It’s just not good enough for toy makers to make a cool action figure or cute plush animal anymore. Each toy has to have their own gaming website, videos, clothing line, television show and possibly a movie, too. (Hello, Transformers!)
It’s enough to make a parent worry that the TV show is brainwashing their kid to bug their parents for toys. Or the toys are making the kids turn into Wii remote zombies.
Not to worry with Webkinz, which are adorable plush animals with their very own website. My daughter Lucie, who’s six, knows all about them and how each comes with an Internet code so you can play games with and take care of your new plush pet online. Since my daughter thinks stuffed animals are real – what six year old doesn’t – this makes perfect sense to her.
Well, Ganz, the makers of the Webkinz World™ website, recently launched Webkinz Jr.™, huggable oversized ultra-soft plush pets with a friendly world of imaginative interactive play for younger kids ages 3 to 6.
While playing, your child can visit all the places in the Webkinz Jr. neighborhood including your own home, school, the park, the caring center, playhouse and the W Shop. You can set the level at which your child plays and review his/her progress along the way. Also, unlike the Webkinz site, there is no social networking features so your child is totally safe. Take the tour to learn more.
Lucie’s Review
Ganz sent us the Orange Kitty Webkinz Jr. to review. Lucie who loves kitties, was immediately enamored. She remarked how soft the plush animal was and how nice it was to hug.
I got her set up on the Webkinz Jr. site. Sign up was easy and she immediately started playing without any assistance from me. Since she’s on the upper end of the age group range, most things were easy to do. Still the program took her age into consideration, and she wasn’t bored either. She played for a couple of hours until our Internet connection started acting up, which frustrated her to no end – she wanted to play more.
Lucie said she had a lot of fun playing on the Webkinz Jr. site. However, since that day, she hasn’t returned to play again. I’m guessing it’s because she’s been very busy with summer camp and her Nana visiting. She likes playing on the computer, but drawing or cooking with her grandma is just much more fun to her.
Still, she’s been sleeping with that Webkinz Orange Kitty most nights. And now Orange Kitty is a permanent member of her Lucie’s Plush Buddy Posse. Thanks Ganz!
