http://www.360kid.com/blog/2009/04/webkinz-world/ Exploring the World of Digital Youth Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:04:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 http://www.360kid.com/blog/2009/04/webkinz-world/comment-page-1/#comment-81215 Scott Sat, 02 May 2009 00:20:59 +0000 http://www.360kid.com/blog/?p=274#comment-81215 Thanks for writing Elliot. I've watched a lot of children play with Webkinz and try to ask them questions if I know they are a fan. The appeal of Webkinz can take a number of different forms, and appeal to different play styles of each different child. Generally, I find boys age out of Webkinz earlier than girls, though privately they may still play in Webkinz and not share this information with other boys their age. Collecting is a powerful play pattern for boys and it certainly explains one part of the appeal of Webkinz. I've witnessed girls enjoying pretend play in the real world with their plush dolls more when they are younger than when they get older. There is also a certain level of empowerment as children become more in charge of their own money and spending abilities. A child purchasing Webkinz on their own can be also be seen as a badge of honor, a period of growing transition that they can take pride in, even boast about. Purchasing additional Webkinz to extend online life for all Webkinz can also take on a nurturing aspect of play. Online, creativity is a powerful force in a very similar way that pretend play offline can be. There is a very strong love for what Webkinz stands for to children, but not always a love for everything online with Webkinz. I have heard children say what they don't like within the Webkinz world; Which games fall flat, which activities don't really engage. Usually I hear such responses from older kids than younger. None-the-less, Ganz, the company that developed Webkinz, has created a product that has expanded the world of play for kids. This expansion has far reaching implications for the toy industry as well as technology as a "place of play" for children and adults. Thanks for writing Elliot. I’ve watched a lot of children play with Webkinz and try to ask them questions if I know they are a fan. The appeal of Webkinz can take a number of different forms, and appeal to different play styles of each different child. Generally, I find boys age out of Webkinz earlier than girls, though privately they may still play in Webkinz and not share this information with other boys their age. Collecting is a powerful play pattern for boys and it certainly explains one part of the appeal of Webkinz. I’ve witnessed girls enjoying pretend play in the real world with their plush dolls more when they are younger than when they get older. There is also a certain level of empowerment as children become more in charge of their own money and spending abilities. A child purchasing Webkinz on their own can be also be seen as a badge of honor, a period of growing transition that they can take pride in, even boast about. Purchasing additional Webkinz to extend online life for all Webkinz can also take on a nurturing aspect of play. Online, creativity is a powerful force in a very similar way that pretend play offline can be. There is a very strong love for what Webkinz stands for to children, but not always a love for everything online with Webkinz. I have heard children say what they don’t like within the Webkinz world; Which games fall flat, which activities don’t really engage. Usually I hear such responses from older kids than younger. None-the-less, Ganz, the company that developed Webkinz, has created a product that has expanded the world of play for kids. This expansion has far reaching implications for the toy industry as well as technology as a “place of play” for children and adults.

]]> http://www.360kid.com/blog/2009/04/webkinz-world/comment-page-1/#comment-80970 Elliot Targum Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:59:08 +0000 http://www.360kid.com/blog/?p=274#comment-80970 My one-year-old daughter is far from the phase where she's looking to "catch them all" of Webkinz or any other collectible, adorable monster/pet/card. I'm curious, though, how Webkinz interest evolves as children age. You mentioned that when your daughter was seven, she had equal interest in both the tangible (offline) version of Webkinz and the virtual Webkinz universe. The online universe seems, perhaps ironically, to contain even more possibilities and variables than she'd find in the real world - perhaps fewer constraints since she has near-total control over the living space. As she continues to play with these toys, I wonder if she'll begin to see the tangible (and purchasable) Webkinz less as a toy, and more as a token to open up more possibilities in the virtual playspace. My one-year-old daughter is far from the phase where she’s looking to “catch them all” of Webkinz or any other collectible, adorable monster/pet/card. I’m curious, though, how Webkinz interest evolves as children age. You mentioned that when your daughter was seven, she had equal interest in both the tangible (offline) version of Webkinz and the virtual Webkinz universe. The online universe seems, perhaps ironically, to contain even more possibilities and variables than she’d find in the real world – perhaps fewer constraints since she has near-total control over the living space. As she continues to play with these toys, I wonder if she’ll begin to see the tangible (and purchasable) Webkinz less as a toy, and more as a token to open up more possibilities in the virtual playspace.

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