Have a little person in the house?
Then chances are you have encountered a Fingerling at least once.
The small, robotic monkey-like toys grip on to your finger and respond to touch – snoring, farting and squealing.
They’ve taken the world by storm, becoming the ‘must have’ toy for Christmas last year – and we’d expect it will be similar enough this year, too.
As it turns out, that’s not entirely by accident.
They’ve been heavily advertised via everything from ads on kids’ TV to sponsored content on Youtube channels that are popular with under-10, but there’s another reason little people are so obsessed with them.
The New York Times reports that WowWee, the creator of Fingerlings, took their inspiration from the pygmy marmoset, a one of the smallest primates in the world and pretty adorable too.
The cuteness factor, combined with the fact that the toy actually reacts to whoever it’s clung to, just like the real thing, makes Fingerlings a surefire winner.
“This monkey creates an emotional connection right in front of your face,” said Walmart executive Anne Marie Kehoe.
As Romper points out, “kids always want to care for something smaller than they are.”
There are certain characteristics, like big eyes, that humans biologically find cute, drawing us towards them.
Even small humans, who are pretty cute themselves, are drawn to cute things that they feel compelled to take care of, Romper continues.
Sadly we can’t help you actually track down a Fingerling (they’re almost impossible to come by), so maybe try and find another equally small and cute toy?
Science says they’ll love it.
