Webkinz Trading Spaces

My daughters have asked me to tell more details about the following:

My children and I have taken two of our favorite activities and combined them into ONE super fun game that we enjoy so much that we now play it just about once a week. What are these two things? Webkinz and Trading Spaces.

We always start this homemade game when we have at least a couple hours available with no planned Webkinz maintenance downtime (so not close to the scheduled 2:00AM-4:30AM Webkinz time maintenance period). The rules are simple and similar to the television show Trading Spaces and we vary them depending on who we are playing with and how we all want to play.

Here are the basics:

• We trade for a certain length of time.
• Each person/team is given a certain number of rooms they are allowed to touch (usually 2-3). We agree to not touch any other rooms, but they can be looked at.
• Each person/team is allowed to spend a certain amount of money (and NO more unless they earn it).
  
• No one can sell any of the room owner's items, but they can reuse anything in any of the potential rooms.
  
• If there is extra time and/or money, the other rooms can be redecorated/reorganized also.
• The pets have to be kept healthy and happy, even if this means that extra food needs to be purchased during the game.
  

This game works best when we have at least two computers available in the same house, so that passwords aren't shared and everyone can see their houses quickly. I usually act as moderator, going back and forth between teams, seeing how everyone is doing and giving advice if asked.

This is SO much fun for all of us! Even if a person doesn't like their new room, the results and experience have always been good. We often take a "before" and an "after" screen shot, so rooms could potentially be recreated. What I enjoy the most is watching the process of the people involved. It is very interesting to see how the kids (and sometimes adults) work together to create rooms they truly believe the room owner will love. They often base the rooms on what they feel the personality of the pet is, unless the room is a garden, bathroom, family/living/playroom, or kitchen.

We love Webkinz so much we're considering hosting a Webkinz party. This activity would definitely be on our "must do" list.

Webkinz "Helpfulness" and Censorship

My daughters and I are HUGE Webkinz fans. We play on the Webkinz site every single day and we have quite a few pets. These little stuffed animals, and their virtual counterparts, are the best stuffed animals we've ever seen.

All that said, as a person with programming experience, I've been very disappointed with the Webkinz lack of testing. They keep putting out new and potentially exciting virtual products and games that don't work (for example, they just came out with "The Wheel of the Month" -- it never worked for anyone, from all reports). They've also become overly helpful to parents, to the point of being UNhelpful to all involved.

My older daughter had one of the cute Bullfrogs that she wanted to adopt. We were feeling a bit of time pressure to adopt this pet, since the Curio Shop was selling an extremely rare Egyptian item (and we needed the cash from an adoption in order to have enough money to buy it). [We've been building an Egyptian room for our black cat for quite a while now.] My daughter felt (and still feels) that the most perfect name in the world for this sweet little frog was Buttercup (named after "Princess Buttercup" from the awesome Princess Bride movie).

Webkinz, in their quest to save us from ourselves, wouldn't allow the beautiful name Buttercup to be used. It won't allow Butterscotch either (our dream dog name). See the theme? It actually took us a bit. Furthermore, this censorship has caused us to talk about "bad words" a lot more than we normally would. We especially couldn't figure out why our new gorgeous Library room wasn't allowed to be named "Library". Where's the naughty word in that name? We've figured it out, but it took a while... The room is now called the "Book Room" and here is a snapshot of it (my daughter and her friend made it earlier today). Of course, these are only guesses since Webkinz customer support never answers our questions...


Their customer support also leaves most users questioning whether or not it even exists. Their online FAQ and Customer Support within the Webkinz world only have trite answers that have never once been correct for the situations that we have e-mailed them about. I haven't found anyone IRL that has had one of their problems (NOTE: these are customers that are reporting actual bugs, not customers randomly complaining) answered or even acknowledged. It is offensive that they insist that we, the users, are doing something to cause problems when the problems are clearly that the test engineers haven't been given enough time to properly do their jobs. This makes me wonder just how many programmers and computer engineers Ganz has employed for the Webkinz project. Definitely not enough. We customers would much rather have a more stable and reliable game than all the new features and products that keep showing up. Isn't this always the case in software?

