Queues, races and headaches. This is the state in which parents live on these dates, in which they strive to find the best gift for their children. A child's smile when he opens his toy is perhaps what most compensates families who, despite the crisis, will spend around 100 or 120 euros per child during this Christmas.
Lanzarote residents whose children have asked for a Beyblade or a Monster High doll will have a hard time if they hope to find them now and have not yet bought them. These have been the "star" gifts of this Christmas and are sold out in many stores on the island.
This is explained to La Voz by Rubén Benasco, in charge of the toy section of Megacentro, who assures that they have had to order these games three and four times due to the great demand. The Beyblade has been "hitting hard" for a couple of years. It is a modern spinning top that, in addition, this year incorporates a novelty: a radio-controlled gun. "It is a toy that all children want, so whoever comes now to buy it is late. We have ordered it several times and it has always sold out. We have sold between 150 and 200 units of this product," says Benasco.
The other "star" gift of this Christmas is the Monter High doll, which has also sold out in almost all toy stores in Lanzarote. "It's a monstrous doll. There are several types, such as 'The Daughter of the Yeti' or 'The Daughter of the Werewolf'. Since last year this doll has had a lot of pull," explains Benasco.
But the fact is that this doll is not only liked by girls, but also by teenagers. "I don't know why but people of different ages like them. It is not a doll that only the little ones want," explains the person in charge of the toy section of Megacentro. He even says that they have arrived at the store "on several occasions" and as soon as they are placed on the shelf "they sell out again". "We usually receive about 100 or 200 units and they always run out," he says. But, in addition, the Monster High have accessory products, which are also the desire of many girls these days.
Precisely these modern toys sometimes put parents themselves in check. "Some don't even know how to pronounce it, because they have only heard it from their young children. They come to the store and you have to spend a while to find out what they want," says Benasco.
Ludic and sports games
Beyond these novelties, parents want their children to receive fun and sports games these days. "Many bicycles, board games and many games to enjoy the whole family are sold again," he points out. For example, this year Monopoly and Who is Who have returned strongly. Of course, with the children's favorite cartoons.
Thus, you can find in the market the Who is Who of SpongeBob or Toy Story. From Megacentro they assure that those that carry "a brand" sell more quickly. "Brands, due to the license they have, are always more expensive. But children ask for the Hello Kitty toy, from Cars, it is what they like, because it is what they see on television," explains Benasco.
In addition, according to Benasco, toy prices have fallen between 5 and 10 percent this year. So during this Christmas parents can buy more for less money. And it is that, despite the economic crisis, families will spend around 100 or 120 euros per child. "At Christmas it always sells, because the truth is that all parents make an effort so that their children have a toy," they indicate.
The problem comes when the family is large. "When they have three children they usually look more at the prices of toys and give things to play as a family. In addition, they make sure that the number of gifts is the same for the different children," says Rubén Benasco.
Benasco explains that parents "eat their heads less" with boys than with girls, who tend to be "more complicated". "Boys are easy, because they ask for anything related to sports, especially football or basketball. They want a bicycle, an educational game, a car or a radio-controlled helicopter, without forgetting the Beyblade," he says.
However, with girls you have to sharpen your ingenuity. "They are more selective with toys. Parents come and tell you that they have a 9-year-old girl who no longer wants dolls, what can they buy her. Before they used to ask for the Nenuco or the Nancy, but now it is more complicated," explains Benasco. And it is that, it is clear that the children of now have so many gifts that many times parents do not even know what to order from the Three Wise Men or Santa Claus.
That is why, sometimes they opt for video games or technological devices to get out of the way. "Now a lot of technology is given to children, more and more, because there are many ads of this type on television. Children want an mp3 of Hello Kitty, Beyblade or SpongeBob. They also ask for consoles, such as the Nintendo DS and even modern headphones," he says.
But, also, the Kings and Santa Claus have been putting a computer under the Christmas tree for the little ones for a few years. "There are for children of 3 and 5 years and also for older ones. Those of the chinijos have lights, sounds, sing songs, are basic but educational and easy to use," explains Benasco.
With the gifts already at home, the most awaited moment by the chinijos is December 25 in the morning or January 6. In Lanzarote, despite the fact that Santa Claus tries to impose himself Christmas after Christmas, the truth is that tradition supports the Three Wise Men from the East.
Most of the children on the island will receive a detail from the man in red and will wait for two weeks excited for Melchor, Gaspar and Baltasar to arrive.
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