The Hot Toy of 2013 - Playskool's #BigHugsElmo (Review & Giveaway)

I was 14 years old when I discovered Tickle Me Elmo in a toy store in August 1996. You squeezed him and he let out his signature giggle. Elmo’s laugh is so contagious, I just knew he would make me feel better on crummy days. I begged my Mom to buy him for me for Christmas. “What does a girl entering high school need with a Sesame Street toy?” she retorted.

Fall came, and the colder the weather got, the more popular Tickle Me Elmo became.  There were stampedes of people whenever a retail store got a shipment. It became pretty clear that no matter how badly I wanted Tickle Me Elmo, he was not going to be under the tree. Christmas Eve came and along with it, the tradition of our parents allowing us to open our “biggie” (aka most expensive) present. My box was roughly the shape of the one Tickle Me Elmo came in. It couldn’t be him….could it?

Unbeknownst to me, my Mom had returned to the toy store that day in August. My very own Tickle Me Elmo had been hiding in our hall closet all those months I openly pined (and whined) for him, my Mom holding her breath that he would stay silent in the box, preserving the surprise. 

Ladies and gentleman, Big Hugs Elmo is the hot toy of 2013, and I’m so happy (and a little relived) that my daughter already has him before the holiday rush.

Big Hugs Elmo also gives a giggle, but 17 years later he does so much more than his Tickle Me predecessor.

Big Hugs Elmo LOVES giving hugs and his arms really close around you (although, he will tell you if you’re hugging him too tight - even if he egged you on to hug him tighter).

Big Hugs Elmo plays pretend. He likes to pretend he’s a horse. And an astronaut. And a rabbit. And a frog.

Big Hugs Elmo sings a really catchy dance-type tune about hugs, that once you hear it, you’ll be singing it for days.  He also sings a song about getting up and moving and at the end compliments your dancing.

Big Hugs Elmo asks you politely to turn him right side up if you hold him upside down for too long (definitely one of Hannah’s favourite features..and therefore he is upside down – a lot).

Big Hugs Elmo also sings a lullaby and snores. It is adorable to see my daughter react to Elmo sleeping. At first, she puts her finger to her lips and tells everyone to hush, “Elmo sleeping.”And then a few minutes later, she yells right into his face,  “Elmo, you awake?”

But the best feature of this toy is that he really is Elmo, full of love, positivity and imagination. 

And just like my Tickle Me Elmo made me feel better on crummy days, I know if Hannah is ever upset she can hug her Bigs Hugs Elmo to make her feel better - just not too tight. 

Would you like to win your very own Big Hugs Elmo?

As a PTPA Winner, Big Hugs Elmo is a part of the #spottheseal contest! Simply spot the PTPA Seal on Hasbro’s Award Winning products in store, online, commercials, advertisements and more. Snap a photo and share it on any and all social media pages using the #spottheseal hashtag and you will automatically be entered to win weekly prizes from Hasbro! The more you share the more chances you have to win! For more information, click here.

AND one lucky YYZ Bambina reader will win their very own Big Hugs Elmo! Enter using the Rafflecopter below.

Open to Canadian and American Residents who are the age of majority only. Valid entries only. Contest ends November 25, 2013. For further contest rules, refer to the Terms and Conditions within the Rafflecopter. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Disclosure: I am participating in the Hasbro Big Hugs Elmo Blogger Campaign by PTPA Media and received compensation as a thank you for participating. The opinions expressed on this blog are my own.

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