Neopets
Elizabeth Roberts
I know the subject has come up before about Neopets, but I don't recall it being much other than some people's children do go to that website...
Could someone enlighten me a bit about it? My husband has said he doesn't want Sarah going there...he says from what he sees it's a waste of her time because all it is is playing games for points to "feed" and "care for" a virtual pet that is just a picture on the screen.
I'd like to hear others' impressions/thoughts on this...I'm about to go to the website and look into it myself, but I want to hear what other people think about it as well.
Thanks!
MamaBeth
Why not?!
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Could someone enlighten me a bit about it? My husband has said he doesn't want Sarah going there...he says from what he sees it's a waste of her time because all it is is playing games for points to "feed" and "care for" a virtual pet that is just a picture on the screen.
I'd like to hear others' impressions/thoughts on this...I'm about to go to the website and look into it myself, but I want to hear what other people think about it as well.
Thanks!
MamaBeth
Why not?!
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Mary
I would think it should be left up to your daughter as to whether it's a
waste of her time or not. It might be something she will just love to do and
then again she might not find it fun at all.
I know my daughter was very excited about the site and spent maybe 2 days on
it and found other things she liked much better. She hasn't been on it
since. My son had no interest in it at all.
Depends on the child.
Mary B.
http://www.homeschoolingtshirts.com
waste of her time or not. It might be something she will just love to do and
then again she might not find it fun at all.
I know my daughter was very excited about the site and spent maybe 2 days on
it and found other things she liked much better. She hasn't been on it
since. My son had no interest in it at all.
Depends on the child.
Mary B.
http://www.homeschoolingtshirts.com
Kelly Lenhart
It an imaginary game no different that playing dolls. Just 'cause it's on
the computer doesn't make it any less a game of "make believe."
Not to mention it isn't up to him to decide that it's a waste of time, it's
up to HER! She may be getting something from it she either can't or doesn't
want to express. Those games, just like the Yugioh my son plays, are about
making connections with the characters and staying with them long enough to
learn about them. It's dolls, and cops and robbers, and cowboys and indians
and Spaceman Spiff.
Sounds like great fun to me.
Kelly
(thinking she should save this, for those days when I can't STAND Yugioh
anymore.
because all it is is playing games for >points to "feed" and "care for" a
virtual pet that is just a picture on the screen.
the computer doesn't make it any less a game of "make believe."
Not to mention it isn't up to him to decide that it's a waste of time, it's
up to HER! She may be getting something from it she either can't or doesn't
want to express. Those games, just like the Yugioh my son plays, are about
making connections with the characters and staying with them long enough to
learn about them. It's dolls, and cops and robbers, and cowboys and indians
and Spaceman Spiff.
Sounds like great fun to me.
Kelly
(thinking she should save this, for those days when I can't STAND Yugioh
anymore.
>Could someone enlighten me a bit about it? My husband has said he doesn'twant Sarah going >there...he says from what he sees it's a waste of her time
because all it is is playing games for >points to "feed" and "care for" a
virtual pet that is just a picture on the screen.
Elizabeth Roberts
DUH! See...there I went...rushing off still thinking more in traditional and schoolish ways...dang but I'm not having a good day! SIGH...Yes, you're right...
MamaBeth
Mary <mummy124@...> wrote:
I would think it should be left up to your daughter as to whether it's a
waste of her time or not. It might be something she will just love to do and
then again she might not find it fun at all.
I know my daughter was very excited about the site and spent maybe 2 days on
it and found other things she liked much better. She hasn't been on it
since. My son had no interest in it at all.
Depends on the child.
Mary B.
http://www.homeschoolingtshirts.com
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MamaBeth
Mary <mummy124@...> wrote:
I would think it should be left up to your daughter as to whether it's a
waste of her time or not. It might be something she will just love to do and
then again she might not find it fun at all.
I know my daughter was very excited about the site and spent maybe 2 days on
it and found other things she liked much better. She hasn't been on it
since. My son had no interest in it at all.
