| The Webkinz are coming! Like hundreds of | | | | |
| other fad toys before them, parents are | | | | - The Webkinz fluffy animal is not a real pet |
| hearing more about Webkinz these days, not | | | | and doesn't shed, eat food, bite, bark, wet, |
| from the news, but from their kids on the | | | | need a walk, or inconveniently die. |
| playground. Webkinz are yet another, not | | | | |
| especially cute, plush animal. They come in | | | | - Webkinz world may be more attractive than |
| all varieties, including ponies, pandas, | | | | "shoot 'em up" computer games |
| monkeys, unicorns, and dogs. Manufactured by | | | | |
| Ganz, the Webkinz retail for around $14-$15, | | | | Cons |
| when you can find them. What makes them | | | | |
| different though is their "secret code" ID | | | | - The child's imagination and creativity is |
| that is imprinted on their collar tag. The ID | | | | limited by the software. |
| gives the owner a free year of access to | | | | |
| Webkinz World, a site created just for kids. | | | | - Danger of online community taking the place |
| Webkinz World has games, contests and a | | | | of face-to-face play date interaction. |
| virtual version of the their real stuffed | | | | |
| animal. It also includes a "social | | | | - Commercialization - Webkinz is a commercial |
| networking" functionality that is safe for | | | | toy, as you would expect. |
| kids because they are limited to pre-set | | | | |
| phrases to communicate. | | | | - The parent should be aware that the |
| | | | purchase of the toy only includes a one year |
| Much like a Tamagochi, the hit toy a few | | | | access to the site. |
| years back for high tech kids, the online | | | | |
| Webkinz pets use artificial intelligence to | | | | All things considered, dad may find this to |
| simulate living creatures. Kids actually | | | | be a fairly safe way to teach basic computer |
| report back that the pets are "kind of | | | | involvement to a small child and relatively |
| alive." If you had or have a tamagochi in the | | | | harmless. At the same time, dads should make |
| house, you probably wondered whether it was | | | | sure they feel comfortable with the Webkinz |
| good for the child, when you weren't scheming | | | | stories and that they are aligned with the |
| how to end its endless beep-beeping. | | | | family's values. |
| | | | |
| Is a Webkinz like a pet? Should you let your | | | | There's nothing that says that game play is |
| child get in on this phenomenon? | | | | better or worse when done on a computer |
| | | | versus on the floor with a board game. |
| Pros | | | | |