Happy Holidays! It’s time to start shopping if you haven’t already and start crossing those gifts off your list. I had a great time looking at toys for the kids and got sidetracked at all the classic toys that have come back.
It was a walk down memory lane, to say the least! So as fun as these toys were when I was a kid, they still are and make great gifts.
Here are 15 must-have toys that will bring back your childhood and hopefully knock a few names off your list.
Candy Land 65th Anniversary Game
A number one classic in my book and an introduction to my lifelong love of games! This game was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame!
Sure there have been character themed games introduced like Dora the Explorer Candy Land, but there’s nothing to bring back memories like the classic version and a great way to teach kids their colors.
Pros:
- Fun and family-friendly game
- Easy to learn and play
- Bright and colorful artwork
- Redesigned gameboard
- Inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame
Cons:
- Can be repetitive after a few plays
- Some of the characters are difficult to distinguish
- The game can be over quickly
- The new artwork may not be to everyone’s taste
Chutes and Ladders Game
Another classic game: Chutes and Ladders challenges you to scramble to the top of the gameboard without slip-sliding down! Land on good deeds to climb ladders, do something bad, watch out for the slide! The first player to reach the 100 square wins.
Pros:
- Fun and family-friendly game
- Easy to learn and play
- Colorful and engaging artwork
- Can be played by people of all ages
- Promotes strategic thinking and planning
- Teaches basic math skills
- Can be played in a short amount of time
Cons:
- Can be repetitive after a few plays
- Some of the rules can be confusing
- The game can be over quickly
- The board can be difficult to see for people with poor vision
LINCOLN LOGS – 100th Anniversary Tin
100 years old? These were classic when I was a kid and still are for good reason. What child doesn’t love to build things and then knock them down? This will keep your child busy for hours!
Includes 111 pieces made of real, high-quality maple wood. Each has indentations that can be used to connect it with others. Additional pieces are included for the roof, roof facade, walls, chimney, porch, fences, bonfire, and bonfire seats.
Pros:
- Fun and educational
- Durable and long-lasting
- Encourages creativity
- Easy to learn and play
- A classic toy that has stood the test of time
Cons:
- Can be messy
- Small parts can be a choking hazard
- Some pieces may be lost or broken over time
- Can be repetitive after a while
Tinkertoy Deluxe Building Kit
Another equally famous classic that allows your child’s imagination to run wild. 100 parts in vibrant colors including rods, spools, and end caps made of high-quality wood. Jump-start your kid’s ability to build at an early age and let your child create basic and abstract models out of the wood pieces.
Pros:
- Fun and educational
- Durable and long-lasting
- Encourages creativity
- Easy to learn and play
- A classic toy that has stood the test of time
Cons:
- Can be messy
- Small parts can be a choking hazard
- Some pieces may be lost or broken over time
- Can be repetitive after a while
LEGO Classic Creative Builder Box
My son loved Legos and had way too many sets! I even had to build a Lego table for his room. Or you could make this Lego table from old 80’s table if you happen to have one. Let them bring out the builder within!
The classic builder box features 500 classic LEGO bricks, including a wide selection of doors and windows plus shapes and special elements for creating all kinds of buildings.
If your kids are Lego crazy, you can store them in these cute canvas bins that I made or steal some and make a cute Lego themed lamp for their room.
Pros:
- Fun and educational
- Encourages creativity
- Durable and long-lasting
- Versatile; can be used to build a variety of structures
- Easy to learn and play
- A classic toy that has stood the test of time
Cons:
- Can be messy
- Small parts can be a choking hazard
- Some pieces may be lost or broken over time
- Can be repetitive after a while
THIS is the original screen time!! No batteries. The classic Etch a Sketch is powered by skill and imagination. Portable 6.25′ x 4.5′ screen.
Etch A Sketch is a simple, fun, and educational toy that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to develop fine motor skills, promote creativity, and have hours of fun.
Pros:
- Fun and easy to use
- Encourages creativity
- Durable and long-lasting
- Portable; travel-friendly
- Affordable
Cons:
- Can be difficult to create detailed drawings
- Can be frustrating if you make a mistake
- Drawings can only be temporary
- Not suitable for very young children
Inspired by the design of the original 1965 Spirograph, it came back into production in 2012! Spirograph’s distinctive interlocking gears and wheels can help anyone can draw elegant, spiraling designs.
45-piece deluxe set includes 19 wheels, 2 rings, 1 rack, spiro-putty, 3 pens, a 14-page guidebook, design paper and carry-along storage case.
Pros:
- Fun and easy to use
- Encourages creativity
- Durable and long-lasting
- Portable and travel-friendly
- Affordable
- Endless possibilities for creating intricate designs
Cons:
- Can be difficult to create detailed drawings
- Can be frustrating if you make a mistake
- Drawings can only be temporary
The classic set has updated with all new fashions (thank goodness)! Your fashion-loving child will enjoy making endless combinations! 30+ piece set with a fashionable carry-along case.