Depends on the child.
Mary B.
http://www.homeschoolingtshirts.com
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24hrmom
<<Could someone enlighten me a bit about it? My husband has said he doesn't want Sarah going there...he says from what he sees it's a waste of her time because all it is is playing games for points to "feed" and "care for" a virtual pet that is just a picture on the screen.>>
Well, I guess you could see it that way. As Mary mentioned, it's better to look at it as her choice. My kids have been on and off it over the past year or so (the nice thing is your neopets never die so you can go back even 6 months later). If she does want to pursue it, you could use it as an opportunity to show your husband how some cool learning can happen "even" playing Neopets. I'll try put some of what I saw in "schooly" terms:
Once my daughter spent a night creating pets, trying to find unique names for them ... really interesting considering how many millions of pets there are. Even the most obscure names we could come up with were mostly already taken. Cool and neat conversation about the "size" of the internet. My youngest son (he's 6), spent almost a week playing every day a few months ago. There are tons of games/puzzles: logic (tetris-like etc), skill (hangman/spelling etc) and luck. Even figuring out which is which is learning. He loves figuring out high numbers and would play games to rack up his points and they post on the page how many plays the game has had that day (usually always in the thousands). Then came the strategy of deciding which scores to keep and when to pass and try again (you can always play but you can only take 3 scores a day per game). Not to mention purchasing food etc for your pet. You don't just buy something, you haggle for it. Very fun way to play with numbers ... narrowing in on a final agreed upon price with the shopkeeper. If you can get it before someone else does! Tons of logic and math there. And I could go on ....
And of course, just seeing the interesting graphics and games and realizing what can be accomplished on the web with some computer programming ... that's interesting in and of itself!
Just a bit of food for thought if your daughter does decide to try it out. :)
Pam L
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Well, I guess you could see it that way. As Mary mentioned, it's better to look at it as her choice. My kids have been on and off it over the past year or so (the nice thing is your neopets never die so you can go back even 6 months later). If she does want to pursue it, you could use it as an opportunity to show your husband how some cool learning can happen "even" playing Neopets. I'll try put some of what I saw in "schooly" terms:
Once my daughter spent a night creating pets, trying to find unique names for them ... really interesting considering how many millions of pets there are. Even the most obscure names we could come up with were mostly already taken. Cool and neat conversation about the "size" of the internet. My youngest son (he's 6), spent almost a week playing every day a few months ago. There are tons of games/puzzles: logic (tetris-like etc), skill (hangman/spelling etc) and luck. Even figuring out which is which is learning. He loves figuring out high numbers and would play games to rack up his points and they post on the page how many plays the game has had that day (usually always in the thousands). Then came the strategy of deciding which scores to keep and when to pass and try again (you can always play but you can only take 3 scores a day per game). Not to mention purchasing food etc for your pet. You don't just buy something, you haggle for it. Very fun way to play with numbers ... narrowing in on a final agreed upon price with the shopkeeper. If you can get it before someone else does! Tons of logic and math there. And I could go on ....
And of course, just seeing the interesting graphics and games and realizing what can be accomplished on the web with some computer programming ... that's interesting in and of itself!
Just a bit of food for thought if your daughter does decide to try it out. :)
Pam L
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Kelli Traaseth
----- Original Message -----
From: Elizabeth Roberts
**Could someone enlighten me a bit about it?**
Do you know that my kids are learning about the stock market from that site. :) Throw that one at your husband. <g> Math- statistics, percentages. Vocabulary, reading.
I've been amazed at the variety of things that they've been doing on that site. Both my dd(9) and ds(10) have spent lots of time there. They really enjoy the games and the challenge from the games.
Lots of problem solving skills there. Even when there is a game that is too hard for one of them they figure out a way to accomplish what they need to do. Its pretty cool. My 6 yr old also dabbles there a bit too, and she's not reading yet.
Another cool thing that has happened with them is that they have really been working together on raising their pets. They sit on the computer together, working together. Pulling ideas from their past times in Neopia.
