Learn More About Webkinz
YOUR QUESTIONS!!!
1. What is your fav. webkinz that you have?
2. How many webkinz do you have?
3. What is your fav. game on webkinz world?
4. When did you get your first webkinz?
5. What webkinz or lilkinz do you want to get next?
MY ANSWERS FOR ME!!!
1. My fav. webkinz that i have is the reindeer. (2)
2. I have 25 webkinz.
3. My fav. game is Home Before Dark.
4. I got my first webkinz on June 11.
5. I want to get the seal next.
My kids love Webkinz and this spurred me on to writing this articles and others on the subject because as a parent it is not always easy to find information on the internet and also we do not always have the time.
Basically Webkinz and Lil’Kinz are soft toys that each come with a unique ‘Secret Code’ that enables the owner (your child) to enter Webkinz World, which is a virtual world for the toys on the internet, where they can play with a virtual version of their own toy.
The secret code is found on the tags, which is when you are purchasing webkinz or lil’Kinz, especially from ebay, you should check that the ‘secret code tag’ is included in your purchase. If you are unsure, ask before you buy.
Webkinz World calls these toys pets, which I think is nice as it gives kids a feeling of responsibility as they can feed and cloth their ‘pets’ and are encouraged to take care of them.
As a parent I had worries about them playing on the computer and the internet by themselves. We all know that the internet is not a safe place for kids, but the Webkinz site is safe. Their chat system is constructed in a way that certain words and phrases cannot be typed in and contact details cannot be exchanged. The kids can tell their friends their usernames so that they can interact with people they know.
I actually logged in myself and took a look around and I was pleasantly surprised. It seems that Webkinz world is not only a fun place for kids to ‘play’, but it is also educational. They can adopt and name their ‘pet’ toy and design rooms for them to live in.
There is also an Arcade section where they can compete against other kids in tournaments and play games by themselves, as well as answering questions in Quizzy’s Question Corner and entering contests.
All these educational parts of the site earn them KinzCash, which is virtual money if you like, but I look at it as a reward system. They can use their KinzCash in the shop on the site to purchase clothes, toys and even furniture for their ‘pet’.
This site has helped one of my kids with his reading as his teacher thought he was behind fro his age, but it seems he has no problem reading about Webkinz online. I figured that I just needed to give him things to read that he is interested in and now he is the top og his class.
Webkinz World is not a ‘stagnant’ website, like many others we see for toys. They are always adding new things and the activities change on a daily basis. My kids, so far in the 6 months since they got their first ones have never run out of things to do.
I limit their time on the computer as I don’t feel it is necessary or good for them to be on there every day and all weekend, but they know how I am and look forward to their ‘Webkinz Time’.
If you child is hassling you for a Webkinz or a Lil’Kinz get them one for their birthday or for Christmas if you don’t want to get them one just because they ask. If your kids are like mine you will probably see a difference in them, I know I have and I also have the peace of mindthat they can play happily, together or separately, safely online.
About the Author
Sophie Bailson is a work at home mum that loves to spend time researching products for all ages on the internet to provide people with quality information in a world where we are overloaded. Many people do not have the time to research things on the internet which is why Sophie has built a network of sites in all different areas that provide good solid information. My-Webkinz.com
In this day in age attention spans are at an all time low. Think about yourself when was the last time you could fully 100% pay attention to something or anything? I know I find it difficult and with so manu distractions in life life becomes faster paced and companies are finding better ways to keep our interests. We are not the only ones experiencing attention spans reduction; our kids are finding that life at an early age moves much faster than when we were kids. Companies are pushing forward to add entertainment value to every toy or item made for kids at an alarming rate. With the release of Webkinz Plush Pets by Ganz kids are not only being entertained by a physical product but also an imaginary product by entering the Webkinz Virtual Online world. I remember back to when I was a kid and GI Joes with there rubber band spines to me seemed amazingly cool. Toys in todays world blow anything I’ve seen as a child away and they are only going to get more elaborate over time. TMX Friends release in the fall of 2007 and are the follow up to the Tickle me Extreme Elmo or (TMX ELMO). TMX Friends Ernie, and Cookie Monster have different triggers that are stimulated when a child tickles the doll. The TMX Friends fall to the floor laughing uncontrollably when tickled by a child. Different areas of the dolls have different sensors which allow different reactions and tickling the doll multiple times sends the doll into a spastic attack of laughing fits. Toys like this are beginning to really captivate children and grab their attention.
Nintendo released the Wii in the fall of 2006 and introduced a new style of gaming that reacts to physical motion. When you play baseball on the Nintendo Wii you actually swing the controller like a bat and pitch the ball with a move of the remote control. Many toys that are not going in the direction of revolutionary are falling to the way side and becoming less popular. Shortly it could be that if a toy offers only the childs imagination and doesn’t spark interactivity it may not become popular at all. Russ Shining Stars offer kids a chance to not only buy a plush pet and play games online but they can also register their very own star in the galaxy. After registering their star they can then print out a galaxy map and look at where their star is located in the known universe.If Webkinz and TMX Friends and Shining Stars are any indicator that interactivity is the modern revolution for kids toys, the industry will need to find the best ways possible to spark creativity in interactivity in the near future. Toys failing to follow similar suit may become obsolete and stale and not captivate a kids imagination. Short of releasing a total virtual reality system that becomes life like toys are getting more and more advanced and closer to one on one interactivity without another human being being present.
About the AuthorMikey Simms
I have a Alley Cat (webkinz), Polar Bear (webkinz), Gorilla (webkinz), Gold and White cat (lil kinz), Black Stallion (webkinz), Clydesdale (webkinz), Raccoon (webkinz), Pig (lil kinz), Chocolate Lab (webkinz), Lion (lil kinz), Tree Frog (lil kinz), Googles (webkinz), Horse (lil kinz), and Panda (lil kinz).