Parents in Christmas present-shopping consumer frenzy

Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Christmas is just around the corner and parents are already busy buying lots of toys for their beloved children, from bicycles and plastic swimming pools to dolls and remote-controlled cars.

Hanny, 33, was busy choosing a toy for her four-year-old daughter, Pricilla.

"I'm kind of confused, you know. I don't know whether I should buy her a doll or some educative toys, like puzzles," said Hanny, who had spent more than an hour inside Toys 'R' Us in Mal Puri Indah, West Jakarta.

She finally went for both: a small-sized baby doll and a puzzle with an animal theme.

"I've decided to buy both toys because I like them and I really don't know which one is better," she said with a bit of smile, feeling embarrassed that her shopping had got a little out of control.

Hanny was not the only parent to be confused in deciding what toys to buy for their children for Christmas.

Another visitor, Yanti, could also not make up her mind what to buy for her seven-year-old son Brandon. She was considering either a bicycle or a remote-controlled car.

"I don't know what would be a perfect Christmas gift for him. I like both of them," said the 38-year-old mother of two.

Mal Puri Indah's Toys 'R' Us store manager Sri Budi Astuti said that parents have been busy buying toys for their children to celebrate Christmas.

"We've had quite a sale this Christmas. For big ticket items our best sellers have been swings, plastic swimming pools, bicycles and Barbie dollhouses," she said.

For smaller items, she said, the best sellers were animated moving The Incredible dolls and Nickelodeon's Dora dolls.

"The best sellers depend on what's currently in fashion. This year, The Incredible and Dora are the favorite items. In fact we have sold out of large-sized The Incredible dolls," she told The Jakarta Post.

The situation was similar at another Toys 'R' Us store in Mal Pondok Indah, South Jakarta. Parents were seen flocking to the store, searching for Christmas gifts for their children.

Jacqueline appeared determined to buy a set of Lego for her four-year-old son David. She said the toy would help her son to be more creative.

"I want to buy my son a toy that can be fun but also helpful in boosting his creativity," said the 28-year-old mother.

Store manager Essa Pramudya said that educative toys, like puzzles and Lego were the best sellers this year.

"For big items, the best-selling products have been outdoor toys such as swings and battery-operated cars," he said.