Christmas Spirit

Holiday Toys of the Past

By Ankit Singh

The holiday season is quickly approaching. Temperatures are dropping, and people are pulling out their winter clothes. Christmas lights and decorations have already started appearing outside homes across the country. Children are putting together Christmas lists for Santa Claus hoping to get all of their desires fulfilled. Gifts are always an essential part of the holidays, so why not take some time to reflect on some of the most popular toys of the past?

In 1964, the Easy Bake Oven was desired by all little girls. This toy oven was heated up by two incandescent light bulbs and originally came in pale yellow or turquoise colors. It included packets of cake mix and small round pans to create an assortment of desserts.

Also famous during 1964 was the G. I. Joe action figure. Excited young boys wanted to play with “America’s movable fighting man” every day.

During 1974, the two-player game Connect Four became immensely popular. People of all ages dropped colored discs into the top of the seven-column, six-row vertical grid. Opponents attempted to connect four discs of the same color either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally to win the game.  

The Cabbage Patch Kids and Transformers were necessary gifts for small girls and boys in 1984. Cabbage Patch dolls were made up of large, round vinyl heads and soft fabric bodies which made them unique and in demand. Transformers were toy robots that could change into different forms by the movement of parts into other places.

In the year 1994, one of the most popular toys was the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Based off the successful television series with the same name, Power Ranger action figures were quick on coming off the shelves of stores.

A decade later, in 2004, Bratz fashion dolls rose to fame. Young girls were drawn into the unique personalities and styles of the four original Bratz.

This Christmas, children in America will be receiving a wide variety of gifts. Over the decades, more and more toys have become easily available. What one child enjoys is much more likely to be disliked by another child; however, every once in a while a toy appears that is appreciated by the masses. It is successfully able to bring back the magic that the toys of the past had over young children’s minds.