Perfect Day in Toyland

With ripped-open wrapping paper still scattered across living room floors and barely bitten breakfasts still waiting on kitchen tables, children throughout the region took advantage of a bright, if not white, Christmas to test out their new toys in 70s-plus temperatures.

At the Jefferson Elementary School playground in Redondo Beach, hordes of tired but satisfied youngsters whizzed around the pavement on gleaming bikes, scuff-less Rollerblades and unsullied skateboards.

Twins Jazmin and Juliana Jordan, 2 1/2, carefully peddled in circles on their bicycles. Nearby, 1 1/2-year-old Desirae Dahdah tried to push two play strollers, each containing a new doll--one from Santa, one from Grandma. Emily Pearce, 6, tried out her first bicycle without training wheels.

“It’s a lot better because it’s bigger than my old one,” Emily confided, as her 4-year-old brother, Taylor, raced by on his new black bike.

Emily had not been sure which of her presents she wanted to try out first. Her new Rollerblades waited on the grass. And her favorite gift--”Fluffy,” a mechanical stuffed dog that comes when she calls him--stayed at home.

Another group of girls, enjoying the warm weather in leggings and T-shirts, hung from the playground swings.

“We had skateboards,” said Stephanie Crawley, 5, twirling around the swing set’s pole. “And bunches of clothes,” she said, completing a full twirl, “and a Barbie CD,” yet another spin, “and new computer software!”

With that, a now-dizzy Stephanie collapsed on the ground, exhausted.

“I think this one is the best Christmas I’ve had,” said her sister, Hannah Crawley, 9.

Her friend, Kristin Yoke, 9, agreed.

“I think I got the most presents ever this year,” she reported.

Hannah offered a different reason for enjoying this Christmas. “I think this one is the best,” she said, “because now that I’m a little older, I don’t hope for things my parents can’t get.”

Both girls woke up early Christmas morning and tried to head straight to the loot under the tree--to varying reactions from their groggy parents.

“I woke up at 6 and I had to go back to bed,” Kristin said. “And then 7, and I had to go back to bed again! Then finally I could get up at 8.”

“Wow, your parents made you wait until 8?” Hannah asked, incredulous. “Mine let us get up, they just got a little grumpy.”

In Northridge, 9-year-olds Matthew Ewing and Danny Runyon drove remote-controlled cars all the way around the block. Then Matthew’s truck ran out of juice, necessitating a trip home to exchange it for a new skateboard.

His mother, Michalanne Ewing, had a prime rib in the oven and wrapping paper and boxes in her living room.

She offered a theory for why the car had conked out: While the family attended services Wednesday morning at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Santa had plugged the little vehicle in, giving its batteries just enough juice to get Matthew to the next block.

At the Runyon home, down the block from the Ewing residence, adults napped and watched videos--the kids got “Independence Day” for Christmas--while the children tried out their toys.

Thirteen-year-old Jennifer got a beeper--just like one worn by her father, a tow truck driver. But she was still awaiting her first page.

In Winnetka, Kandull Overlee, 7, did an admirable job skating up and down the block in front of her grandmother’s house in her new purple-and-white in-line skates.

Her great-aunt, a Denver resident delighted to be able to dress in summer clothes, held Kandull’s hand and marveled at the California weather.

“We’re not wearing shorts at home,” Stephanie Baher said.

Times staff writer Abigail Goldman contributed to this report.