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STAFF REPORTER MADRID

A THIRD of parents in Spain have said they will not be spending more than 100 euros on children's toys this Christmas, and that they will be reducing general spending as a result of the recession, said an Eroski survey yesterday.

The consumer spending forecast which paid particular attention to what percentage will go on video and computer games, showed that average spend this year will be between 101 and 200 euros, four points below that registered during the festive season last year.

The study also showed “clear differences” between what children actually wanted and the toys and games which parents had planned to give them. In that sense, it reported, only a fifth of parents taking part in the survey were “absolutely certain” that what they were giving as gifts to their children were what was wanted.

The differences were most in evidence in relation to video games and notebook computers which were listed as “preferred” presents. Whilst over 40 percent of children wanted a present in this category, only 28 percent of parents had it in mind to give it. Educators claim meanwhile that present-giving should be a learning process and that violent action games should give way to ones which foment creativity and respect.