Webkinz, or why I can’t get on my own PC at home
March 12, 2007 – 9:59 pmI am hardly the first person I know to blog about Webkinz, but I have been watching this grow into a craze over the last few months, with my son (23 Webkinz and counting) and his friends turned into Webkinz crazies.
Being a moderately heavy Second Life user myself, it’s great to see virtual worlds being made plain– and safe– for 9 year olds. Webkinz is a great mix of stuffed animals (always cute), virtual worlds, and tamagotchis. Safety? No text chat, just pre-fab phrases, though kids can play games against others online and invite friends to see their pets’ rooms. I’m comfortable with that. Here is one of my son’s rooms:
Of course, there is the matter of limiting computer time… plus, anyone want a couple-thousand lightly-used Yu-Gi-Oh! cards?
btw– the Tamagotchi Web site has “Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohan as “celebrity connections.” Ok, then….
UPDATE: I am flattered by the traffic to this post. Visitors, don’t be shy– give me your thoughts on Webkinz or anything in comments below!
12 Responses to “Webkinz, or why I can’t get on my own PC at home”
I’ve been running into this same problem at home since BOTH my kids want to check in every night now. Makes it a pain sometimes.
By C.C. Chapman on Mar 13, 2007
I’ve got the same problem, with two kids fighting each other to get on. I’ve had to give them each 15 minute slots, usually in that period of time between when we get home and when dinner is (finally) ready.
They also manage to hit a few of the other sites, like Lego.com.
Of course, they also have to deal with their sister behind them screaming “I want ‘puter… ELMO!”
By Chuck T on Mar 13, 2007
I try to shunt my son off to the backup computer, an old beater laptop, but as I referenced on Twitter last night, he and his friends laugh at the old machine as if it were a slide rule.
By Doug Haslam on Mar 13, 2007
I really want to make a webkinz but they won’t let me
By Eddie Jean on Mar 16, 2007
i have just recieved 10 webkinz for my b-day they are all bull frogs i will give u a code if u add tslay as a friend and give me 1 rare item then ill send u the code HURRY im only giving out 5 of them THX cya
By tslay on Mar 18, 2007
umm- no thanks
By Doug Haslam on Mar 18, 2007
I personally have 5 webkinz, and am addicted! There is safe chat, and you can show off your house. IT ROCKS!!! I love it, but hey, I’m just a kid…(11 years old, serioulsy!)
By Emily Fisher on Jul 30, 2007
Thanks Emily– My son is 9 and loves it as well. The safe chat is a real convincer for us parents.
By Doug Haslam on Jul 30, 2007
i have a webkinz too.
By morgan on May 3, 2008
I’m 11 and I Looooooove webkinz I have 42 and the’re all soooo cute!
By Kate on Jun 3, 2008