Webkinz

How is it possible that my 4-year-old son is already addicted to the computer? The guy obviously can’t read yet but still begs to go onto the Webkinz site. Do you know what Webkinz are? They are the rage with 8 - 13-year-old girls. My son got hooked on it from his 9-year-old cousin.

Don’t feel all bothered if you haven’t heard of this latest trend. There are no commercials. They don’t sell them at the mega toy stores…yet they are the biggest rage. Let me explain this phenomenon. You purchase a Webkniz stuffed animal. Each plush toy has a serial number. You go online and register your “pet.” It is then your responsibility to create a virtual home for your pet. That means furnishing its home, feeding it and buying it toys. This is all done with money you earn on the site.

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It’s not a bad concept. Your child learns how to budget, whether it’s worth spending money on new wallpaper (and of course choosing the pattern) or if it’s time to try to make more money to put in your bank.

So all this sounds great. The only problem is finding one of these furry little guys. It’s the small, specialty stores that carry them and they are often out of stock. There are 46 Webkinz to choose from and you know that your child wants more than one! They are often the gift most girls want their friends to give them at birthday parties. But like Beanie Babies and Cabbage Patch, the supply just isn’t there. Some stores are taking advantage of its popularity by making you spend a minimum of money on other toys just to have the privilege of buying one. Other retailers limit you to one. So a smart mom has to beg her friend to come along and purchase a second or third Webkinz.

The animals are manufactured in Canada by a small company that hopes to boost production. They say their next step is to introduce a clubhouse where the kids can chat with each other. They say they have implanted safeguards for the site.

In the meantime, if your child is addicted - experts say you should not have your child watch TV or sit in front of the tube for more than 2 hours a day. Children need real-life interaction. I have seen Webkinz gatherings where the girls bring their animals to someone’s house and they gather around the computer screen. They even have mini-Webkinz to lure the younger set.

I would tell you more, but my son is pushing me away from the computer so he can log onto Webkinz. And he’s only 4. Does that mean I have 10 more years of feeding and clothing his puppy?