Have you ever heard of a toy that sold more than one million units in it first fourteen months without the parent company ever spending any money to advertise it? How about the fact that it is only sold in certain specialty stores (and cannot be purchased in many popular toy stores) yet these toy pets are selling at the rate of over ten thousand each week. When I last checked Ebay, the site had over ten thousand of these toys for sale. As you can see, this toy pet is wildly popular with the more than five hundred thousand customers who have “adopted” it for children between the ages of five and twelve. The name for this toy is Webkinz.
I first discovered Webkinz several weeks ago. After a day of teaching first grade, my wife returned home with that gleam in her eye that tells me that she has thought of a new and unique way to educate her first graders. She told me that her classroom had adopted a pet frog called “Froggie” and that the children were very excited. I thought a pet frog would be great in a first grade classroom and wanted to know who would feed it. She told me that feeding “Froggie” would require money that the children could raise online through the pets interactive website. I was confused until she told me that the frog was really a toy pet called a Webkinz.
Since I had never heard of a Webkinz, I was interested in learning more. Webkinz is produced by the Ganz company headquartered in Toronto, Canada. It is a small stuffed animal somewhat larger than the size of a beanie baby. There are about thirty five different types of Webkinz that can be purchased /adopted as pets. You can adopt pets that include pandas, cats, poodles, pigs, monkeys, and frogs. Webkinz pets can only be bought for adoption through specific independent gift and toy stores. The adopted Webkinz comes with a secret code that is used to register the toy pet and gain access to its highly interactive world in cyberspace. In this world in cyberspace you can name and feed the pet, design its room and raise cash through interactive games that can be used to develop the toy pet’s life and story. The online activities are designed to teach children to be responsible, nurturing pet owners and to save and budget. The Ganz company also now sells Webkinz charms ,clothing and playing cards.
My wife certainly proved to be correct in the adoption of the toy pet frog for the classroom. Her first graders loved playing and learning with “Froggie” their adopted class mascot . Some of the educational activities in her class room that used the Webkinz included writing about the frog using descriptive paragraphs with illustrations, researching the red eye tree frog as well as math activities that sometimes utilized the Webkinz interactive website. The class even wrote a letter to the Ganz company suggesting ideas for future Webkinz toy pet designs.
However, it was her final class activity that astounded me the most. She asked the class how many of these adopted toy pets that they owned at home. When the counting had stopped, her twenty five students told her that they owned four hundred twenty one Webkinz.
That unadvertised small toy pet certainly has huge grass roots appeal.
Related Articles
Ty Girlz Spanked and Webkinz Whipped
By: ToyDirectory.com® and TDmonthly™ Magazine | 10/12/2007 | Gifts
Clean up your act, was the message Ty’s Ty Girlz got from irate consumers and retailers, who told TDmonthly Magazine they disapproved of the plush-online doll’s Bratz-like face and skimpy clothing.
The Autobiography of Jesus
By: Lawrence Hilliard | 30/12/2007 | Religion
All philosophical, theological and political discourse issues from a presuppositional matrix. The communicator's ideas are characterized, influenced and motivated by a preexisting corpus of antecedent beliefs. I commence with the presupposition that Jesus understood perfectly and clearly who he was. His auto-noetic frame was accurate and complete.
Resources for Homeschooling
By: Gloria Denomme | 25/06/2008 | Homeschooling
People who choose to home school are looking for updated materials for their children.
Webkinz Phenomenon - Educational Benefits!
By: Allison Merlino | 03/04/2008 | Childhood Education
The Webkinz phenomenon is producing positive feedback from children and parents alike! These plush toy pets are affordable, offer a variety of associated online activities at no additional cost and have educational benefits to boot!
The Autobiography of Jesus
By: lawrence hilliard | 15/04/2007 | Religion
All philosophical, theological and political discourse issues from a presuppositional matrix. The communicator's ideas are characterized, influenced and motivated by a preexisting corpus of antecedent beliefs. I commence with the presupposition that Jesus understood perfectly and clearly who he was. His auto-noetic frame was accurate and complete.
