What’s a Hatchimal and Why Does Every Kid Seem to Crave One?

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Prepare for a showdown among parents this holiday season, once they figure out what the latest must-have toy is! Each year brings a new toy phenomenon, from Cabbage Patch Kids to Beanie Babies, and this time, it’s the Hatchimal that’s capturing children’s hearts worldwide. Let’s dive into the egg-shaped frenzy.

The Today Show recently featured Hatchimals, which might have been your first glimpse of these adorable, interactive creatures reminiscent of Furbies and Tamagotchis. So, what exactly are Hatchimals? They’re plush toys encased in eggs, and kids need to nurture them until they hatch—which can take up to a whopping 40 minutes! Once hatched, these critters require care and attention as they “grow up” and learn to respond to touch, mimic phrases, and even move when you clap your hands. Talk about interactive play!

From Spin Master, the trendy Hatchimals retail for $69, but good luck finding them in stores—many are sold out, and some opportunistic sellers are listing them on eBay for well over $200. Hooray for capitalism!

While it’s great that kids can enjoy these toys well past the holiday season, I’m personally opting out. The Today Show segment demonstrated the patience required to get one to hatch, and let’s just say, my kid’s attention span isn’t exactly built for a 40-minute wait. The last time my child hung in there for that long was during my wife’s labor!

If your kids are anything like mine, the chances of this toy making it to the New Year are slim to none. Trendy toys often have a short shelf life, and paying three to four times the retail price seems utterly ridiculous. Sure, I love making my kids happy, but I’d rather not look at a plush egg collecting dust for the next two years—taunting me for spending a fortune on what basically became a decoration.

Fortunately, we’ve cut the cord on cable, so unless my son encounters a Hatchimal at school, he’s likely blissfully unaware of its existence. Thank goodness for no commercials!

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In summary, Hatchimals are the latest holiday craze, enticing kids with their hatching process and interactive features. However, parents might want to think twice about the investment as trends come and go, and the shelf life of these toys is often disappointingly short.