Moms Talk: Do You Buy Into the Holiday Toy Craze?

My 9–year-old daughter looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “You don’t know what a Squinkie is, Mom?”

I shook my head. “Nope, afraid not. Isn’t it something you use to clean your shower?”

She tried not to roll her eyes. “Everyone’s getting them this year. They’re like, only the most popular toy.”

OK, a toy. I should have known. “But what are they,” I asked.

“You know, those tiny little squeezable rubber toys in plastic bubbles.”

Mmm hmm. I think I’ve seen them. But then again, I’m not one to linger in the toy aisle at Target very often. “So, I assume you want them for Christmas?” I prodded.

“Of course.”

Later that day, I headed out to Target, only to discover that these popular little squishy toys had been thoroughly picked through. I grabbed the second to last one, not even bothering to examine it closely. Seconds after I snatched it up, another mom came along and threw the very last one in her cart. She gave me a relieved look as if to say, “Well, we almost escaped mayhem, didn’t we?” before walking away.

Once I got home, I took a closer look at the things. These were what all the fuss was about this year? These tiny little plastic things that will most likely get left in my daughter’s pocket and clog up the dryer or get chewed up by the dog? People were clamoring over … Squinkies?

As I lamented to a friend about the annual toy craze, she hastily reminded me about the Tickle Me Elmo phenomenon years before. Suddenly, it all came rushing back. The year was 1996; my son was just a few months old. As I rocked him to sleep, I watched the news in horror. A Wal-Mart employee had been trampled by out-of-control shoppers as they made a mad rush for the furry little red guy who  giggled when squeezed. He was cute enough, I had to admit. But that giggle had to get old after awhile. Was it really worth all the fuss, and, my goodness, a trip to the hospital for one innocent bystander?

A year later, I picked up a Tickle Me Elmo at yard sale for a buck. That’s right. The same toy that folks resold for hundreds of dollars the year before now lay in a box among used plastic McDonalds Happy Meal toys. How about that?

That blast from the past triggered a trip down memory lane as I remembered the other past toy crazes. It all began with the Rubik’s Cube; I can vaguely recall the madness from my childhood. Then came Cabbage Patch Dolls in the early 1980s; I would have given my left arm for one. Pogs debuted in the early '90s, followed by the computerized toy pet Tamagotchi  in 1997 (I’d nearly forgotten about that one!). Following was the infamous Furby, which eerily resembled a Gremlin and mimicked its owner’s voice with enough practice (also eerie, if you ask me). Beanie Babies, Bratz Dolls, Silly Bandz and last year’s Zu Zu Pets were all the rage after that. All caused much fuss and cost a fortune, but sadly, many ultimately ended up in the clearance aisle or the yard sale box the following year.

Much like fashion (think parachute pants, high top sneakers, bell bottoms and wedged heels), the madness has to start somewhere. When retailers talk up the latest and greatest toy of the season, many parents suddenly insist they HAVE to get one for their child. The effect spreads, and the results is Moms Gone Wild in the toy aisle at Wal-Mart. Sure, they may have a happy kid on Christmas morning but, like most things, the toy will soon be forgotten when something better comes out a few months later.

The toy craze is a simple reminder to me that we live in a bandwagon society. The minute something becomes “popular” there’s no turning back. If something as simple and silly as Silly Bandz can make parents and kids alike go crazy, it makes me wonder what else can have the same effect. Striped toilet paper? Chocolate flavored gum? What if we renamed the jump rope with some fancy moniker, racked up the price to $50 and dubbed it the “must have” of the season? Would parents come running in droves?

So while I admit I was somewhat of a sucker for those darn little Squinkies (which I’m sure my dryer will eat up in no time), I choose to stay clear of the toy madness this Christmas. But what about you? Who’s responsible for the toy madness, and more importantly, have you ever bought into it? Have you ever gone to extremes to get your hands on a “must have” toy of the season? Fess up, moms! We want to hear from you!