage of the evening!

If they spent all of their time on the computer, I'd be concerned. If they only wanted to play online and didn't have IRL friends, I'd be concerned. But I think its part of a healthy mix of activities and options, and perhaps a necessary part of the extra-busy lives that we (my family, anyway) lead these days.

[boatbaby]

Originally Posted by Mere

Alright, I just have to say it - I think the whole Webkinz craze is a little creepy. I feel like it is grooming young children for further online socialization, like Second Life and who knows what else. Nothing against people who are really into virtual lives, but it seems a little skewed to put so much time and effort into something that *is not real*, when you could be out there doing something that is real, like working on real relationships with real people, engaging in real hobbies, reading real books...

Especially kids, I think they should playing outside or something, not playing pointless little games for which they get virtual money to buy virtual furniture for their virtual Webkinz houses.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox. I skimmed through that other Webkinz thread and was surprised to see that everyone else seems to think Webkinz are good clean fun for kids. So maybe it's just me :....is it?

Amen sister!!

[Stella_luna]

Originally Posted by Mere

It seems a little skewed to put so much time and effort into something that *is not real*, when you could be out there doing something that is real, like working on real relationships with real people, engaging in real hobbies, reading real books...

Uh-oh . . . I'd better lay off the MDC, then

J/K. DD only spends an hour or so a week on Webkinz. She does plenty of working on real relationships with real people, engaging in real hobbies, and reading real books too I just see Webkinz as harmless in small doses.

[mamazee]

Originally Posted by Stella_luna

Uh-oh . . . I'd better lay off the MDC, then

I know it's a joke but I really think it's a good point. Obviously, everyone here recognizes that there is at least some value to some things on the internet, or we wouldn't be here on the internet. If a kid were on the computer a lot and didn't play outside, I'd have a problem, but to play online occasionally just doesn't seem like a big deal to me. There's lots of valuable stuff out there. There's bad stuff too but my daughter only uses the computer around me. Webkinz isn't in the "valuable" or "bad" category to me - it's cute but just a silly bunch of games.

IMO the worst thing about it is that it's a total marketing tool. "Buy some trading cards and get some more codes to put in!" That would be the best argument against it. But my daughter seems content with the one Webkinz she got from her aunt for Christmas this year and doesn't seem to care about extra cards or codes. So long as she's relaxed about it, so am I.

[JayGee]

My 4 and 6 yos love Webkinz, but the online activity really wore off after the first month. My DD is more into playing with the actual animals than doing anything with them on the computer. Right now she's pretending to teach a class of Webkinz ! DS just loves anything he can collect. I think they actually go online to the Webkinz site about once or twice a month, and then only for 15 minutes at the most. I have to admit that the animals are really pretty cute.

[kylesmama]

Originally Posted by Mere

Alright, I just have to say it - I think the whole Webkinz craze is a little creepy. I feel like it is grooming young children for further online socialization, like Second Life and who knows what else. Nothing against people who are really into virtual lives, but it seems a little skewed to put so much time and effort into something that *is not real*, when you could be out there doing something that is real, like working on real relationships with real people, engaging in real hobbies, reading real books...

Especially kids, I think they should playing outside or something, not playing pointless little games for which they get virtual money to buy virtual furniture for their virtual Webkinz houses.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox. I skimmed through that other Webkinz thread and was surprised to see that everyone else seems to think Webkinz are good clean fun for kids. So maybe it's just me :....is it?

I feel the same - my children (much younger than pp) were given these as gifts by friends where the parents are addicted to the games / earning $ for the pets, etc. I try to limit my computer time as well b/c I know how easily it is to get sucked in by it & lose track of real time. Personally I worry about sexual internet predators, etc. & that the webkins is just an introduction to more to come on the chat rooms, etc. Just wanted to say you're not alone, I feel the same & haven't set up the online part.

[mamababamba]

Ds never got into the social chat part and as Webkinz got more commercial he got less interested. He really thought it was wrong that they were trying to sell you more stuff by not letting you into parts of the site without new purchase codes...the enchanted forest etc. I completely agree with all the posters about limiting media and we don't have any video game systems, but I also think there is a balance that can involve a little of the modern world. It certainly has all of us sitting here, reading, chatting and communicating in a generally trusting environment. :

[HomeBirthMommy]

My kids (8 and 6) love Webkinz. I think Webkinz is a great learning tool for them. They have to earn their money for things they want to buy, they have to make sure their pets get healthy food so they won't get sick, etc. My kids mostly just play games, decorate their rooms, and they like doing jobs and earning badges. They recently discovered the "cooking school" and they LOVE that.
I'm not worried about predators b/c they only can use the pre-selected phrases and b/c I am always close by. I've even been known to play a game or two to earn them some extra money. I'm really good at Goober's Lab and Zingoz Pop. :

[columbusmomma]

Thanks for all the info Mamas!

[Sage_SS]

Originally Posted by Mere

Alright, I just have to say it - I think the whole Webkinz craze is a little creepy. I feel like it is grooming young children for further online socialization, like Second Life and who knows what else. Nothing against people who are really into virtual lives, but it seems a little skewed to put so much time and effort into something that *is not real*, when you could be out there doing something that is real, like working on real relationships with real people, engaging in real hobbies, reading real books...

Especially kids, I think they should playing outside or something, not playing pointless little games for which they get virtual money to buy virtual furniture for their virtual Webkinz houses.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox. I skimmed through that other Webkinz thread and was surprised to see that everyone else seems to think Webkinz are good clean fun for kids. So maybe it's just me :....is it?

I know what you're saying and for the most part, I totally agree. I think kids spend waaaaaay too much time on their buts. But not all kids who have webkinz spend hours a day playing online with them.

My girls all have them, actually my oldest just turned 9 today and she got 3 more for her birthday! But they aren't allowed to spend much time online. They spend a fair amount of time on the computer for their homeschool stuff and after they're done that, they spend maybe 15 mins or so checking on food supplies and such for their online pets.

And my hubby is a big computer nerd, so he's actually blocked access for tons of sites. He's hand picked all the ones they're allowed to check out when they're online alone.

BTW I use the term "nerd" with utmost reverance and respect!