Does every toy these days have to take "AA" batteries or crumble on impact due to poor workmanship and cheap materials? Why, when I was a kid back in the 80s, they made fun toys that didn't need any stinkin' batteries. Those toys stood the test of time! It's true-- just look at the prices some are fetching on internet auction sites. Luckily, for many of these favorite toys, you don't have to log on to eBay. They are still being made and you can pick them up at your local toy store.
1. Cabbage Patch Kids
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I'm pretty sure former spelling bee champions were picking the names that came with these dolls. I'm also convinced that the Xavier Roberts "signature" on the hind-ends of these dolls started a tattooing trend that carries on still today. All in all, it's still a fun doll that your child will treasure. Recommended age Range: 3+ years.
2. Colorforms
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Long before experts began touting coloring books and other predrawn, precolored, premanufactured "art" as evil and unimaginative, there were colorforms. Use sparingly. Recommended age: 3+ years.
3. Etch-a-Sketch
Well, that takes care of the aforementioned unimaginative art problem. When I was a kid, we used the Etch-a-Sketch to make treasure maps of the back yard. Nowadays, if your kid is talented enough with the Etch-a-Sketch, they could find treasure of a different sort-- a college scholarship. Recommended age: 3+ years.4. Hot Wheels
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Don't forget to buy the hard plastic suitcase that holds roughly eight million of these things. Recommended age: 3+ years
5. Legos and Duplos
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Your parents really want you to buy these for your kids. That way you, too, can experience the joy of those sharp edges cutting into your feet while you're sneaking off to the kitchen for a midnight snack. Recommended age: 4+ years for Lego system or 2+ years for Duplo system.
6. Lite Brite
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There's just something super special about the sound those little pegs make when you suck them up in the vacuum cleaner. Recommended age: 4+ years.
7. Sit 'N Spin
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Speaking of well-made toys- mine survived an untold number of rain and snow storms and was run over by the family station wagon on more than one occasion. Recommended age: 2+ years.
8. Radio Flyer Wagon
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I first learned to drive a stick in my Radio Flyer. The versatility of this "vehicle" is beyond compare. If you get one of these, be sure to put a list of all the different uses your child came up with somewhere in his or her baby book. Recommended age: 24+ months.
9. Tonka Trucks
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You can still find the heavy metal tonka trucks, but they also make very durable plastic models these days that aren't likely to cause head injuries and lacerations. Recommended age: 2+ years on most models.
10. Slinky
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Do yourself a favor and track down the real metal slinky. They make plastic slinkies today but they're just not as much fun and it's much more difficult to reshape the plastic when it gets bent or tangled. Recommended age: 5+ years.
If you have feedback about a toy on this list or remember other great 80s toys from your childhood, drop me a line and I will add them to the list!
