Why You Need to Cut Back on the Time Your Child Spends on the Webkinz Website

Is your child one of the millions of children with Webkinz pets? If so, you are probably wondering what your child is playing with. Webkinz toys are stuffed animals that you buy for your child to play with, but there is also a whole other level of play. The plushie's come with a code which children plug into the Webkinz site. The site is a virtual world where the Webkinz pets live, and you also get an online version of your plushie to play with and take care of on the website.!br>
As cool as this may seem, there may still be reason for concern. It has been proven that internet use can lead to addiction. It is a common misconception that internet addiction is an issue that affects only adults, but in reality, anyone is susceptible. Kids and young adults can also suffer from internet addiction. Limiting the time your children spend on the Webkinz site can ensure that they do not suffer from this affliction.
Many parents worry that if their children get sucked into the virtual world, it may begin to affect other aspects of their lives. This effect is very much like being addicted to the internet. A positive point of the Webkinz site is it allows kids to play online games and earn virtual cash which they may spend on items to care for their virtual pets. Items they can purchase include food, furniture, and toys for their pets. This sounds like a nice way to teach money management, but it may also lead to your child spending more and more time on the site trying to purchase more items. Of course, you should maintain that your child's focus remains on their schoolwork and family time.
In addition, a good reason to limit the time your child spends on the Webkinz website is so that they do not burn out on the activity, and become bored with it. As I mentioned earlier, the plush animal also comes with a virtual version for your child to play with. If they spend too much time playing on the website, it may loose it's appeal very quickly. The website and virtual world is really pretty fun. Also, it teaches important life lessons, such as goal setting and being responsible for your pet. These are important things for your child to understand and using the website is a fun way to relate these concepts, but they should be monitored to keep from getting out of control.
By now you probably realize why limiting the time your child spends on this website can be very important, and there are many ways to control this issue. Decide upon a schedule that your child can adhere to. For instance, allot a short period of time a few days a week that your child may spend on the Webkinz site. This will help tremendously in preventing your child from becoming addicted to the internet.
Not only should you worry about addiction, but also the possibility that their 'virtual life' will begin to affect their other commitments, such as school and family. Another approach is to use the Webkinz site as a reward for good behavior. An example of this would be to allow them to use the site after they have completed their chores and homework. If you want to reward your child on a day that was already scheduled, you could just add a few minutes to their allowed playing time.
It is clear that while there are several reasons to cut back on the time your child spends on the Webkinz website, there are also many methods to do so. The website is not all bad, however, and most parents see the benefit of their child learning important life lessons in a fun atmosphere. However, overuse of the website can have a number of unhealthy side-effects, so taking caution and using moderation are important aspects of this issue.