My kids love to play with Webkinz stuffed animals. You purchase the animal for $5-$15 and get a secret code to plug in to their online experience.

In Webkinz world, you adopt, name, and choose the sex of your stuffed animal. At that point, the stuffed animal comes alive online.

It is much like a children's version of Myspace - except its safe. You can interact, send gifts, chat, and play games with kids from all over the world in a safe and controlled virtual environment. My son sent some stuffed animal clothing to a friend from church. The friend sent it back. Go figure.

You can exercise and interact with your new animal keeping their 'happy, health, and hunger' requirements at appropriate levels. In addition, you play arcade and educational games to not only have fun but earn more Kinzcash (currency in Webkinz world to buy food, furniture, toys, vacations, and so much more). My wife encourages them to buy food that's on sale. I caught my daughter this morning completely engrossed, engaged and entertained. Click here for more info about it.

Here's the catch though. My wife, 34 years old, wanted to 'help' my kids get Kinzcash. She spent hours online 'helping' out by earning thousands of Kinzcash dollars for our two children. She is such a servant.