Webkinz - great toy

[mom2karen]

Dd has had a Webinz for about 2 months now and loves it. It is a stuffed animal that comes with a code for a year subscription to a virtual world. The kids get a virtual version of their stuffed animal, a room and some $$. They can decorate their room, shop, play games (about 1/3 are truly educational, 1/3 are somewhat educational, 1/3 are non-gory arcade type), feed, dress and play with their pets, get a job.... They can interact with other kids on line, but it's all pre-scripted stuff so they can't share personal information. If you check in daily you get a small bonus, but your pet won't die if you neglet him for months. There is a contest about every 2 weeks that involves some sort of writing - poem, story, advice column, and the kids earn extra virtual $$ if they win.

The site has been having some problems with crashing, but they are upgrading and it is much more stable.

The pets cost $10-12 and are found in smaller stores - like the places that sell the TY beanies. Could be a great holiday gift.

Beth

[sunshine]

That sounds really neat :)
So, would the Hallmark type stores sell them?

[mom2karen]

Some Hallmarks do carry them. You can find a list of store locations by following the link at their main site.

http://www.webkinz.com/

I'd suggest calling around to see what their prices are. I've found a $1-2 price difference depending on which store I go to.

Beth

[yogagirl]

Thanks Beth. I'm just starting to think about gifts for nieces and nephews. Sounds neat.

[Admin Irock]

My younger DD FINALLY got one of these, she's been asking since before Christmas. They're at Pat Catan's!!! I thought they were only at gifty type shops.


She loves it, feels very "in control" when decorating her virtual rooms on the web site.

[COLORADO/MOM/3]

Both my DD who is 9 and my DS who is 4 have had these for a couple of months as well. I got theirs on Amazon to have more of a selection. I must agree that I am VERY impressed with these toys, they are only about $15.00 and have been the best toys I have ever bought. We put DS on DD's account because we thought he was too young to understand it, but it has taught him how to use the mouse and he even recognizes the words and does everything by himself. I agree very impressive! :D

[candied]

Oh this is great news. My DD just had her birthday and when I went to get her Precious Moments number 7, I saw them at the Hallmark store. I thought about getting her one but had already spent lots of money her. We bought her a surfboard for her birthday. I had mentioned it to a couple of people, but it sounds like since they are not sold in the toy stores that they are not found very easily.

Thanks for posting, this is something that I will think about for Christmas for her.

Candace

[arubagirl]

my 11 year old has 3 she loves playing with them and meets her friend from school in the online "rooms" and the pets play together.

[ericaj]

my dd8 has 7 of them. she loves it! she has created rooms, garens, bathrooms, etc for the pets, is closing in on getting her webkinz crown of wonders, oh geesh. i even get sucked into the games on it as well!

[Admin TiggerTeddie]

I couldn't find these ANYWHERE in So Cal. Actually, one of the other Admins was kind enough to buy one for me that she found and send it out!

You can find them in more gifty places. We found them at the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh and in Ohio Amish country (of ALL places!).

DD LOVES it! And we work on the computer together. I love the fact that it is teaching her about how to earn and spend money - really good life lessons!!

[raisinggracie]

If anyone ever needs help finding them, pm me. We have tons down here. We already had 8 before moving here and they were incredibly hard to get in Memphis. For some reason, they really haven't taken off where I am now.