Online Play Pets for Kids

Virtual pets can be a fun alternative to the real thing.funny moneybox image by Ivonne Wierink from Fotolia.com

Allowing kids to create virtual pets online offer the fun side of animal care without the expense and mess created by real pets. These online dogs and cats might keep children leashed to computers rather than outside playing, but they can teach responsibility, as the owners are required to feed, clean and play with their virtual pets.

Webkinz.com

A Webkinz pet is the online counterpart to stuffed animals kids can purchase in toy stores. Each stuffed animal comes with a code its owner enters online to access a corresponding virtual pet for games and activities. Once a membership is created, each new Webkinz joins others in a virtual house where kids can switch among their pets' avatars. Webkinz lets kids play arcade games to earn coins that can be used to purchase clothing for their pets along with new rooms and decor for their pets' home.

Pet Society is designed to be played through social networking sites such as Facebook. The game lets members create one main pet and starts out with a one-room house that expands to up to 10 rooms with continued play. The game design offers limited opportunities to earn coins that refresh every day. Players direct their virtual pets around town, visiting friends to earn coins and making purchases such as virtual clothes for their pets. While this game does feature a "cash shop" with some exclusive items, the constant cycle of new content and limited-time items keep the game fresh and exciting for those who don't want to spend money.

PetPet Park, a spinoff of Nickelodeon's Neopets, allows users to create up to four pets per account. Kids can select their pets' color, gender and species to develop characters with likes, dislikes and in-game abilities. Players direct their pet avatars around PetPet Park on quests to find clues, solve riddles, hunt for hidden objects and deliver content to specific characters throughout the virtual world.

A child can adopt his own virtual dog or cat, selecting from breeds such as Huskies, Yorkies, chihuahuas, tabbies, Siamese cats and more in FooPets. These cuties have virtual fur, and they'll jump up to press their paws and noses to the screen. The pets require daily feeding and cleaning. The site encourages users to connect with others to ensure that your pet is cared for on days you don't log in. The site features many flashing ads for rare items that can be purchased.