Kids find out stuff way before we do. By we, I mean parents. What are they finding out now? Webkinz. Yes you heard it right Webkinz. Do they have anything special to do with the internet? I guess you could say they do. Like the hundred or so fad toys before them, Webkinz are yet another. They are not specially cute, but they are plush.
They come in all varieties, including pandas, ponies, unicorns, dogs and my daughters favourite, monkeys. They are made by Ganz. Talk about rare. The retail for around $14-15 as of writing but you try to find them! Popular isn’t the word for it. Do they talk and walk? No. What makes them special is their ‘secret code’ – an ID that is imprinted on their collar tag. The ID gives the owner a FREE year of access to Webkinz World.
Webkinz World is a site specially created for kids. Webkinz World has games, contests and a ‘virtual’ or cartoon version of their real stuffed animal. Just like facebook or myspace it also includes a ‘social networking’ element that is safe for kids because they’re specifically limited to pre-set phrases to say.
Remember the Tamagochi and Furbees? For...