When Elmo was first introduced to Sesame Street audiences, he was an overnight sensation. The character mesmerized any child between the ages of 1 and 4 with its cute voice and hypnotizing red fur.

There was such an Elmo craze that it became any parent’s nightmare to go into any toy store and not be able to find a doll to purchase for their kids!

But to any parent, the toys actually became a treasure that they could use to contain the wrath of their crying child. The original Tickle-Me-Elmo dolls became a beloved sensation, but are they worth anything?

A Calming Character

Part of the reason why Elmo had such a universal appeal was that the doll was looked at as a reflection of childhood wonder. The character seemed to be an accurate portrayal of the toddler’s approach to and outlook of the world.

This is due to the fact that just like any curious child, the Elmo character would play out an exploratory stage of his life where they would find this out for the first time, whether it be science or nature. This attracted children worldwide and delighted them without each episode.

Another factor that made the appeal of Elmo’s character to children so strong was that he acted and thought like preschoolers did. For example, he would have problems with big words and couldn’t pronounce them properly, which provided amusement and comfort among children.

He also made mistakes, which endeared children even more to him. Yet the character never got frustrated or angry. There was always a consistent optimism in the nature of Elmo that really made the character bond with children. Research has shown that when children see others smile and laugh, it encourages them to do the same.

Is The Doll Worth Anything?

Tickle Me Elmo’s were mass-produced from the very beginning. The first batch of toys in production were made in the tens-of-thousands, meaning that they’re neither rare nor hard to come by. While these dolls have the potential to have value if they’re kept in pristine condition and in their packaging in the future, there is currently no market value of Tickle Me Elmo dolls.