hey're cuddly, they're lovable, they're Webkinz! And some kids just can't get enough. Webkinz are stuffed animals with a twist. They are monkeys, lions, pandas, and frogs (not to mention bears, ducks, cats, and dogs). So what makes these stuffed animals any different than others? These toys come alive on the computer, and you control their fate. Or do Webkinz control your fate?

The purchase of a Webkinz comes with a special code that gives owners exclusive access to Webkinz.com. That's where the animal comes to life as a virtual pet that needs to be fed, played with, and exercised. By playing online games and taking various jobs, users earn KinzCash to house and care for their characters. They can also talk to their friends and family members online and become part of a community.

But some parents and educators say Webkinz are too popular and that kids are spending too much time online. The Jack Jackter Intermediate School in Colchester, Connecticut, recently banned kids' tending to the cyber-critters at school. A letter to parents read, "The toy is causing a disruption to the educational process. If an adult sees a student with a Webkinz, it will be confiscated and brought to the office."

7 Tips for Web Safety Don't use your real name as your screen name. Don't tell people online your last name, address, telephone number, or the school you attend. Don't open files that people send you from a chat room. Don't always believe what people tell you in a chat room. Never agree to arrange a meeting with someone you met online. Tell a parent if someone online says something that makes you feel uncomfortable. Be sure to write down that person's screen name.

Richard Gallagher worries that kids are spending too much time online with their Webkinz. Gallagher is the director of the Parenting Institute at New York University's Child Studies Center. "If kids are involved with things that keep them from playing with other kids . then it's too much," he told Newsday. He also fears that earning KinzCash teaches kids to be consumers at too early an age. "It appeals directly to kids and their interest in wanting everything. It makes younger and younger kids consumers and the targets of advertising," he says.

Susan McVeigh responds by saying that it's all about moderation. McVeigh is a spokesperson for Ganz, the company that makes Webkinz. She says Webkinz are no different than any other hobby, and that "parents should monitor how much time their kids are spending, as with any extracurricular activity." Plus, in addition to being fun, McVeigh says the toys teach children responsibility. "By taking care of their pets, kids learn that they can have an impact and affect the well being of something." She believes that the toys offer kids the best of both worlds—"the excitement of being on the Internet and being part of a community" and "having a real connection with a plush toy."

Another issue raised by the Webkinz fad is that of online safety. How much do you know about what is safe and what is not? Take the following quiz to see how much you really know about what is safe (and what is not) on the web.

Kristine, a fourth grader from Connecticut, has four Webkinz. "It's a fun, learning experience," Kristine says. Her father, John, also sees the educational value in the toys. "They teach kids responsibility—about money and about giving proper care," he says. However, he also limits her time online. "I spend about 45 minutes per day on the Webkinz site," says Kristine, "half of that time is in the morning before school and half is at night, after homework."

What are some of the plusses and minuses of caring for virtual toys?

• Webkinz
  
  
• WiredSafety.org: the world's largest Internet safety and help group

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