I was just browsing through Time magazine’s 100 greatest toys of all time list and remembered my childhood! Being born in the seventies, I was a kid in the eighties, so a lot of them brought back memories. I didn’t necessarily own many of them but I would have been bombarded with advertising of them at the time.
Cabbage Patch Kids
These were massively popular in the eighties, I remember my sister had one. Started by Xavier Roberts, they were originally called Little People. A number of toy companies went on to own the Cabbage Patch Kids franchise, including Coleco, Hasbro, Mattel, Toys “R” Us Kids, and the current owners of the rights to make the dolls, Play Along Kids.
Polly Pocket
I don’t recall Polly Pocket but it was obviously a big hit with kids. They came out in the late eighties. They’re owned by toy company Mattel.
Slap Bracelets
I must have missed this fad too as I don’t recall the Slap Bracelets or the Slap Wraps. Companies use these now to put their logos and messages on, to give them out at events.
Masters of the Universe Action Figure
Now this one brings back some memories. I used to have a He-Man action figure and would watch the cartoons before school. I used to watch She-Ra: Princess of Power too!
Glo Worm
I remember the Glo Worm toy. Obviously I never had one as I’m a guy but I can remember squeezing them and they would glow. Owned by the toy company Hasbro.
Care Bear
Care Bears were massive too. Created by American Greetings, there were books, greeting cards, a television series, and the Care Bear doll.
My Little Pony
Who hasn’t heard of My Little Pony?! Another massive hit toy for toy company Hasbro, My Little Pony was first produced back in 1983 and is still being produced today.
Transformers
The Transformers has been a toy franchise to reinvent itself again and again. It made its way from Japan to America in 1984 and became a massive hit for the Japanese toy company Takara Tomy and the American toy company Hasbro. I have also enjoyed the recent Transformers movies.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
I wasn’t a massive Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan but I would still watch the cartoons. It’s another toy franchise that continues to be very successful.
Other toys on the Time magazine list for the best toys of the 1980s include Teddy Ruxpin, Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine, Pound Puppy, Koosh Ball, Skip-It, Glow Stick and Wrestling Buddy. So many toy memories.