Most Popular Christmas Toys and Games Since 1900 – Farmers’ Almanac

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, toy stores everywhere are making sure they have the latest “must-have” item in stock in plenty of time for Christmas.
And like everything, these fads and trends tend to come and go from year to year. That hot new toy from last year — the one parents battled traffic jams and long lines at shopping malls to get — disappeared under the bed by January 1st, never to be seen again. Some never went out of style, and simply re-emerged decades later.
Here’s a brief look at the must-have games and toys that have been on every kid’s list over the last century:
1900s
Hopscotch, 3D viewers, Kewpie dolls, ping pong, Raggedy Ann, Teddy bears
1910s
Tinker toys, Ouija boards, erector sets, Raggedy Ann dolls
1920s
Crossword puzzles, mah-jongg, electric model trains, Crayola Crayons, Yo-yos
1930s
Mickey Mouse, pinball, Shirley Temple dolls
1940s
Hummel figurines, LEGOs, LP records, Magic 8-Ball, electric train sets
1950s
Barbie dolls, Frisbees, hula hoops, Pogo sticks, Silly Putty, Slinkies, Chatty Cathy dolls, Gumby and Pokey, Play-doh, Pez, Mr. Potato Head
1960s
GI Joes, Barbie dolls, lava lamps, Easy Bake Oven, troll dolls, Ouija boards, Flatsy dolls, Hot Wheels, Lite Brite, Barrel Full of Monkeys, Operation, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Etch-a-Sketch, Mrs. Beasley, Twister, Candy Land
1970s
Mood rings, Pet Rocks, Star Wars, Barbie dolls, Monopoly, Nerf, Duncan Yo-Yos, Stretch Armstrong, Chrissy and Velvet, Matchbox cars, Battleship
1980s
Cabbage Patch dolls, Chia Pets, Rubik’s Cubes, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Trivial Pursuit, skateboards, Nintendo, Smurfs, Jenga
1990s
Beanie Babies, Teletubbies, Tickle Me Elmo, Furby, Barney, Power Rangers, computer games, rollerblades, Rug Rats, Pogs, American Girl dolls
2000s
Razor Scooters, Pokemon, Bratz dolls, Teddy Ruxpin, LEGOs, Zhu Zhu pets,Baby Alive, Bobbleheads, iPods, iPhones, and iPads; Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Playstation, Guitar Hero, Finding Nemo items
What’s on your kids’ or grandkid’s list this year? Which toys or games were on your list? Which ones did we leave off? Tell us in the comments below.
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