Our Vegan Halloween 2007

I first wrote about "Vegan and Ethical Trick-or-Treating" in September. Here is an update.

We had an absolutely excellent Halloween! My oldest daughter dressed as a Borg (from Star Trek) and my youngest was an astronaut. Note the space theme. :)

We went to two parties: A Vegan one (a potluck), and a Homeschooler's one (with a mini-carnival atmosphere -- we had a "Candy Toss"). Both were very fun, in drastically different ways.

We went out Trick-or-Treating with a friend of my oldest daughter's (and her mom) for two hours last night. We hit 82 houses and filled two huge bags (and later a gigantic bowl) with candy. After sorting the candy out, we estimated that a good 50% of the loot we brought home was vegan (we're counting the non-food items in this figure). Of the non-vegan foods we received, at least 40% were vegetarian! For non-food items, we received: pencils, yo-yos, and a toy watch. We were quite impressed. The biggest disappointment was finding that Nerds now have crushed beetles in them.

What are our plans for the non-vegan candy? First we'll give some to non-vegetarian friends (which is just about everyone we know), then we'll either use the rest for Gingerbread house decorating or take to my husband's office. We don't encourage food waste and never throw away foods that are still edible (we take non-vegan food presents to food banks and other food donation sites, or give to friends). While we, personally, won't eat the non-vegan foods, we feel that the animals the foods are made out of are best served by not getting thrown away. Our Halloween candy is much better off in the hands of people that were going to eat those foods anyway, rather than in a dumpster.

On a different fun note, today is the first day of November, so adopt your Webkinz black bear this month (the black bear is November's "Webkinz Pet of the Month"). We adopted two today (a girl named "Juniper" and a girl named "Ursa"). Our special gifts were the coveted Flying Saucer and the really exciting donut seed. We can't wait to harvest our very own farm fresh donuts. Of course, ours are vegan. :) Prepackaged vegan donuts can be purchased here.

Crown of Wonder!

Today was a huge day for us in Webkinz World. After over 6 months of gem hunting, my oldest daughter finally collected the last of the 30 gemstones needed to get a "Crown of Wonder". Here is a picture of Fluff (our Lil' Kinz Lion) wearing the legendary crown. Fluff shares a room with Eshe (our Elephant) and Lumina (our Leopard).

Don't forget to look for leaves during October 20-26th during the Webkinz Fall Festival. We won a maple leaf sweater just a little while ago when we clicked on a floating leaf. Very fun!

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Today's my Mom's birthday and we've given her a variety of surprises (we were even lucky enough to adopt two new Webkinz in honor of her -- a Googles named Tisha, and a Gorilla named Dude). Here is a photo of my Mom and me from about a year ago.

Webkinz Talk

We speak Webkinz-Ease in our house, that is how greatly Webkinz has embellished our lives.

The Webkinz world is entered by purchasing a cute and lovable stuffed animal made by Ganz that has a tag that contains a special secret code that activates a virtual pet that looks similar to your stuffed friend (my daughter reminds me to tell people to not accidentally purchase a Webkinz stuffed animal that doesn't have a tag, and please do NOT throw away your tag!). Once you own one of these little pets, you are given a room to decorate and a world to explore (complete with games, jobs, and even a Post Office). You are also in charge of feeding your virtual pet so that it doesn't get sick. At all times, the pet has a meter that reads his health, happiness, and hunger level. The range is 0-100, with 100 being the highest.

Our conversations can go something like this:
How hungry are you?
I'm starving, I think I'm at about 60.
Well, I'm at a 75, so I'll make us a snack.

Then later:
I'm about a 95 on my tired level (we've made this category [and others] up), so I think I could stay awake a while longer.
Not me, I'm a 40, I'm going to bed now.

Then, of course, the games and their unique vocabularies have entered our world, too. Once a day, everyone gets a spin on the Wheel of Wow. We, however, call it the Wheel of Mom since WOW is MOM upside down. The wheel spins the word WOW, making it look like MOM. I often hear, "Wow, Mom! Look what we got!"

