What are Webkinz? How will they impact kids and learning?

Summary

A wonderfully engaging and educational toy? Or a clever capitalistic ploy to ensnare kids even deeper into the web?

If you have not heard of Webkinz, you are not alone. Before to long, you'll probably hear much about them. What are the pros and cons of this toy? How does it impact our students and their learning? How does it impact classrooms? What should parents' roles be? Ultimately, are Webkinz wonderful new toys? A waste of time? Dangerously addictive?

Task

Work with a partner to use the links below to learn about Webkinz and the debate around them. Please be prepared to share a summary of what you found and discussed.

Links

Webkinz Home Start here and take the tour

After the tour, explore any other these sites:

• Kids hooked on Webkinz world Detroit News article (notice the photo)
• Software Reviews for Parents: Power to Learn - The Webkinz Experience
• CBC.ca Kids Reviews: My Two Cents: Webkinz
• 'Tweens' tap into the Web: Online sites offer interactive chat, games and shopping opportunities to preteens Baltimore Sun by By Tricia Bishop (reprinted on commercialexploitation.org)
• Webkinz.com - Website Review by Common Sense Media . org 
• Read some webkinz product reviews on Amazon.com
• Webkinz Parents' Area (section titled Clubhouse has info about the chat feature)
• Webkinz rumors have already started! Postings on Li Kids: Welcome to the Webkinz world