Pros:
- Fun and creative
- Encourages creativity and imagination
- Durable and long-lasting
- Portable; travel-friendly
- Endless possibilities for creating unique fashion designs
Cons:
- Can be messy
- Small parts can be a choking hazard
- Some pieces may be lost or broken over time
- Can be repetitive after a while
Fisher Price Classic Chatter Phone
Hide those cell phones and introduce the Chatter Telephone! Preschoolers love to pretend to chat on the phone like mama. This classic roll-along pull-toy has eyes that roll up and down, a mouth that chatters, and a dial that rings.
Pros:
- Fun and interactive
- Encourages creativity and imagination
- Durable and long-lasting
- Portable; travel-friendly
- Affordable
Cons:
- Can be noisy
- Small parts can be a choking hazard
- Some pieces may be lost or broken over time
- Can be repetitive after a while
Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack and Baby’s 1st Blocks Bundle
The Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack and Baby’s 1st Blocks Bundle is a great way to help your baby develop their fine motor skills, problem-solving skills, and visual discrimination skills. The toys are brightly colored and engaging, and they are sure to keep your baby entertained for hours on end.
If you are looking for a fun, educational, and safe toy for your baby, the Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack and Baby’s 1st Blocks Bundle is a great option. It is a classic toy that has stood the test of time, and it is sure to provide hours of enjoyment for your little one.
Pros:
- Fun and educational
- Promotes fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
- Encourages creativity and problem-solving
- Durable and long-lasting
- Safe for babies to play with
Cons:
- Can be messy
- Small parts can be a choking hazard
- Some pieces may be lost or broken over time
Fisher-Price Classic Xylophone
Who has more fun with this toy? The toddlers or the parents showing them how to use it and singing a nursery rhyme! There is a new look to this classic but the result is the same! Baby uses the mallet to tap on the 8 colorful keys and it’s attached so it never gets lost! Tapping the keys helps develop fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination.
Pros:
- Fun and educational
- Promotes fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
- Encourages creativity and problem-solving
- Durable and long-lasting
- Safe for toddlers to play with
Cons:
- Can be noisy
- Small parts can be a choking hazard
- Some pieces may be lost or broken over time
- Can be repetitive after a while
Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Corn Popper
Popping with colorful balls to entertain and encourage walking although beware it CAN be annoying after awhile. 🙂
But kids LOVE THIS TOY!
Children adore engaging in pretend play, especially with this captivating medical kit! The set comprises of seven delightful play pieces, including a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, thermometer, otoscope, syringe, bandage, and a fabric “doctor” bag to neatly store all the items.
By simply pressing the button on the thermometer, children can transition from the “sick” to the “well” state, administer pretend shots by pressing the syringe, and observe the gauge spinning while checking the patient’s blood pressure.
Pros:
- Fun and educational
- Promotes creativity and imagination
- Encourages role-playing
- Durable and long-lasting
- Safe for children to play with
Cons:
- Some of the accessories may be small enough to be a choking hazard
- May not be realistic enough for some children
- May not be appropriate for children who are afraid of doctors or hospitals
The Play-Doh 10-Pack of Colors is a fantastic choice whether you’re starting with Play-Doh or expanding your collection. The colors are bright and vibrant, allowing for endless creative possibilities. With 2-ounce cans, they’re just the right size for small hands and easy to store.
It’s a fun and creative toy that helps children develop their fine motor skills, problem-solving abilities, and unleash their creativity. It also keeps children entertained for hours, providing a source of endless fun and imaginative play.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Durable and long-lasting
- Non-toxic
- Variety of colors to choose from
- Encourages creativity and imagination
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Can be messy
- Small parts can be a choking hazard
- Some colors may be more popular than others
- Not suitable for very young children
This beloved and timeless potato character includes all the iconic accessories he wore in the Toy Story movie, and it even has a clever storage compartment called the Tater Tush!
The potato body comes with a variety of items: a pair of glasses, a derby hat, two ears, a pair of shoes, a set of teeth, two noses, a set of eyebrows, a tongue, a mustache, two arms, and two pairs of eyes. It’s a complete package for endless imaginative play!
Pros:
- Fun and creative
- Encourages creativity and imagination
- Develops fine motor skills
- Durable and long-lasting
- Safe for children to play with
- Affordable
Cons:
- Small parts can be a choking hazard
- Can be messy
- Some pieces may be lost or broken over time
- Can be repetitive after a while
Playing Classic Toys With Your Kids
Revisiting classic toys can bring back a flood of cherished childhood memories and make for fantastic gifts.
These toys have stood the test of time, capturing the hearts and imaginations of generations. From the iconic Candy Land and Chutes and Ladders games to the building wonders of Lincoln Logs and Tinkertoys, these toys offer endless hours of fun and creativity.
LEGO bricks continue to inspire young builders, while Etch A Sketch challenges skill and imagination. Spirograph, Fashion Plates, and Mr. Potato Head unleash artistic expression.
Fisher-Price classics like the Chatter Phone, Rock-a-Stack, and Medical Kit foster imagination and development. Play-Doh and the Fisher-Price Xylophone provide tactile and auditory delights. The Fisher-Price Corn Popper adds excitement to walking milestones.
By reintroducing these classic toys, we can relive the joy and wonder of our childhood while sharing timeless play experiences with the next generation.
Happy holidays and happy reminiscing!
