Every holiday season introduces a new toy sensation, and this year, it’s Hatchimals. If you haven’t heard about them yet, let me break it down for you in a way that won’t require you to pop a Xanax. Recently, the Today Show shed light on these little creatures, which are essentially plush animals hidden inside eggs that kids must nurture until they hatch. This process can take up to 40 minutes, and once they emerge, the fun really begins as these Hatchimals need to be cared for.
Hatchimals come in various types, and if you’re a parent looking to snag one, you probably should have started your shopping months ago. Produced by Spin Master, these toys have a retail price of around $69 but are flying off the shelves. You’ll find them listed on eBay for outrageous prices—some going for over $200. Yay, capitalism!
The company has designed Hatchimals to be interactive, allowing them to respond to touch, repeat phrases, and even move when you give a clap. While I applaud the genius behind this hot item and the parents who are willing to brave the stores (or online marketplaces) to secure one, I think I’ll sit this one out. The Today Show segment made it clear that getting a Hatchimal to hatch can be a test of patience, and let’s be honest, the last time my kid waited that long was during my wife’s epidural.
If your children are anything like mine, the likelihood of them still playing with this toy by New Year’s Day is pretty slim. Trendy toys often have a short lifespan, and shelling out three to four times the retail price for a potential dust collector seems like madness to me. I enjoy making my kids happy, but I’d prefer to endure some tears rather than watch an overpriced egg sit on the shelf for years, mocking me for spending hundreds.
Luckily, we’ve cut the cord on cable, so unless my son encounters a Hatchimal at school, he probably won’t even know they exist. Thank goodness for no commercials!
For more parenting insights, check out our other posts on home insemination kits and how they can provide you with the information you need for family planning.
In summary, Hatchimals are the latest must-have toy that has taken children by storm. While they’re designed for interactive play, the price and the effort required to hatch them may not be worth it for every parent.