So, they've enjoyed it. :) Lots of fun.
Kelli~
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/17/2004 4:38:22 PM Mountain Standard Time,
tktraas@... writes:
-=- Do you know that my kids are learning about the stock market from that
site. :) Throw that one at your husband. <g> Math- statistics, percentages.
Vocabulary, reading.-=-
Banking. Interest.
You don't have to buy food if you go to the prehistoric plateau each day and
get your free omelette.<g> Three feedings. And if you go to the healing
springs in faerieland and click "heal my pets" lots of times they're made "no
longer hungry."
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
tktraas@... writes:
-=- Do you know that my kids are learning about the stock market from that
site. :) Throw that one at your husband. <g> Math- statistics, percentages.
Vocabulary, reading.-=-
Banking. Interest.
You don't have to buy food if you go to the prehistoric plateau each day and
get your free omelette.<g> Three feedings. And if you go to the healing
springs in faerieland and click "heal my pets" lots of times they're made "no
longer hungry."
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/17/2004 3:45:57 PM Mountain Standard Time,
mamabethuscg@... writes:
-=-She hasn't been on it
since. My son had no interest in it at all.
Depends on the child.-=-
Kirby forgot his password years ago. Holly signed on but wasn't too
interested. Marty was all over it, trading with friends, learning every game, and he
made me get my own account when I started WHINING that he wouldn't let me play
his Destruct-O-Match. I just wanted to play the games that had any
similarity to Dr. Mario and Kirby's Avalanche, the two video games I've ever really
been any good at.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
mamabethuscg@... writes:
-=-She hasn't been on it
since. My son had no interest in it at all.
Depends on the child.-=-
Kirby forgot his password years ago. Holly signed on but wasn't too
interested. Marty was all over it, trading with friends, learning every game, and he
made me get my own account when I started WHINING that he wouldn't let me play
his Destruct-O-Match. I just wanted to play the games that had any
similarity to Dr. Mario and Kirby's Avalanche, the two video games I've ever really
been any good at.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Aimee
<<I'd like to hear others' impressions/thoughts on
this...I'm about to go
to the website and look into it myself, but I want to
hear what other
people think about it as well. >>
My son says, they have card games, spelling and math
games, a potato game where you have to count them as
they go by very quickly, a stock market that you can
play.
Think of it as a virtual world, not just a place to
have a virtual pet. My son is on a mailing list and
meets people to chat with on IM thru Neopets. His
friend is into it now too, and they battle in the
Battle Dome, buying items to improve their pets skills
and strength.
He says there's also in depth plots that you have to
figure out....
There's advertising to make it free, but it's really
easy to avoid. You can buy items like Juicy Fruit to
feed your pet, but he says that's as bad as it gets.
There are certain times to get certain items, he loves
that. He'll jump up and say it's such and such time,
time to visit the Snowagger....lol.
He just corrected my spelling and called me a newbie,
lol, guess I don't play enough. That's right, I have
an account, too!
He also has his own webpage, or homepage, and had
quite a bit of fun writing it.
I'm tired, and I just wrote what he told me, lol.
Oh, he forgot, there are guilds too, and she can join
his, he says he's always looking for new members.
Alex (my son, 9) says if she wants to play he'll be
her NeoFriend. Let me know offlist.
~Aimee
this...I'm about to go
to the website and look into it myself, but I want to
hear what other
people think about it as well. >>
My son says, they have card games, spelling and math
games, a potato game where you have to count them as
they go by very quickly, a stock market that you can
play.
Think of it as a virtual world, not just a place to
have a virtual pet. My son is on a mailing list and
meets people to chat with on IM thru Neopets. His
friend is into it now too, and they battle in the
Battle Dome, buying items to improve their pets skills
and strength.
He says there's also in depth plots that you have to
figure out....
There's advertising to make it free, but it's really
easy to avoid. You can buy items like Juicy Fruit to
feed your pet, but he says that's as bad as it gets.
