Playground Tech Talk

By Sharon Miller Cindrich

Q: When I asked my kids what they learned on the first day of school, my daughter started talking about Webkinz. My son says all his friends have a Wii. Help – I’m feeling ancient!

In the three short months that flew by this summer, parents may have struggled to stay unplugged, but kids have been playing, connecting and plugging into what’s hot in the tech arena. Feeling a bit out of touch? Here’s what school-age kids will be chattering about on the playground this fall:

Webkinz
Interactive tech meets stuffed toy with one of the hottest commodities out there for boys and girls. These cute plush animals come with a one year membership to an online community, where they come to virtual life. Kids need to take care of them, feed them and can connect with other Webkinz fans at www.webkinz.com.

Social Networks
Online communities for the under-thirteen set are becoming more popular this year. Disney Xtreme Digital combines school-aged interests with cool online features that allow kids to create their own personalized Web page and offers two levels of chat options - one with pre-determined phrases kids can exchange and another where kids type their own messages that must be activated by mom or dad. Club Penguin also continues to grow – it lets kids play games, design their own igloo, become a part of the secret safety service, and connect with other penguins at www.clubpenguin.com.

Nintendo Wii
Still the hottest video game console around, the Wii combines physical activity and a motion sensitive joystick with video game playing. By now, most kids know someone who has a Wii, and they may have had the chance to check it out this summer. Maybe it's time you played, too!

Sharon Miller Cindrich (www.SharonMillerCindrich.com) is a mother of two and the author of E-Parenting: Keeping Up with your Tech-Savvy Kids.