Kids 'n' 'kinz

If you're the parent - or grandparent, or aunt or uncle - of a child between the ages of 5 and 12, you've probably been begged for at least one Webkinz, the latest virtual pet craze in a string of virtual pet crazes.

Many of these "games" require constant upkeep via microchip or computer (often at the expense of the child's own living, breathing, urinating-on-the-rug pet), and punish the child's inattention with the fake pet's shockingly frequent deaths or illnesses.

But Webkinz, which pairs a real stuffed animal with an online doppelganger, is different. In bright, friendly Webkinz World, even kids with asthma can own a kennel's worth of dogs (for about $9.99 to $12.99 each, online and real world combined), and each visit is rewarded with a kiss and gentle comments like "I'm so glad I'm your pet." It's nicer than Neopets, clubbier than Club Penguin, and more touchy-feely than Tamagotchi.

In the words of Abington's Samantha Felice, 9, the keeper of 27 cuddly 'kinz ranging in species from platypus to pony: "They come to life and say nice things to you and make the world a happy and colorful place."

Just try saying no to that.

Unlike the stuffed animals you had when you were growing up (you remember, the ones that lived in a soap operatic community that existed solely in your imagination), Webkinz have the ability to become animated avatars. Think of it as a first Second Life, where once your child enters the actual toy's attached "secret code" into the Webkinz World Web site, the virtual animal can build a home, or take a job and play arcade games (some are even educational!).

The activities are designed to generate Kinzcash, Webkinz World's currency. And what do kids do with all that Kinzcash burning a hole in their pocket? Samantha says her favorite thing to do with her menagerie is "buy stuff . . . and get more money to buy more stuff."

The available "stuff" ranges from the sublime (a movie studio where kids can make their own short features, albeit with a limited cast of characters and soundtracks) to the ridiculous (a "Rock-Stage TV" that looks like, well, a concert stage, and broadcasts the homemade movies submitted by Webkinz members).

Susan McVeigh, communications manager for the Ganz company, which created Webkinz in April 2005, believes the toy's success is due to the marriage between the traditional and the technological. This combination of factors also gives the toy the most sought-after quality in the industry: crossover appeal.

"We work hard to have pets both boys and girls will like - gorillas and monkeys along with pink poodles and Yorkies," McVeigh says. "And if the kids like arcades and tournaments, there's plenty of that, but if they like dressing up and playing in their room, they can do that too."

Kids also seem to enjoy hunting down the creatures, which are not currently available at the large toy chains - a fact that no doubt vexes those who, two hours before a birthday party, have had to rush around seeking a "Cheeky Monkey" at pharmacies, card shops and independent toy stores.

Demand for the toys has been so large that Ganz needed to shut down Webkinz World for a few days in anticipation of Santa's arrival, and has been making periodic adjustments ever since.

But a greater calamity for both frantic grade schoolers and shop owners happened in February, when Ganz ran out of Webkinz, leaving countless empty display racks and long waiting lists.

Willow Grove's Charles F. Kremp Florist used to have a sign in front of the store boasting "We have over 30 different Webkinz in stock."

But an exasperated Chad Kremp said with a sigh, "Our sales rep was just here and said we should be getting some in any day now. We've had them for over a year, but since Valentine's Day and the release of the Love Puppy, we just blew out of them all. We used to have about 24 to 36 of them in stock. This time, I've ordered 60 to 100 of each different kind. It's just unbelievable."

Sue Richter, owner of Huntingdon Valley's Purple Pumpkin Gifts, says that since she began carrying the toys a year ago, "they're flying out of the store. My rack is always almost empty. Even though we mostly have baby gifts, people come in specifically for Webkinz. Parents call to request a particular one, and want to know when it comes out and when they can get it."

The frenzy to find the newest or most recently retired critter has even spawned Web sites such as InternetPetz.com, which pledges, "Our goal is to have 100% of all Webkinz, Lil'kinz & accessories in stock all of the time."

Nonetheless, as of this week, the site's stock of the Sherbet Bunny, released in February for Easter, was already sold out.

Ganz does not advertise the toys, and allows the fever to spread the way fevers always do: organically, through transmission from child to child.

In fact, Webkinz fever has proved so virulent that places like the Meadowbrook School, a private elementary school in Montgomery County, have had to block the Web site on its computers.

Craig Rifkin, Meadowbrook's director of technology, said the ban came after "kids rushed through their work to generate some free time where they could play on the site . . . the quality of the work was taking a hit."

But Rifkin also finds a lot to like about Webkinz. "Personally," he admits, "I think it's a great concept. I like the fact that there's something to hold onto, and that it has the technology to go along with it. Compared to the alternatives it's great; there are no ads, no pop-ups, spyware, it's technically a paid service, so you don't have to worry about any of that. It's secure, fun for the kids, and not really a safety issue."

That's because unlike other social sites that allow for unedited chat, Webkinz's chat feature is scripted - partly for the kids who are newbies at the keyboard and partly to encourage a genial atmosphere where kids can't exchange personal information.

Users are free to compliment their new friends' gaming skills, kindness or style, but can't flame, proposition or otherwise upset one another.

In fact, to parents like Ross and Helen Felice, this feature can be a real comfort, as daughter Samantha's second-favorite activity in Webkinz World, behind shopping, of course, is "chatting with people I don't know."

Webkinz also has a feature I discovered when Cowie, my 5-year-old son's Webkinz cow, went MIA after a flight home from Florida. Parents who have tried to get a child to sleep after he's lost a beloved stuffed pal, particularly a stuffed pal who has been providing valuable protection after lights out, know this is a scenario that can reach epic heights of horror, and result in very little sleep for a long time.

As I fretted about how to explain that Cowie was probably having a great time jetting around the United States, my son pointed out that we could check up on him at any time via Webkinz World. We signed on, his sister read him Cowie's cheerful greeting and stable vital stats, and he could plainly see that Cowie was alive and well and only 4 percent hungry.

Sure, positive reinforcement is nice, and a safe online environment is crucial, but the relief of knowing a lost friend isn't lost at all? Let's just say $11.99 is a small price to pay for such a great reward.