DISCUSSION - People with Special Needs and Webkinz

[Electrabuzz1]

This area is where people can go to discuss navigating Webkinz world with special needs. What games they find are simple enough for children with learning disabilities. Ideas and suggestions for navigating different aspects of Webkinz World that may have worked for them and for their child with special needs. How they deal with the trading rooms, saving money etc.

I would love to hear about any experiences (good and bad) you may have had with a child with special needs and Webkinz.

Or just drop by and say hi! Tell us a bit about yourself.

My child's main diagnoses are PDD NOS (on the Autism Spectrum), an underdeveloped Central Nervous System, Strabismus (vision difficulties), ODD and OCD.

He LOVES Webkinz World and all his plushies. He dreams of collecting every item in Webkinz World. He loves to decorate his rooms although his money is always gone quickly. He loves to send packages and receive packages. His favourite games are Rock, Paper, Scissors and Linked. Mostly the games are too difficult for him because of the short times. By the time he processes that the game has started his time is pretty much up. I do the employment office for him each day and he does most of the other dailies. He loves to garden and loves feeding apples to all of his horses.

Together we can make a difference.

HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT AUTISM:
The more people that know about autism, the more likely that research funds will be dedicated to understanding this developmental disorder. As more research is conducted, breakthroughs in autism treatment are more likely.

If you would like to help spread the word, please consider naming your next blue pet "Autism Awareness".

DID YOU KNOW:
• 1 in every 110 children is diagnosed with Autism.
• Autism is more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.
• An estimated 1.5 million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide are affected by autism.
• Government statistics suggest the prevalence rate of autism is increasing 10-17 percent annually.
• There is no established explanation for this increase.
• Boys are three to four times more likely than girls to develop autism and receive the diagnosis.
• Current estimates are that in the United States alone, one out of 70 boys is diagnosed with autism.

[lizzyxwebkinz]

yeah(im a healthy kid) but for kids that are like slow(im not slow) they should make simple games besides wishing well and wheel of wow

[Electrabuzz1]

Absolutely, I agree. I would love to see that. It is always a process to explain things in a way that less abled children can understand. These kids are big fans of Webkinz too!

[LilyRose]

First, I would have to say that the daily activities are great (wishing well, wheel of wow, bingoz, charm forest, star challenge, gem hunt, various quick draws, balloon darts, etc) but I think that special needs children, along with simply young children, still have other options.

The Arcade has various simple games that the concept can come quite easily. Games like zingoz matching (can't think of the entire name), wacky zingoz, and even checkers perhaps.

Then, in the Tournament Arena, a lot of the player vs. player games are very fun and also easy. Rock Paper Scissors, Zingoz Switcharooz, Connect 4, etc.

The simple joy of the clubhouse is also great. I am talking the regular kinzchat and NOT the trading room. Just the interaction with others and their pets will bring joy to any face.

Decoration rooms, visiting the curio shop/w-shop...lot's of fun. As far as saving money, perhaps as a parent/guardian, you sit down with your child and decide that perhaps Sunday afternoons is the day to visit the w-shop....and have a money limit to spend. Or just say, only 1,000 can be spent a week and help your child keep track of their spending.

Most of all, I think you have to play with the young/special needs child to really help them navigate around to the various wondorous and fun things in Webkinz World. Maybe you could even read them a W-Tales story.

[duquaine11]

I love that you brought up such a thread that impacts people that have learning dissabilitys and that, that shows something about you as a person! I think that they should address such a issue and hope this thread opens eyes not only on the internet but in the real world and that maybe these kids like the same things you and i do Thank you rep point most deffanetly

[Pupsaresocute]

That is very sweet of you to think of that!! I'm not a special needs kid, but that would really help! There's a child in my class who has seizures, and he has 5 other children in his family, one was borned yesterday. Rep for you!!!

[Homeslorgrunner]

I wanna see something for really little kids...like 5. 5 year olds I know don't know how to do those games.

[LilyRose]

Quote:

I wanna see something for really little kids...like 5. 5 year olds I know don't know how to do those games.

There are things in WW though that a 5 year old could do...

[Jennielou]

I work with middle school boys with severe autism...they are on a pre-K level. Getting them to find any interest in it is the hard part. We got them to make some recipe foods with ingredients in the dock. "Find the apple...find the ..." I don't think I've found a game yet that they can play independently. They can help me garden, but I have to show them where to click when raking or harvesting. It depends on how low level your child is and how much interest they have in it and what ability they have in navigating the site/using the mouse and keyboard. Good luck!

[Electrabuzz1]

Yes, there are some things that are simple but also many complicated things. Rock, paper scissors is great. Also the fashion contest "Supermodelz". But a lot of times these ones are not working a great deal of the time.

Shopping in the W shop is fun and a real life lesson - especially when the money runs low. Unfortunately the spending very quickly overtakes the earning. Games that special needs children are able to navigate are also low earning.

Lets here some more ideas.