One of our current favorite activities is to sit and play the games on the (muted) Webkinz site whilst listening to audio books. Our second favorite activity is to play our homemade version of Webkinz Trading Spaces. Both of my daughters have an account. We log in on two different computers, show each other 1-3 possible trading rooms, decide on a KinzCash amount (usually 1000-3000 KinzCash), then switch places for an hour or two. We can't sell each others items without permission, but we can reuse items in the rooms we've chosen and we can do whatever we want as far as decorating goes. I go back and forth between the computers and I probably have the most fun of all. :) We've come up with some awesome rooms!

Oh, how we love Webkinz!

What Not To Say To Children

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
--- Anonymous

Consider your words carefully, your words define who you are. What is your goal from your relationship with your children? Do you want to really know who they are? What do you want your relationship to be with them when they are grown? Consider that your words and actions when they are children will affect your relationship with them when they are grown. Make your words, actions, and relationship be great NOW, every day. The future will take care of itself when today's relationships are always taken care of every single day at every moment of today. Conscious, mindful parenting today can cure tomorrow's potential woes.

Along these thoughts, a variety of phrases have been popping up around me lately and I have discovered deep within me that when I said that I would never say certain things to my children when they were born, I meant it. I also meant that I would never say similar things, either. Listed below are some of these sad phrases (they aren't necessarily all obviously mean spirited, but they certainly are all mean spirited!).

I invite readers to e-mail me additional phrases and experiences and thoughts on these topics. Please fill out the form located at the side of this page.

• "Just wait until you have kids":
  

What, for revenge? My children are wonderful and glorious beings. Why would I want to spite my children? If anything, I look forward to being the grandmother of their children as I am certain that my children will be amazing parents.

I also don't want to force my children to grow up faster than they already are. I enjoy them; I like them here with me. They will decide to leave home soon enough without me forcing them to prematurely.

• "Farm out" as in, "I need to farm out these kids in order to get rid of them for a while and I don't care who has them so long as it's not me":

I *always* care where my children are and who my children are with. I don't leave them with just anyone, either. My children know this and trust me to not leave them with people that they would feel uncomfortable with. If need be (and often is), I don't go places where my children aren't invited. If you are feeling so tired of your children that you are feeling this way, consider getting household help while you spend MORE time really paying attention to your children. The household stuff can usually wait, children cannot.

• "Because I said so":
  

If there isn't a reason behind my actions, then I should reconsider my actions. I have said, "Please do/don't do this particular action right now and I will tell you why as soon as I can." This is completely different, it was a matter of emergency or necessity. "Because I said so" is never valid in a real relationship. I've earned my children's trust at this point and they know that if I can't give them a reason that instant, I'll happily give them a reason as soon as possible.

• "Tough Love":
  

Okay, we are not talking about a forty year old drugged out man here and his relationship with his mother. We are talking about a child. A child that is living with his parents (a child that hopefully hasn't been screwed up by his parents). If the relationship has gotten to the point that "tough love" is even thought of, then something horrible definitely went wrong a LONG time ago that started with the parents. My relationship with my children comes ahead of my relationship with anyone else, and anyone that might tell me that I need to use "tough love" has probably been a victim of "tough love" themselves...

• "I'm more stubborn than you" or "I'm going to win this one" (in an argument) or "My will is stronger than yours":
  

What!?! The parent-child relationship should not be competitive nor adversarial. Why would I want to "beat" my child in any way? I birthed these children of mine, I am on THEIR side. We are partners in this world of living together. We might not always agree with each other, but we are never adversaries.

• "You're grounded" or "You are in time out" or "Go stand in a corner":
  

When a child is behaving poorly, it should be a wake-up call to the parents (they weren't doing their job!) not a reason to punish the child. Children need their parents MORE than ever at these critical moments. They don't need an absent parent that gets rid of them for their own peace.