There are certain times to get certain items, he loves
that. He'll jump up and say it's such and such time,
time to visit the Snowagger....lol.
He just corrected my spelling and called me a newbie,
lol, guess I don't play enough. That's right, I have
an account, too!
He also has his own webpage, or homepage, and had
quite a bit of fun writing it.
I'm tired, and I just wrote what he told me, lol.
Oh, he forgot, there are guilds too, and she can join
his, he says he's always looking for new members.
Alex (my son, 9) says if she wants to play he'll be
her NeoFriend. Let me know offlist.
~Aimee
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/17/2004 2:03:50 PM Mountain Standard Time,
mamabethuscg@... writes:
-=-My husband has said he doesn't want Sarah going there...he says from what
he sees it's a waste of her time because all it is is playing games for points
to "feed" and "care for" a virtual pet that is just a picture on the screen.
-=-
Questions to consider about playing and reality and value:
Does he feel better if she pretends to feed stuffed animals or dolls?
How did he feel, as a child, playing games for points just to "feed" his
parents' need to see "good grades" on report cards? (By games I mean "read the
chapter and answer the questions at the end," and "do all the even-numbered
problems on page 48." Those busywork games he was made to do without choice.
The Neopets games involve various things. Words, odds, patterns. And she can
do what's fun and forget the rest.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
mamabethuscg@... writes:
-=-My husband has said he doesn't want Sarah going there...he says from what
he sees it's a waste of her time because all it is is playing games for points
to "feed" and "care for" a virtual pet that is just a picture on the screen.
-=-
Questions to consider about playing and reality and value:
Does he feel better if she pretends to feed stuffed animals or dolls?
How did he feel, as a child, playing games for points just to "feed" his
parents' need to see "good grades" on report cards? (By games I mean "read the
chapter and answer the questions at the end," and "do all the even-numbered
problems on page 48." Those busywork games he was made to do without choice.
The Neopets games involve various things. Words, odds, patterns. And she can
do what's fun and forget the rest.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/17/2004 11:21:51 PM Mountain Standard Time,
aimeel73@... writes:
-=-His
friend is into it now too, and they battle in the
Battle Dome, buying items to improve their pets skills
and strength. -=-
Marty does that with his friends. When I get good battle gear, I give it to
Marty.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
aimeel73@... writes:
-=-His
friend is into it now too, and they battle in the
Battle Dome, buying items to improve their pets skills
and strength. -=-
Marty does that with his friends. When I get good battle gear, I give it to
Marty.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Elizabeth Roberts
whoa..that's a good point! I looked around I really don't have a problem with it, so I've set her up with a couple pets and am letting her go from there.
MamaBeth
SandraDodd@... wrote:
In a message dated 1/17/2004 2:03:50 PM Mountain Standard Time,
mamabethuscg@... writes:
-=-My husband has said he doesn't want Sarah going there...he says from what
he sees it's a waste of her time because all it is is playing games for points
to "feed" and "care for" a virtual pet that is just a picture on the screen.
-=-
Questions to consider about playing and reality and value:
Does he feel better if she pretends to feed stuffed animals or dolls?
How did he feel, as a child, playing games for points just to "feed" his
parents' need to see "good grades" on report cards? (By games I mean "read the
chapter and answer the questions at the end," and "do all the even-numbered
problems on page 48." Those busywork games he was made to do without choice.
The Neopets games involve various things. Words, odds, patterns. And she can
do what's fun and forget the rest.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
MamaBeth
SandraDodd@... wrote:
In a message dated 1/17/2004 2:03:50 PM Mountain Standard Time,
mamabethuscg@... writes:
-=-My husband has said he doesn't want Sarah going there...he says from what
he sees it's a waste of her time because all it is is playing games for points
to "feed" and "care for" a virtual pet that is just a picture on the screen.
-=-
Questions to consider about playing and reality and value:
Does he feel better if she pretends to feed stuffed animals or dolls?