Here are Quick Ways to Use Aroma Therapy to De-stress and Enjoy Life
By: Darrin Reservitz | 31/12/2007 | Health
Aromatherapy has a long history in the United States. Learn about the power and benefits it holds for you.
Driving Change Through Increased Utilisation of Ict - Thailand
By: Daniel Jowssey | 07/01/2008 | Communication
Information Technology
I'm not the PM's puppet, new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) minister Surapong swears. The Nation, October 11, 2002. ""Surapong Suebwonglee, head of the new Information and Communications Techn- ology Ministry, said yesterday he is not a rubber stamp for the premier and that he's convinced he can revolutionise the national ICT system to improve the country's competitiveness. ...""
A Real Guide to Making More Than $1 Online
By: Asmodeus | 27/11/2007 | Affiliate Programs
As most of you know, it's an uphill battle to make any money online. You work long hours for pennies a day, and that's if your lucky! Some of you should quit right now, unless you have the dedication to see it through.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Education
By: Lena | 11-07-2008
what is the Local association for the Education of young Children
Weighted grading
By: Kay | 10-07-2008
How does it benefit a student if the teacher uses a weighted grading system?
Central Air vs Window Air Conditioning
By: kingcantona | 10-07-2008
I'm thinking about installing central air, but is it worth it? Does it really save that much more on my energy bills? I'm using central A/C right now.
Keith Urban
By: Cindy LARRAURI | 09-07-2008
Where does Keith Urban live?
Who owns the ecpi college of technology?qt=t
By: brucek | 08-07-2008
Who owns the ecpi college of technology?qt=t
What was the first land-grant school in west ...
By: noel | 08-07-2008
what was the first land-grant school in west virginia?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Home and Family Articles
How to Use Knife, Fork and Spoon Correctly
By: Tuchchai Suwanawong | 19/07/2008
The norm for dining nowadays includes various cutting instruments, ranging from knives, spoons, and forks. These instruments are used on almost all occasions, depending on which country preferring particular instruments more than others. Therefore, attaining proper awareness of table manners is essential in dining in modern day.
Online Infidelity and Extreme Sexual Fetishes
By: Ed Opperman | 19/07/2008
57% of people have used the Internet to flirt. 38% of people have engaged in explicit online sexual conversation and 50% of people have made phone contact with someone they chatted with online. Evidence proves there is a high correlation between on-line cybersex and subsequent real-time sexual affairs. 31% of people have had an online conversation that has led to real-time sex.
Start a Quilting Business Making and Selling Custom Tree Skirts
By: Penny Halgren | 18/07/2008
Your quilting business niche could be making and selling custom tree skirts for the holidays.
Tips From the Small Move Experts Before You Start Packing
By: Paul Fleming | 17/07/2008
Moving can be a very stressful experience, large or small. We offer 6 tips to make things a little more bearable.
How to Make Jello Shots That They Will Rave About
By: Michael McGrath | 17/07/2008
A guide for those who wish to know how to make jello shots!
From Cary and Algonquin, Il: How to Find the Perfect Counselor for Your Teenager
By: Dr Michael Shery | 16/07/2008
Worried about your teenager? This article contains everything you will ever need to know about how to find an expert counselor to eliminate your teenagers anxiety, depression or acting-out!
Mulching Basics
By: Matthew Buquoi | 16/07/2008
Learn the many benefits of mulch. Also learn when and where you should put mulch as well as what types of mulch are best for your application. Mulching can help manage your yard and improve the curb appeal of your home.
Home Fire Prevention - Simple Steps to Follow
By: Ryan J. Smith | 16/07/2008
It is estimated that over 300,000 home fires occur annually. Although a fire alarm plays a key role in fire survival, it would still be more beneficial to prevent a fire from ever starting. Home fires can be prevented, provided that precautionary measures in your common household practices are followed.
While...
Home and Family 
