If you’re not familiar with Webkinz, you’ve been living under a rock and you need to come out. Seriously. Basically, it’s a stuffed animal that you buy that comes with a code. The code gives you access to a really great website. . .a virtual world just for Webkinz. Lauri Griffin in the Fun blog, has written a great article about how her family uses them to keep up with each other over long distances. After all, Webkinz World would not be complete without a way for webkinz to stay in touch with each other.
My three oldest children have their own Webkinz and actually have started saving their allowance to keep collecting them. As far as being online, this is about as safe as it gets. With that said, I have discovered some fairly creative ways to sneak in some home schooling. Granted it’s not exactly rigorous home schooling, but nonetheless, there is some educational value to be eeked out of Webkinz World.
The Premise of Responsibility and Saving Without the Ability to Really Mess Up
Each Webkinz comes with a room that your child can redecorate. The Webkinz also needs to be fed. But nothing comes for free. . .not even in Webkinz World and so kids have to play games to earn points to save for the things they want for the Webkinz, and buy their Webkinz food. If they mess up and forget to feed their Webkinz for weeks on end, nothing too terrible happens, but their Webkinz will have to go visit Dr. Quack. For my four year old especially, the responsibility of having to take care of her ‘pet’ every day by feeding it, and the idea that in order to buy the Princess Pink Super Bathroom and Salon she’ll have to save her cash over several days is a valuable lesson.
Games that Require Logic
Webkinz does not sell itself by being educational. It is fun. Yet I have found that there are several games that require logic and higher order thinking skills in order to succeed. Furthermore, there is a quiz section full of great questions on content areas like science and social studies. Kids of course earn points for their answers which in turn they can use to buy more stuff for their Webkinz.
My Recommendations
I am in no way endorsing Webkinz as a super educational product on the same level as something like teaching your child chess. On the other hand, it has elements that remind me of my 6th grade “baby egg” project. You know, the one where you adopt an egg or a sack of flour for the week and treat it as if it’s your baby? It might make a great gift for the homeschooler on your list!