How did he feel, as a child, playing games for points just to "feed" his
parents' need to see "good grades" on report cards? (By games I mean "read the
chapter and answer the questions at the end," and "do all the even-numbered
problems on page 48." Those busywork games he was made to do without choice.
The Neopets games involve various things. Words, odds, patterns. And she can
do what's fun and forget the rest.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Aimee
Hey Mamabeth! I answered your question last nite from
my son's perspective, now I can answer from a
parent's.
Sandra says:
<<The Neopets games involve various things. Words,
odds, patterns. And
she can
do what's fun and forget the rest.>>
And that's what I love about it, personally. I go on
to only play games, with the added bonus of getting
NeoPoints to spend on my pets. Alex, on the other
hand, pays attention to much more.
For example, he kept track of Neopia Standard Time for
a while to figure out the time difference and even
switched his clock in his room to that time! lol
She's going to have a different experience than anyone
else based on what she likes to do there. They even
have outlets for some creativity, like the homepages
and the guilds and the shops, where part of world of
Neopia is their own, which I personally think is very
cool!
Even if it's just something she does to have fun for a
few minutes, playing games, I would say it still holds
it's value (free!).
And if she gets into it and really enjoys it, there's
no way you or I could guess what educational value it
will have for her, because you might not notice it
until later, like any other activity unschooled kids
get involved in! ( Like when I found Alex at 1 in the
AM looking thru HTML books to help write his homepage
there. He wanted scrolling text, and in the process
picked up a few more cool things he added to his
page.)
~Aimee
my son's perspective, now I can answer from a
parent's.
Sandra says:
<<The Neopets games involve various things. Words,
odds, patterns. And
she can
do what's fun and forget the rest.>>
And that's what I love about it, personally. I go on
to only play games, with the added bonus of getting
NeoPoints to spend on my pets. Alex, on the other
hand, pays attention to much more.
For example, he kept track of Neopia Standard Time for
a while to figure out the time difference and even
switched his clock in his room to that time! lol
She's going to have a different experience than anyone
else based on what she likes to do there. They even
have outlets for some creativity, like the homepages
and the guilds and the shops, where part of world of
Neopia is their own, which I personally think is very
cool!
Even if it's just something she does to have fun for a
few minutes, playing games, I would say it still holds
it's value (free!).
And if she gets into it and really enjoys it, there's
no way you or I could guess what educational value it
will have for her, because you might not notice it
until later, like any other activity unschooled kids
get involved in! ( Like when I found Alex at 1 in the
AM looking thru HTML books to help write his homepage
there. He wanted scrolling text, and in the process
picked up a few more cool things he added to his
page.)
~Aimee
Aimee
I tried doing that, lol, and he didn't want my stuff!
"That's lame Mom, I upgraded from that AGES ago."
I need to learn what the *good* battle gear IS.
hee hee
~Aimee
<<Marty does that with his friends. When I get good
battle gear, I give
it to
Marty.
Sandra>>
"That's lame Mom, I upgraded from that AGES ago."
I need to learn what the *good* battle gear IS.
hee hee
~Aimee
<<Marty does that with his friends. When I get good
battle gear, I give
it to
Marty.
Sandra>>
[email protected]
In a message dated 1/18/04 10:39:25 AM, aimeel73@... writes:
<<
I tried doing that, lol, and he didn't want my stuff!
"That's lame Mom, I upgraded from that AGES ago."
<<I need to learn what the *good* battle gear IS. >>
I don't do the battle stuff, though, so if I give Marty things he doesn't
want, he throws them out to auction!
That auctioning aspect.... that's training for e-bay, isn't it? <g>
Sandra
<<
I tried doing that, lol, and he didn't want my stuff!
"That's lame Mom, I upgraded from that AGES ago."
<<I need to learn what the *good* battle gear IS. >>
I don't do the battle stuff, though, so if I give Marty things he doesn't
want, he throws them out to auction!
That auctioning aspect.... that's training for e-bay, isn't it? <g>
Sandra