Meet me in Webkinz World

by Sandy Maple (Subscribe to Sandy Maple's posts) Jan 22nd 2008 3:29PM

Categories: Just For Moms, Kids 5-7, Toys & Games, Gadgets & Tech

For some time now, Ellie has been wanting a Webkinz. For the uninitiated, Webkinz are these cute little stuffed creatures that you buy in the real world and play with in a virtual one. Online, you 'adopt' your pet and set it up in its very own room. You then play games and answer questions to win KinzCash, with which you can buy food and and cool stuff for your pet. There is definitely a learning component to Webkinz World, but the bottom line really is about how much money you can make and what stuff you can buy.

Ellie got a Webkinz for Christmas and caught on pretty quickly to the whole play games/buy stuff concept. She was playing and playing and buying and buying. Then she got frustrated. The really good stuff - like an interactive bathtub and a sandwich maker - costs lots of KinzCash and takes forever to obtain. That's when the problem started. She asked me to help her earn some cash while she took a break. The next thing you know, I'm playing games on Webkinz and she's off reading a book somewhere, checking in every now and then to see how I'm doing. Over a period of days, I helped her earn enough for a bathtub, a sandwich-maker, an awesome purple stove and various pieces of furniture. I knew all along it was wrong, but I just couldn't help myself. It was fun. I've since backed away from the Webkinz World and am trying to let Ellie learn the lessons intended. You know, that whole work hard and reap the rewards thing.

My foray into Webkinz World is not something I am proud of and I normally I wouldn't have shared this with the Internet -reading public. But yesterday, I discovered that I am not the only adult who got sucked in to this virtual world of playing and shopping. A friend of mine admitted that she, too, is playing games and earning KinzCash for her daughter. In fact, I think she's doing it on her own, when her kid isn't even home.

Now I am certain that she and I cannot be the only ones playing around in Webkinz World. Are we the only ones who will admit to it?

Comments (9)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Hilary 1-23-2008 @ 10:31AM

Oh my gosh, there are sooo many parents out there that play webkinz - many even have their own accounts. Check out webkinz insider, for example - it is an online forum, mainly full of adults, talking about webkinz...serious addictions! And yes, I play too. :-)

Serena 1-23-2008 @ 8:38PM

www.adultkinz.com

See you there!

Marylena 1-24-2008 @ 2:44PM

I love Webkinz World.

Both of my kids got them for Christmas. I enjoy answering the questions in Quizzy's area. My kids are 3 and 6, so sometimes I read the easier level questions and help them answer them.

My son wants to collect toys for his pet. My daughter wants to collect clothes for hers. They both want me to earn them more money for this.

I'm enjoying it, even though it's technically their game.

missy 1-22-2008 @ 3:55PM

All four of my kids have them. One of my daughters has two. The more you have the better the things are to buy, when you have 10 webkins you get a cool bed. I don't think she will ever get that many. I have not played yet but someday maybe my kids will let me!!

ame s 1-22-2008 @ 4:18PM

Although my 2 daughters (8 & 10) have over 20 apiece, they haven't asked me to play yet :(
They do, however, ask each other to play for them if one has a lot of homework. Sure beats the occasional fist fight!

rebecca Biernesser 1-22-2008 @ 4:19PM

I play....lol...I love it. I don't take care of the pets, that's my son's job. BUT the games!!!! I like to play games and these are games that I would normally play like, Quizzly word challenge, Tile tower, etc. There is even a bejeweled knock off game that I love. So I play at night while my son is alsleep and I'm bored and not ready for bed yet.

:-)

Tara 1-22-2008 @ 8:24PM

I so totally could have written your whole article. I can't help myself anymore. My husband is too busy laughing at me as I play Cash Cow and Home Before Dark and my new favourite Goober's Lab. I play after my daughter goes to bed and then the next night she logs on, she has tons of cash to spend on useless items like a beach blanket with umbrella that she has placed in her snow covered backyard. I thank you for writing this and hope we all recover. But not yet.

Lisa 1-22-2008 @ 11:17PM

I'll admit it... I'm a little in love with Professor Goober.

So much fun! :-)

Ginny 1-22-2008 @ 11:52PM

Ha ha, that happened to me as well. My daughter needed help & then I started playing games. Don't feel bad, lots of parents get hooked. I was talking to some moms at our dance studio & they all play & one even had her own account. Then my daughter saw a dad playing webkinz at the dance studio, thought that was a bit weird. We ended up finding some tip sights that are run by parents that either help their kids play or just gave up & bought their own. I always wondered on some of those high scores, now I know a lot are the parents playing, lol.

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