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