Crystal
WelgemoedGONE are the days when your children could be kept happy with toy balls or plastic dolls.
The latest crazes are in a totally different class. Stuffed toys are ‘old school’, a toy shop assistant says frankly.
How can Barbie doll compete with the likes of Bratz - the “cool” modern day version of a teen doll, or even Baby Born, a toy mimic of a new born baby which is able to cry when its hungry, be fed milk, and one thing every new born baby needs… its wet nappy to be changed, yes imagine the likes of that!
Different Rage for a different age they say.
Petrol quad bikes are available in some toy stores for children as young as seven.
For the parents with a deeper pocket, there are remote-controlled gas cars which can reach 120 km/h.
Aashiq Dollie and Habibullah Valley, assistants at another store, believe that most popular among the latest toy crazes for boys are the miniature helicopter, anything electrical and anything that can be remotely controlled.
Gerda-Mari Delport, also a friendly and helpful staff member at a store, believes that Bratz and Baby Born are a favourite amongst the girls this season.
Scouting around the stores, one youngster, Junior de Klerk, said that he would like anything electrical for Christmas thisyear, but his ultimate favourite is the miniature helicopter and he is really hoping that his parents will buy it for him.
Itumeng Ngesi would love to have a little toy baby girl for Christmas.
Synthia, her mum, shares the sentiments of many mothers and feels the rise in prices of food and petrol.
“It used to be possible a few years back to buy something nice for R10, now you need at least R100 to buy a good gift.”
George Perrins is also a fan of the miniature helicopter.
“It’s the best helicopter I have seen,” says George hopefully.
Denstin Perrins, his younger brother, prefers the yellow Hummer on the shelf and is hoping his parents will surprise him with “something yellow”.
Geo van Niekerk knows what he wants and where to find it – the latest upmarket radio-controlled Cross-Country truck.
Ruben Colling, only three years old, already knows exactly what he would like for Christmas.
A red remote control car.
Confidently he picks it up and shows his dad what he wants.
“Every year children’s toys get more extreme, more high-tech, more expensive and maybe a little over-rated,” says an exhausted mother of two, shopping in a local toy shop.
But try telling that to the kids next to her!
