Webkinz craze invades our home

So, my newly turned 8 year old son has gotten this really cute little stuffed animal for his birthday. I think it is really sweet and I dismissed it as "just another stuffed animal" ... boy was I wrong!

This is the biggest thing among his friends Webkinz

WEBKINZ are these cute little stuffed animals that come with a little "tag" attached to them. This tag contains a code, which you enter online to officially "adopt" your little pet. After adoption, you are given a room for your pet and a vehicle. Mr. Tiger has this screamin' cool convertible. LOL Mr. Tiger has arcade games, rooms that you can buy and decorate, an academy, a clubhouse to meet your friends, a job center and so so much more!! It's an entire Webkinzworld out there in cyberspace - haha! You can grow a garden, play games, dig for gems... the list seems endless.

My son is now concerned about doing his daily "chores" online to care for his adorable Mr.Tiger. This really works well as a tool for Mom to encourage him to 1- do his schoolwork, 2- to be diligent about his work, 3- to do his 'real life' daily chores and oh so many other things LOL.

Thing is......... IT WORKS!! He will happily and joyfully do his 'real life' chores in order to be able to care for hisWebkinz later. It really is fun. BUT, now he wants another Webkinz so Mr. Tiger won't be so lonely. UGH, I see his money jar dwindling soon.

I guess this adventure will lead to a much bigger lesson in handling money. Which is good, as up to this time, he hasn't really wanted to spend his money on anything. We really aren't the type to just hand out cash to our children... when they receive money either as a gift or for doing little things here and there (we sometimes will just reward him for a job well done, but it is not an allowance per se', that day is coming) he will divide his rewards into 3 piles. Saving 10%, tithe 10% and the rest is his "spending" money. He has been really diligent about following the plan and his "spending" pile has grown .... So, I guess we are off to find a friend for Mr. Tiger. ... let's go shopping!