Favourite Christmas toys through the decades
Some classic gifts make it under the tree year after year
There may be all sorts of gadgets and gizmos around these days, but some toys are still just as popular today as they were several decades ago. The gifts that have stood the test of time and continue to appear under the Christmas tree generation after generation include board games and puzzles, cuddly toys, construction sets, dolls and LEGO.
This year, 63% of children’s Christmas lists will include a book, while 57% will have a board game or puzzle.
Research from LEGO UK also discovered which toys were at the top of children’s Christmas lists through each generation.
- In the 1930s, toy cookers were a favourite
- The 1940s saw dressing-up kits fly off the shelves.
- Board games like Monopoly, Scrabble and Ludo became popular in the 1950s
- With the 1960s and 1970s came the introduction of Action Man, Etch a Sketch and Twister
- The 1980s brought lots of boys’ toys including Scalextric, Hot Wheels and LEGO
- The 1990s introduced something for the girls, with cuddly toys like Beanie Babies and Furbies.
“Most of us have fond memories of our childhood toys and this nostalgia gets passed down through the generations,” said Catherine Howell, Collections Officer at the V and A Museum of Childhood. “Even though some toys get more sophisticated in our digital world, there will always be demand for the old favourites at Christmas.”
What was your favourite childhood toy? Let us know below…
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