Webkinz - is there such a thing as an educational plush toy?

People who know me and the store and pretty familiar with my philosophy on toys and activity programs. At Entropy we love being a battery free zone and there is not a plastic or throwaway toy in sight. We stock good quality wooden toys and educational toys that have great play value. Generally speaking I am not a fan of toys that encourage children to spend more time at the computer. However; Webkinz ARE different and I spent a lot of time in Webkinz World checking whether the educational value of these plush toys was really enough to justify their inclusion in our store. After all, we have pretty lofty standards to uphold!

So, what are Webkinz? Webkinz are a collection of plush toys with a difference. Each Webkinz pet comes with a unique tag containing a secret code to open Webkinz World; a fun, interactive and safe learning environment for children. Once inside Webkinz World children adopt and name their pet and are then invited into a virtual world where they need to care for their pet. This includes feeding it, making and decorating their pet's room, and communicating with other Webkinz friends. In order to look after their pet children need to earn Webkinz World money, known as KinzCash. They can do this by completing quizzes, undertaking jobs at the employment office and playing games. Children can create unique spaces for their pets and add their own touch to the design; grow an outdoor garden, exercise, and lots of other fun activities.

Members can also safely 'chat' using pre-constructed messages that are flexible and cover lots of topics. Webkinz World changes every day, with new challenges, making it an interesting and exciting place for children to visit. It's one of the fastest growing sites on the internet and is best suited for children aged 6-14 years.

It's not just for kids though; at Entropy all of us have adopted pets and we love the interactivity and fun of the site. Kids can learn to care for a pet, share time with their friends and most importantly, use their imaginations. There are heaps of Webkinz to choose from; the hard part is picking the first one to start your collection.