After watching kids playing in a park, toy inventor Ron Dubren decided to create a stuffed animal that would laugh when tickled by its owner. He, along with engineer Greg Hyman, made a stuffed monkey with an electronic chip in its stomach designed to make the creature giggle.

my 2.5 yr old twins have been playing with this for at least 6 months. they love the elmo sounds and movements. very cute and classic. My daughter(2) loves Elmo, but started out terrified of this doll.

26. Tickle Me Elmo was the must-have toy of the year, and shortages of the giggly red doll led to varying levels of frustration, resignation and rage among shoppers. The $30 toy was an unexpected hit, meaning the manufacturer was scrambling to meet a demand that far outstripped supply.

1996 A look back at the Tickle Me Elmo holiday toy craze of 1996 | 13newsnow.com.

[ T ] to touch someone lightly with your fingers, making them slightly uncomfortable and often making them laugh: Stop! You're tickling me!

According to the website, "Elmo almost perfectly captures a toddler's approach to and outlook on the world." He's curious, his vocabulary is simple and without guile, and he speaks in patterns familiar to young children.

And, Elmo also incorporates a child-like way of thinking, speaking, and exploration. To toddlers, this behaviour mimics their own limited self-understanding and understanding of the world around them - which makes Elmo feel like a friend. Snuggle time! But most importantly, Elmo is good.

Elmo is self-described as three-and-a-half years old and his birthday is on February 3. Elmo characteristically avoids pronouns in reference to himself, instead referring to himself in the third person (e.g. saying "Elmo wants this" instead of "I want this").

Elmo is self-described as three-and-a-half years old and his birthday is on February 3. Elmo characteristically avoids pronouns in reference to himself, instead referring to himself in the third person (e.g. saying "Elmo wants this" instead of "I want this").

3½-year-old Elmo is a 3½-year-old red monster with a distinctive cheerful voice and a contagious giggle. Enthusiastic, friendly, and curious, he loves to explore new things and be a part of everything that happens on Sesame Street. However, like most preschoolers, he sometimes doesn't have all the skills or knowledge he needs.

Elmo is self-described as three-and-a-half years old and his birthday is on February 3.

Gargalesis is the more hard-core kind of tickling that involves gales of laughter produced by someone else applying heavier pressure to sensitive areas of your body. (Someone who's really ticklish has hypergargalesthesia.) Penn State. Gargalesis is particularly hard to trigger in yourself.