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Watching my sons circle toys in a catalog this past weekend, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit nostalgic as I remembered sitting at my grandma’s counter doing the very same thing as a kid. I recognized that excited twinkle in their eyes as their markers went crazy over the page. 

But later, as I peeked over their choices, I couldn’t help but feel a teeny bit disappointed at the unfamiliar gadgets scattered across the pages. Where was Mr. Potato Head? How will my kids ever make important life decisions without a trusty Magic 8 Ball? Will they never know the companionship of a Cabbage Patch Doll?

Kids today are seriously missing out.

If you’re a 90s-or-before kid, I’m sure you know exactly what I mean when I say they just don’t make toys like they used to.

The good kind. The classic kind. The kind that are well-built and just so much better than the majority of toys made today. The kind I have a lifetime of memories with⁠ and am now so eager to share with my own kids. 

I went on my own little search for some of the tried and true toys of my childhood—and lo and behold, I found a bunch of them! Sure, I’ll probably be ordering a few of the hunks of modern plastic my kids circled, but you better believe a few of these classics will also be making an appearance under the tree come Christmas morning.

 

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You’ll have a chompin’ good time with this classic Hungry Hungry Hippos game. Once you release the marbles, the feeding frenzy begins! 

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The beloved plush toy is back and looking for a loving home! Each pound puppy includes a sticker sheet name tag and adoption certificate so you can write in the name you choose for your new pet!

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This classic learning toy is better than ever! Shaped like a barn, it teaches kids fun facts about 16 different animals.

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The classic Sit ‘n Spin toy has all the twirling’ fun you grew up with and your child will love to whirl, twirl and spin on it.

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The ride-on toy we ALL wanted is back and your kids will love cruising in vintage style.

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The original fidget toy, the Rubik’s Cube is the classic color-matching puzzle that can be enjoyed at home or on the move. This brainteaser puzzle has fascinated fans all around the world for decades.

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This colorful game straight out of the good old days will delight new generations. Try to move and collect the colorful sticks carefully to win. These oversized sticks in bright colors are a perfect addition to your next game night. 
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The classic boxing match pits Red Rocker versus Blue Bomber in the ring, fists at the ready, each with one aim in mind: to be the first to knock his rival’s block off!

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The iconic Fisher-Price Chatter Telephone toy has been dialing up fun since 1961! With its friendly face, spinning dial, fun ringing-phone sounds, and eyes that move up and down as you pull it along, this classic pull toy helps get your baby chatting—and strolling—like a pro! 

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Speak & spell is back and it’s just like you remember! One of the earliest computerized learning Systems from the 70S and 80S, speak & spell was the first educational toy designed to help children learn to spell over 200 commonly misspelled words using a speech synthesizer. Now, a whole new generation can enjoy this classic toy with friends and family for years to come. 

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In hindsight, I’m sure these handheld game controllers were absolute sanity-savers for my parents on long road trips.

 

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Tinkertoys are awesome for giving your kids free rein of their imagination and creativity. You know, if you’re into that sort of thing.

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Thanks to a Netflix remake of the old Care Bears classics, my kids are already familiar with these furry little guys. Now they’ll have one to snuggle while they sing along to the show.

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A favorite for decades, encourage kids to use their imagination to build to their heart’s content with classic LEGO bricks.

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I don’t know that I’ve ever felt more accomplished in life than when I discovered how to make a curved line on the Etch A Sketch. I also don’t know that I’ve felt more disappointed than when my brother came along and shook all my hard work away. BROTHERS . . . amiright?

 

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Now they do make ’em like they used to with the Tonka classic mighty dump truck constructed with steel instead of today’s common plastic. This sturdy, steel construction vehicle is ready for the toughest loading jobs. Move the bed up and down to trigger its unloading action! Constructed with steel and guaranteed for life! 

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The View Master was a hit at slumber parties as we took turns scrolling through the pictures on the old school projector-style discs. 

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18Slinky

Whoever can get their Slinky to go all the way down the stairs without twisting, rolling, or tangling is the clear champion. 

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Because they were hand-stitched, no two of the classic Cabbage Patch dolls were ever exactly alike. Pretty cool, right?

 

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The Radio Flyer Classic Red Dual Deck Tricycle is The One You Loved as a Kid! This sturdy trike features steel construction, spoked wheels, a 12” front wheel and real rubber tires for durability. 

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Lincoln Logs are the like the wise old ancestors of today’s building toys, and hooray for a toy made from wood instead of more plastic!

 

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A modern take on a classic favorite, kids won’t just bounce on their horse, they’ll hear it respond to their movement with life-like sounds triggered by three levels of riding action: walking, trotting and galloping.

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What’s more fun than a teeny tiny doll, in a teeny tiny world? 

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This iconic toy really needs no explanation. Pop on his arms and legs, and mix up his expression. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. For hours.

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Alllll the feels for Strawberry Shortcake, who was my first and most loved doll ever!

 

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This classic circus-themed Jack in the Box musical toy brings endless delight as kids turn the handle until up pops a soft plush circus clown.

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The My Little Pony toy I got as a kid was my favorite Santa gift ever. These are on my shopping list this year, for sure!

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Remember shaking the Magic 8 Ball over and over until you got the answer you were hoping for? Yeah—me neither.

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These. Because who wouldn’t want strings of colorful monkeys hanging from every surface of their home?

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Ahh, the good ol’ days when the standard for coolness was who could most impressively “Walk the Dog” and go “Around the World”.

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As a kid, I loved how these velvet posters made coloring so much fancier than just using a typical coloring page. Get an 18-pack for hours of creative fun.

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Sing it with me now: “Lite-Brite, Lite-Brite, turn on the magic of colored lights.” 

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Remember Shrinky Dinks? Little artists can still turn their visions into reality with this Shrinky Dinks activity set.

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34Simon

As a kid, nothing gave me as much anxiety as this timed memory game. And I LOVED it.

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What are Sea Monkeys? Are they animals? Are they plants? Are they the result of some mad science experiment? No one really knows, which is what makes them so dang magical. 

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If you haven’t pressed your face into a Pin Art box and strategically pulled it away to reveal a creepy-looking metal mold of yourself, you haven’t lived—just don’t forget to close your eyes.

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Nothing says childhood quite like Radio Flyer anything. These wagons are a personal favorite of mine, and the handle makes them great for emerging walkers all the way up through older kids.

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The Spirograph is hands down the BEST classic toy for the little artist in your family.

 

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For fashionistas, this favorite design set includes everything needed for them to create their own unique fashions.

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40Jacks

Jacks have been around forever, and this cute little set is the perfect size to fit in a stocking!

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At Her View From Home, we love sharing our favorite things with you! The recommendations in this post contain affiliate links, so we may receive a small commission if you choose to purchase any of them. You can check out more products we’re crazy about at our Shop tab, HERE.

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