{Holiday Gift Guide} Sqwishlanders Review (& Giveaway Ends 12/8)

ABOUT:

A Sqwishlander is a squishie little character that lives in Sqwishland, of course!  Each Sqwishlander is a 3/4″ rubbery animal in a plastic capsule that can be found in more than 300,000 vending machines around the world. At just 25 to 50 cents per Sqwishlander, starting a collection is easy! It’ll be even easier this November, when new 6,12 and 24 multi-packs of Sqwishlanders will be available at toy stores and other retailers nationwide. Each multi-pack promises a certain number of rare and even ultra rare collectible Sqwishlanders. In addition to collecting the Sqwishlanders, each one comes with a code for access to a new kid-friendly virtual world, www.Sqwishland.com, where kids and adults alike will enjoy playing games and feeding and taking care of their adorable virtual Sqwishlanders.

Joining Sqwishland.com is absolutely free although some features are only accessible if you have a Premium Account. But first you need a squishy or two where a secret code, a la a fortune cookie paper slip, enables membership and entrance to a 24/7 world of educational fun.

Membership is free or choose one of the premium levels where access to exciting features like clothing items and a Sqwishhome, more mini-games to play, additional educational activities and daily tasks to perform. Just choose and pay for one of several membership levels and receive exciting membership perks! There’s the option of Sqwabbles, the sad Sqwishlanders that were neglected and ran away but can be caught and rehabilitated by completing quests. Or get the chance to find valuable items deep within Sqwishland and conquer mighty missions.

Being a kid-friendly virtual world means no bad words, no bullies, no asking of personal information and no product advertising. Currently more than 380,000 kids from Canada, the U.S., Australia and United Kingdom have entered Sqwishland.

Also, Sqwishlanders are now available in multipacks! Next time you visit your local Toys ‘R Us, CVS, Walgreens, H-E-B, Michaels or Meijer store, look for the brand-new 6- and 12-pack Surprise Mix tubes of Sqwishlanders. There is also a new Party Mix 24-pack that comes in a collectible jumbo capsule, available at Justice and Learning Express Stores. All of the multipacks come with a certain number of rare and ultra rare Sqwishlanders, but they’re packaged in opaque capsules– so you never know what you’re going to get! Finally, brand new Mystery Capsules with an Ultra Rare Jumbo Sqwishlander (2″ instead of 3/4″) are now available at specialty retailers, and will be coming to Justice stores in early 2011.

The new multipacks are the ideal size (and price!) for stocking stuffers. Individual Sqwishland capsules are also an easy gift for stockings.

MY THOUGHTS:

Now I admit I haven’t really played the game Sqwishland, but I have watched my sister play it and she seems to enjoy it.  The game is very bright and colorful and it is a virtual world for kids and parents alike to play games and explore.  Kids can join and chat with other friends, engage in fun in-game events and play fun and educational games.  Contents are updated continually in a colorful and creative way so things aren’t boring.  The chat is also filtered by in-game moderators to keep kids safe from inappropriate words and behaviors.  Swishland is free to play, though there is a membership fee starting at $5 (with a discount for purchasing 6 months and more) which allows access to some better features.

Even if you don’t play Sqwishland, you can still play with the little rubber toy characters.  I will say though they are pretty small so definitely keep them away from kids who put things in their mouths.  I think they are cute though and keep some on my desk as decoration and to make me laugh by sqwishing them!  There are also so many characters to choose from that no matter what animal your child likes there probably is a Swishlander for them!  I could also see kids wanting to collect them all and trading them, which is nice that they are reasonably priced and can be found in vending machines!

(Just a sample of the Sqwishlanders)

BUY IT: Visit Sqwishland.com and check out the list of more than 300,000 vending machines and look at your favorite retailers.

WIN IT: (1) US winner will receive 2 dozen Sqwishlanders

TO ENTER:  Visit www.sqwishland.com and report back the name of your favorite Sqwishlander!  (look for the animals in their bubbles on the bottom of the page)

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#GIVEAWAY: Win 2 Dozen Sqwishlanders for Kids! @mamasmoney (Ends 12/8) http://bit.ly/fXmLf8
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Please leave me a comment for EACH entry. This contest ends December 8, 2010. Thanks everyone and good luck! Also, if you just put a generic comment like “I want to Win” then I will have to disqualify you. Once per household please.

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Mama’s Money Savers Disclosure: I was sent a bag of characters to review but my opinion remains my own. Please see my Disclosure Policy.