If you can think of nothing positive to say to your child, consider these questions: Have you been ignoring your child lately? Pushing them off to be dealt with later? Ignoring their needs?

Worse still, have you wanted to punish or hit/spank/swat? Consider using one of these 22 alternatives to punishment. If you are still feeling the need to hit, get help immediately.

A child can only be punished so many times before they either never want to be around the person that punishes them, or else they only stick around (and continue to be abused by) people that punish them and become like those people. Punishments rarely turn into less harsh actions, in fact they usually become more and more harsh in order to "show the same effects". Of course, these are just that, too: Effects of "show" rather than true personality changes. Children learn from example. If you hit your child, your child will learn that hitting people is a good thing to do when you disagree with them.

• "I love(d) you enough to make you [do this thing] ":
  

This is one of the most ludicrous excuses for child abuse that I have ever heard. I want to be my children's sanctuary. This world can be harsh. This world can be rough. This world is full of many exciting and wonderful things, too. When the world is tough on my children, I want them to know that I will be there for them. See Danielle Conger's take on this topic. My guess would be that she will always have a good relationship with her children.

• "Wait until you're 18, then you'll see"
  

Yeah, they'll discover that living without parents is heavenly! Some kids really would prefer life as a runaway to the abuse (verbal and/or physical) that they receive at home. Guilt trips don't induce love just as spankings don't induce hugs. Next time you feel like yelling at your child, hug him instead. Be careful not to force that hug though, or it could backfire.

• "If you don't shut up, I'll give you something to cry about":
  

Really, now, will ya? Wow.

• "I'm proud of being a mean Mom.":
  

Huh? Seriously, huh? I don't even comprehend this one, but I've been hearing it a lot... Interesting that the children of these parents confide in me that they don't listen to their parents and they don't like their parents. I'm proud of being a nice Mom. My kids like me. My kid's friends like me (although not all of their parents do, but that doesn't bother me). When I am tempted to do something mean to a child because they have been annoying, I turn around and do something nice. I always get positive results with this approach.

By not forcing my children to have rigid chores, I've found that they are willing to help and pitch in without having to be asked or paid. Being nice to people begets niceness in return in unexpected ways. I'm constantly amazed at the nice things my children do.

I can certainly imagine how I would feel if my husband bragged to other men that he was a "mean husband". I wouldn't be wanting to do anything nice for him for a while...

• "Just wait until your father gets home.":
  

Who's the parent here? I am.

Okay, wait, I have used this phrase. My meaning (and connotation) is: Just wait until your dad gets home to join in on the wonderful fun that we are having! Won't it be great to share our fun and happiness with him, too?

• "This thing that you love is stupid."
  

Do your kids love Webkinz or Batman or video games that you consider stupid and a waste of time? Have you considered that if you say that something that your child loves is stupid, then you are really saying that you think that your child is stupid? At least, that is what she'll hear! My kids are geniuses! My kids' friends are geniuses. They are interesting, fascinating, thoughtful and thought-provoking. I love everything that they love. Although I don't completely understand it all, I certainly try and they see me try. I care about what they care about and (interestingly enough) they care about everything that I care about, too.

• "I know what's best for you."
  

The implication here is obvious: child is stupid, parent is smart. My children were born knowing what was best for them. They knew when they were hungry, cold, tired, etc. They listened to their bodies and they still haven't stopped! I know many, many (thousands?) of adults who don't have a clue what is best for them because that innate knowledge was beaten out of them as children (world dependency on caffeine, alcohol, and foods proves this). I'm not about to do that damage to my own kids!

• "Go play in traffic."
  

With this phrase popping up as a phrase of choice in mainstream parenting circles, it is no wonder that the rift between parents and children is so huge these days. Say what you mean, mean what you say. Do you really want your child to go and play in traffic?

All this talk of what parents shouldn't say brings me to a list of sadly common phrases that if one of my children were to say, it would make me seriously reevaluate how I had been parenting:

1. "I hate you."
2. "You are mean."
3. "I can't wait until I don't live with you anymore."

