From the Toysit archive
Tickle Me Elmo Surprise
Explore Tickle Me Elmo Surprise’s five response spots and changing search for a big laugh, then draw a playful map of a toy character’s reactions.
The play at a glance
Five places to search for Elmo’s biggest laugh
A red plush Elmo stretches his arms beside the child holding him in the original photograph. His wide eyes and orange nose give the familiar face a lively expression. Tickle Me Elmo Surprise builds a small discovery game around that character: try a response spot, hear the reaction and look for the place that brings the biggest laugh.
The response spots make a little search game
The instruction sheet marks five locations: under each arm, beneath each foot and on the tummy. A player presses or squeezes these spots to hear Elmo’s responses. Finding the most ticklish place brings shaking and a bigger burst of laughter; the guide describes that special location changing as play continues.
The game has a simple rhythm: choose a place, listen and try another. A player might invite a toy audience to guess where the next big laugh will come from, then give the audience imaginary reactions of its own.
A familiar face in a close-up encounter
The small historical photo shows Elmo held upright, with one arm extending toward the edge of the image. The red fabric, orange nose and large eyes stand out against the child’s green outfit. Keeping the complete photograph preserves the original presentation of the toy as a companion held close during play.
Imagine that Elmo is visiting a room full of make-believe friends. One friend might have a bubbling laugh, another a quiet chuckle and a third an enormous grin. Players can invent the voices and decide how the gathering ends.
Turn the reactions into picture symbols
Try drawing a simple toy character on paper and choosing a few symbols for its reactions. A curved line could mean a smile, a cluster of dots could stand for a giggle and a star could mark a big surprise. Place the symbols around the drawing to tell a round of play.
Give the character a reason to laugh in your story: perhaps a visitor has arrived in a wonderfully silly hat. Another player can add the next event or invent a new expression for the character.
Draw a toy-response map
- Draw Elmo or an imaginary toy character.
- Choose three symbols for different reactions.
- Place them around the picture to show a sequence.
- Tell what happens first, next and at the big surprise.
- Move one symbol and tell the changed version.
This original activity works on paper, with Elmo or with another toy given an imagined voice by the player.
The historical record
Original Toysit coverage
The original product account and broader character discussion are preserved below as historical coverage.
Tickle Me Elmo is back and he's more ticklish than ever!
Tickle Me Elmo is back and he's more ticklish than ever! Now he has five tickle places, but only one makes him shake and roar with hysterical laughter! Do you think you can find it? Start tickling-it's in a different place each time! Tickle Me Elmo Surprise requires three AA and three button cell batteries which are all included. Don't be surprised if Tickle Me Elmo Surprise is another runaway hit like the original Tickle Me Elmo. This fifth anniversary edition of the popular fuzzy red fellow has five ticklish spots: his feet, his tummy, and under both arms. Twelve-inch-tall Elmo has a variety of giggling responses and a most ticklish spot, with the locations of the responses changing with repeated play. He says, Elmo loves being tickled, Elmo's not ticklish there, That tickles a little, and similar statements, all punctuated with lots of laughter and playful wiggles.
The Tickle Me Elmo craze, which reached its peak during the 1996 holiday season, serves as one of the most iconic instances of a toy turning into a cultural phenomenon. The simple plush toy, modeled after the beloved Sesame Street character Elmo, had the ability to laugh and shake when tickled. Though seemingly straightforward, the toy struck a chord with consumers, leading to an unprecedented demand. Stores sold out almost immediately upon restocking, and the dolls were resold at exorbitant prices on the secondary market. The frenzy even led to incidents of store fights and injuries as parents desperately tried to get their hands on one for their children. This run on Tickle Me Elmo wasn't just about the toy itself but was fueled by a combination of smart marketing, limited supply, and the toy's connection to a well-loved children's show, creating a perfect storm of consumer desire.
Sources and editorial notes
Both pages of Fisher-Price’s 39442 guide were visually reviewed, including the five-location diagram and historical promotion. The guide describes pressing or squeezing the spots; its battery diagram shows three AA cells plus a button-battery box, consistent with the original account’s two battery types. Mattel’s shorter catalog metadata lists only three AA cells. Use the model’s guide and compartment labels for adult battery replacement. The dated January 9, 2002 surprise message and sweepstakes belong to the original promotion. This profile concerns the Surprise edition; the original 1996 toy and later TMX have separate histories. The response-map activity is original; no physical testing was performed.
- Mattel: Tickle Me Elmo Surprise, 39442 — Manufacturer product description and photograph reviewed.
- Fisher-Price: Tickle Me Elmo Surprise instruction sheet — Complete guide visually reviewed; model 39442.
Images and descriptions are retained as historical material. How Toysit covers toys.
Created for Toysit by Tabbloza — the artwork in our header.