The fuzzy red monster is perhaps the most beloved Sesame Street character of all time, and instantly recognisable by children all over the world.
However, this doesn't explain exactly why children’s excitement levels spike as if they've swallowed a galleon of caffeine and sugar every time they see him.
According to the Centre of Toddler Development at Barnard College, Elmo is seen as a manifestation of your child.
In other words, he's "just like toddlers who are in an exploratory stage of life - like little scientists, trying out and exploring what is around them, delighting in it."
Elmo was originally designed as just another background muppet, but one day Kevin Clash developed the signature high-pitched voice, and fleshed out the puppet’s personality as the embodiment of "love", reports Fatherly .
Purposely designed to look and think like a child, Elmo often refers to himself in the third person, and according to psychologists, Elmo speaks in "Parentese".
This means that he uses the same slow, varied pitch that parents employ to grab their child's attention.
Elmo also learns about new words and ideas as the same rate as the children who love him, allowing them to form strong social bonds with the character.
Kids learn to trust Elmo’s instincts, meaning that if Elmo is eating his greens, your child probably will too.
Another reason for Elmo’s popularity is his colour. Research shows that primary colours tend to make children feel safe, and red is one of the first colours they learn to distinguish.
It has also been proven to draw the eye like no other shade.
