Webkinz

Post by **drew** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 6:11 pm

Well since there is now a thread about Second Life; how about one on the Kid's Second Life.

Webkinz.

Roughly translated, I beleive it means Heroine-crack.

Any one who doesn't know...Your kid buys a Wenkinz stuffed animal...not for sale at Toys 'R Us--usually at places like the Hallmark Store.
It comes with a security code. You go on the website, and 'Adopt' the animal, which comes to life in your virtual world.

Each adoptee has their own account, and you can have as many pets on your account as you wish.
You get money (kinzcash) for playing different games, ith the money you have to buy rooms for your home, food and clothing and furniture and toys and games and stuff like that. One good point is that the educationsal games pay WAY more Kinzcash than a regualr game.

It is also interactive.
My oldest son can 'invite' anyone on is friends list over to his Kinzhouse and play one of the board games that he has bought..usually checkers.
But don't worry, though it is interactive, there is no room for Child predators, as the adoptees can't really talk to one another, they can only choose from a preset list of about twenty or so phrases...things like, "Do you want to come to my Kinzhouse?" "Do you want to play a game?"

Of course it does have it's downsides..for example, once you make your first adoption, if you don't buy another actual stuffed animal and adopt in within one year, your account is cancelled...unless Mom or Dad pay to re-subscribe.
And it's an adiction.
Between the two older boys, they have six.
The oldest one with two, and the other with four.
If they don't get their fix, they get cranky and surly.

Although, it works as a good punishment...If they do something too bad for just being sent to the corner..they lose their Webkinz privledges for two days...and if they're really bad, they lose them for a week.

But let me tell you...they each get one half hour per day on the computer..since Webkinz they have not touched any of the other games that they have.

Post by **stonemaybe** » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:06 pm

If they don't get their fix, they get cranky and surly.

Mmm, kind of like that Kevin's Watch place then?

Post by **Avatar** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 7:02 am

Very interesting drew. Sounds like they're being pretty careful, but of course, the whole "pay to play" thing...well, it sorta bugs me. And the age of their target market too...

--A

Post by **wayfriend** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:05 pm

My kids are "adicted". As are the other kids in the neighb. "No Webkinz for a day" is a handy punishment to have available.

This is true ... Moms get addicted. They start out all innocent, like, it's bed time girls, go up and brush, I'll log you off Webkinz. Inside a month, they have their own Webkinz.

Post by **drew** » Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:01 pm

It's not just moms who are adicted.

It's funny to see how different the two boys are.

My oldest one, has all of his rooms decorated as different themes..has a fully stocked cupboard, and fridge.
Lots of games for his Webkins to play, and a small stockpile of cash...and if he wants something..he saves up for it.

The younger one howver, usually has his FOUR webkins starving, because he has not money to buy them food, because he just wasted all of his money on something like a new couch..and then he'll sell the couch in two of three days.

I bail him out every other night..play a few games, get him some cash and buy him some food.

***A sign of things to come...?

Post by **Avatar** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:46 am

The joys of parenthood...

--A