Colchester school bans "Webkinz" toys

COLCHESTER, Conn. --Webkinz, the newest toy fad to sweep children's birthday parties and play groups, have prompted a crackdown at a local school.

Jack Jackter Intermediate School administrators recently warned parents by letter that the fuzzy stuffed animals will be confiscated if spotted in class.

In recent years, schools throughout Connecticut and nationwide have tried to minimize distractions by prohibiting everything from Pokemon cards to Beanie Babies, Tamagotchi cyberpets and "Captain Underpants" books.

The 44 different Webkinz stuffed toys reflect characters in an online game of the same name. Colchester school administrators say several students have tried to play the game on school computers during indoor recess.

On the site, children can "adopt" a Webkinz after receiving it, decorate a virtual room, care for it like a real pet and participate in games and other activities. Owners use "Kinzcash" to buy items for the cyberpets.

Colchester parent Patty Kozlowski, whose third-grade daughter Tori received a pink poodle Webkinz in a birthday party goodie bag, said she heard children were carrying them throughout the school before the crackdown.

"Within a week's time, that was the talk of the school -- everybody had a Webkinz and everybody needed one," Kozlowski said.

Griswold Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth Osga said she was not aware of a similar ban at Griswold Elementary School, but was not surprised by the Jack Jackter prohibition.

"Having been an elementary school principal and teacher, I know if one student brings them to school, they all do," she said.

Tom Murphy, spokesman for the state Department of Education, said he was not aware of any other schools that have banned Webkinz, but he said he would not be surprised if there were more.

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Information from: Norwich Bulletin