Please don't laugh. This isn't comical. If a child of mine said one of these phrases, I would ask them first if they really meant it. If no, then I would explain how saying something like that can cause the receiver's feelings to be hurt. If yes, then I would ask a lot of questions why and what I could do to make it better! I would listen! I would change accordingly!

If you have any additional phrases that you have heard lately, please let me know. I'm here, writing on this blog, for the sole purpose to make the world a better place.

Fly like a SUPER HERO with Indoor Skydiving

We had a wild adventure yesterday with close friends and family (thirteen participants and one observer in all). My youngest daughter is about to turn 7. Her greatest passions are space, space travel, the sky, and dreams of flying or levitating. We are always trying to help our daughters have their dreams come true, but flying like a super hero isn't an easy feat to accomplish.

Enter Eloy's Sky Venture Arizona to the rescue to help us celebrate her birthday in style. Sky Venture offers the "ultimate indoor skydiving experience." We needed no parachutes and no experience. Since only one in our group had any skydiving experience at all, most of us didn't know what to expect (and there were surprises).

We showed up for our adventure with no special gear. Sky Venture provided everything we needed, including shoes if we didn't have tennis shoes. With a brief training session and special clothing, we were ready to go in short order. We each got the opportunity to fly for two individual 2 minute sessions. The instructors were excellent (and superb with flying tricks) and stayed right with each of us for our sessions. It was safe, simple, and we highly recommend it. In fact, we are trying to figure out when we can possibly go again. If you ever have the opportunity, don't pass it up. We even got a DVD of the whole experience. It has been fun to watch (we think we are going to add a Star Wars soundtrack).

Party favors were cool t-shirts from Sky Venture for everyone and special Webkinz for the kids. We also had an excellent vegan chocolate cake with lemon frosting from Friendly Feast.

Best Webkinz Sources

A few weeks ago, my daughter and I read every blog on Webkinz that we could find and these are the best:
WebkinzInsider
Atomicolicious.com
Webkinz Mom

This is the best online store to purchase Webkinz:
webkinzpetstore.com

We've been enjoying our Webkinz charms and trading cards. Much to our happy surprise, we just unlocked a free virtual pet: the frog. We've named her "Mint" after the chocolate mint frogs we had at our Magic School party on Sunday. We now have four ice cream trees that we are hoping to trade with someone. We'd love to have the amethyst geode, the Egyptian bed, and the Dream-o-Meter bed.

Celebrating "Not Back to School" 2007

It's that time of year again: NOT Back to School time! Whoo-Hoo for all Radical Unschoolers like my family. It is time to celebrate our freedom and life long journey of learning all the time.

What have we been up to?

I've been busy updating my list of Unschooling books, websites, and magazines for all new Unschooling families out there. Happily for the children of the world, there are more and more each year. Unschooling is living life fully and completely with no matrix of false reality.
No matter which definition you put on it, Unschooling is a journey of self discovery for the parents as well as the children.

We are planning adventures, art projects, and more. My eldest daughter's current favorite activity is making Art Trading Cards (otherwise known as ATCs). We make these 2.5"x3.5" cards and trade with other people in online and in-person "Anything Goes" and specialty themed trades. We've made a "How To Guide" and we regularly update our Flikr page with our own creations and those of trades that we host.

My youngest daughter's current favorite activity is Webkinz. These are brilliant and I would like to officially congratulate the creator. I'm not sure there is anyone out there that doesn't know how great this is, but on the off chance, here is a quick summary: Webkinz are lovable stuffed animals in two different sizes (regular Webkinz and the small "Lil' Kinz" version - close in size to Beanie Babies). Both come with a tag that has a special code that allows the owner to play with a virtual version of their pet in its own world. Each pet gets a room and some special gifts, as well as Kinzcash. There are games to play and jobs to work at and so much more! All earn the user more Kinzcash, which in turn, allows the user to make themselves a mansion of fun. If you have a child between the ages of 5 and 18, you might check these out. Of course, I'm the first to admit that I have two Webkinz of my own. I can't wait for the turtle. :)