Huggy Wuggy Is 'Cute, Kind, Hindi Bad' According To Kids. What You Need To Know

"Cute, kind, hindi bad."

Those are just some of the responses kids gave when their parents asked them why they like Huggy Wuggy.

You may have seen this blue toy with black round eyes, a big red mouth, and sharp teeth in toy stores. It's Huggy Wuggy, a character from the Poppy Playtime game designed in 2021 for kids aged 12 and up.

We asked parents in the Smart Parenting Village if their kids were fascinated by Huggy Wuggy. After 8 hours, the post received more than 200 comments, with the majority of parents saying that their kids, as young as three, love Huggy Wuggy despite how scary he looks to them.

According to Common Sense Media, Huggy Wuggy originated from a horror adventure computer game. "While there’s no graphic violence or gore, there’s also no shortage of blood splatter, often eerily close to the remains of various toys. There are also frightening scenes when the player is being chased down and potentially killed by Huggy Wuggy," the review website said.

However, parents in the Smart Parenting Village shared that their kids were introduced to Huggy Wuggy through different channels. Some kids saw harmless videos on YouTube and TikTok where Huggy Wuggy was dancing, while others only saw the toy and treated it like any other stuffed toy.

"Nagpapabili niyan yung panganay ko. Hindi ko siya binili. Parang feeling ko, voodoo doll siya o may spell," Mommy Diyah said. 

While some parents like Mommy Diyah refused to buy their kids a Huggy Wuggy toy, others were very supportive of their kids' interests. We asked them why.

Parents share why their kids love Huggy Wuggy

Mommy Ruby's 4-year-old son even asked his parents to buy him a giant Huggy Wuggy. She admits she's scared of the character's appearance, but her son loves him. She said, "I've read na it helps kids na maovercome yung fear daw nila. Though hindi ko sya ina-allow na manood ng clips ni Huggy, yung toy lang ang okay sa akin na meron siya. May baby version pa yan si Huggy na laging nakasabit sa leeg niya."

Buy this big Huggy Wuggy toy on Shopee here or on Lazada here.

Mommy May supports this, "Sabi ng son ko, love niya to kasi kung hindi naman daw siya naka-based sa itsura, at kung hindi niya ila-love, sino naman daw magla-love kay Huggy Wuggy. Kawawa naman daw kasi nga in terms of looks, nakakatakot naman talaga."

Mommy Nina found a way to keep her son from watching the videos that might contain gore. "Inexplain ko nalang na you can play with these toys and pretend that Mommy Long Legs is me, and si Daddy yung Daddy Long Legs, but we will not do yung mga ginagawa sa YouTube because it's not nice. Naintindihan naman ng LO ko so playing as toys na siya, and not associated with the violent game or series."

According to Mommy Maria Yssa, she allows her 5-year-old son to play with Huggy Wuggy because they are just toys. "I just treat it as a phase na lahat tayo eh pinagdadaanan, nahihilig sa mga weird and scary stuff."

Although Mommy Pham didn't allow her daughter to play the Poppy Playtime game, she still lets her play with Huggy Wuggy. "[The game] is really not good, so I explained to her it's not really good for her subconscious mind." She tells parents, "Let's be cautious din, let's explain to them if it's good or bad."

Mommy Carleen shared a photo of her then 4-year-old daughter who goes to bed with her Huggy Wuggy toys. 

"Asked her now (she’s now 5yo) why she likes Huggy and Kissy, she said “They scare people in Roblox but now they are just plushy toys just like my other squishy toys. They can’t do that (scare), and Mom, they are not even real monsters. It’s just a game.” She added, "Kids nowadays!"

Parents say no to Huggy Wuggy

Mommy Mabel heard negative reviews about Huggy Wuggy and didn't have time to learn more about it, so she didn't allow her kids to know about Huggy Wuggy.

"I don't let my kids play or watch something that I don't know about or haven't seen. I feel it's my responsibility as a parent. I don't allow my children to be exposed to content that may harm them. I encourage my kids to read books instead. There are horror-themed books too. My daughter reads Coraline and The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman."

Mommy Jayzel shared that her daughter had nightmares after watching Huggy Wuggy on a relative's phone.

"When I showed her the picture, confirmed. Sinasakal daw siya at kinakain daw siya sa dream nya. Then pinapakain daw siya ng sobrang daming noodles na umiiyak na daw sya kaya suka na siya ng suka."

Mommy Daphne echoes Mommy Mabel, saying, "They might carry their liking for weird and scary stuff into their adulthood. It's not wholesome. Instead, I let them watch video content on YouTube that promotes and nourishes their growing faith, like Saddleback Kids, Veggie Tales, and Superbook. Also, other child-friendly content with life lessons like Bluey, Daniel Tiger, Sheriff Labrador."

READ ALSO: Miss Rachel Is Being Called By Followers As 'Beyonce For Toddlers,' And Parents Know Why

What kids see that adults can't see

Mommy Mayca said, "My youngest says it's not scary; Huggy Wuggy's appearance is funny and silly."

Mommy Bea shared her conversation with her 4-year-old son, "Why do you like Huggy Wuggy? He's so ugly and scary. And look at his teeth!"

Toddler: (whispering to Huggy Wuggy) "Don't listen to them, okay? You're handsome. Your teeth are nice and okay."

"For us adults, Huggy Wuggy is scary, but for kids, they find Huggy Wuggy funny, silly, and cool," she said.

Mommy Jennifer said it best, "Wala akong makitang maganda sa mukha ni Huggy Wuggy, pero sa mata ng anak ko maganda sila."

Mommy Gwen's 4-year-old says, "Huggy may look like a monster and may turn off most parents, but my kid loving him teaches us not to judge by looks."

Impact of Huggy Wuggy on kids and what parents can do

Regardless of whether a parent allows their child to be exposed to any character or toy, what matters most is open communication between them. Every child is unique, and every parent has their own perspective on how they will raise their child. Nevertheless, parents should remain vigilant with the content their kids consume, according to Parents.com.

1. Channel their interests to hone a skill

Mommy Mylene shared that her 4-year-old daughter loves Huggy Wuggy so much that "she has perfected drawing them more than writing her name." She added, "She draws them almost every day and creates stories about her drawings. Now, I have a lot of bond paper waiting for her if she wants to draw because I want her to develop that creativity that started with Huggy Wuggy."

2. Take it as an opportunity to learn

Mommy Azalea pointed out, it can be a teaching moment for you and your child. "Bad things, ugly things, everything outside social norms exist. We don't want to raise our kids in a 'perfect world.' We want them to know about these things as soon as they get curious and start asking questions. We explain everything to them to the best of our knowledge. In everything, we practice guided freedom."

READ ALSO: 10 Monsters That Are More Lovable Than Scary

3. Guide your kids

Mommy Keeden, whose son asked for a Huggy Wuggy-themed birthday party when he turned 5, said, "For me, there's nothing wrong as long as we guide them. It's better to know what they like than for them to hide it."

4. Know what your kids are playing and watching

Mommy Kenzie said, "The truth is, we can't change the world. Characters like Huggy Wuggy will always exist. I don't want to deprive my kids of the things they like. What I can do as their parent is to provide guidance. It's the same for adults; there are many negative influences around us, but what matters is how we respond to them."

Does your child love Huggy Wuggy too? Join the conversation at the Smart Parenting Village here.