Are Webkinz Good Play or Harmful Distraction?

If you believe webkinz are a harmful distraction, you may need to re-evaluate your parenting skills. Having an extra amusement available for your child is a good thing. It is one more activity they can do instead of being bored or causing trouble. If you already have a time limit for your children's daily computer time, webkinz activities can just be added to the list of acceptable computer choices.

A child using webkinz can also learn many useful skills. Kids learn everything from basic computer skills like using the mouse and keyboard properly to math and language skills required by some of the games. There is also a kids chat room available where they can send messages to their friends using a choice of acceptable phrases. Teaching children about real world or adult activities isn't wrong. It gives you an opportunity to discuss important issues with your child like chat room safety and fantasy versus reality. This will help your children be prepared when they are confronted with these issues later in life.

Webkinz activities are free. If someone has purchased a webkinz for your child you do not have to worry about user fees of any kind. All you need to do is set up a user name and password to start playing. It is not like a cell phone or PDA that requires extra monthly fees, as long as your child has access to the Internet. Being the year 2008, I assume this is common to many households.

Activating and using a webkinz account is very simple. You do not need to be a computer guru or spend endless hours downloading software to make it work. If you have ever loaded your child's MP3 player with all their favorite songs, you know what I mean. All you need to do for webkinz is access the web site. Nothing is uploaded to your computer wasting memory.

The kids like it. It's not another board game that sits in your closet gathering dust. It's a useful present because kids want to play it and they can access it anywhere they can access the Internet. If grandma and grandpa are looking for something to amuse the kids while babysitting, you do not have to bring a trunk full of toys over to amuse them. It's also not so complicated that the kids will need to ask anyone for help, especially if grandma only knows how to check her e-mail.

Lastly, I guess parents just need to remember that they are in charge. You make up the house rules for your kids to follow. If you think your kids have been sitting around the house too much, send them outside to play! Based on personal experience, amusing children is an all day job. Your can have time to play outside, go for a walk, play with play dough, color with crayons, dance to music, build towers with blocks, put together puzzles, watch television and still play computer games for a few minutes. I believe anything that sparks your child's interest and makes them happy is beneficial to both your child and your sanity as a parent. Everyone has their own house rules. If someone gives your child a webkinz and it's not something you approve of, you don't have to let them use it. Playing with their new cute fuzzy stuffed animal is a great activity too!