Webkinz



"You're so smart, Alex. You need to learn as much as you can." "If I go to school, I'll have to make friends." "Making friends won't hurt you, Alex. You might find some other Webkinz like you at school  -- quiet, interesting, smart  -- there's only one way to find out."

Ages: 6-13

Price: Plush toys cost $12.99 and up, and once purchased, the website is free

Website: webkinz.com

Best for: High-energy, tech-savvy, game loving kids that plan on spending lots of time online

What we love:
* Plenty of activities
* Fun, colorful graphics
* Website changes daily
* Lots of ways to spend your "Kinzcash" (currency you receive by playing games and doing activities)
* Helpful navigational tool: "Today's Activities"
* Zero advertisements

What we don't like:
* Could be overwhelming
* Some of the games might bore older kids
* You need to purchase a Webkinz plush before navigating the Webkinz world

Safeguards: Kids enter the site with the code that comes with their Webkinz pal, so they are anonymous on the site; no personal information is required. Chatting is allowed, but only with pre-written messages from a 900 sentence word bank.

Extras: Won the 2007 Toy Of The Year Award from the Toy Industry Association, the 2006 iParenting Media Award, and the 2006 Canadian Toy Testing Council Children's Choice Award. Also see: Lil'Kinz, the younger and smaller siblings of Webkinz  -- for younger kids.

Next: Barbie Girls

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