47. The Joy of Toys at Christmas

Although adults like to receive gifts, many will readily forego the
pleasure by sacrificing, if it means a small member of the family will be
totally pleased and delighted with their Christmas gift. Seeing the sparkle of
joy in children’s eyes when they receive a toy or other Christmas present
certainly confirms that Christmas is for children. And after all, Santa brings
gifts for all the good little boys and girls, not for moms and dads or other
adults.
It was very humorous, as parents once related how on Christmas Day when
their child opened a Christmas gift and was pleased, they pretended to be a bit
saddened that Santa Claus didn’t bring them any Christmas present. The child
responded, ‘Because you bad mummy and daddy. You make me stand in corner.’
Toys are therefore a significant part of Christmas. Parents go all out for
children, they make the extra effort to give children something really special
such as what the child wishes, desires or longs for. It may be a toy such as a
particular type of doll, a dream dollhouse or an item like a bike or train set,
or motorized vehicle. The fun of getting a toy at Christmas begins earlier for
children as they start to make their wish list and anticipate getting one or
more of what they desire.
For teenagers, the most desired toy may not be a toy in the real sense of
the word. A toy, in today’s casual speech, can mean a favorite gadget such as an
ultra-stylish cell phone, an iPod, MP3 player, electronic organizer or even a
computer.
Toy sales at Christmas play a major role in the economics of retailers in the
toy industry. Toy makers use the Christmas season to release new and updated
products with the hope of capturing a significant slice of the billions of
dollars that consumers spend during the holidays.
The strategy among toy makers has been to release a new product that hope will
be the ‘must-have’ toy for the season. Consequently, they try to create buzz
about the product and have a specific release date, all with the hope that
parents and other consumers will clamor for the item and even make it sold-out
or hard to obtain as the season progresses. Such driving demand can easily
justify a spike in the price of the item.
Toys have also evolved beyond dolls, trains and cars to be very
interactive and educational. The popularity of educational toys and the presence
of increased technology have combined to produce many toys that are highly
computerized.
Receiving a toy as a gift at Christmas can play an important role in
creating a lasting memory. When a child gets the right toy – one that is highly
desired or is surprised by a wonderful toy – he or she will remember the feeling
it brought for a lifetime and recall it whenever there’s talk of which Christmas
was a favorite. It also helps to create a tradition as the child becomes an
adult nd wants to recapture a similar feeling by seeking to do the same for his
or her own child.
Then, there are the children with a wish list that’s basically a hope to get
something, any toy at Christmas. Many companies, businesses, churches and social
organizations arrange to have members donate new and age appropriate toys that
are distributed to children in need. Putting a smile on the faces of those
children will create warm memories about Christmas and Santa Claus for them. And
by participating in a charitable effort, the donors are themselves Santa Claus
and spreaders of goodwill and cheer that embody the meaning of Christmas.