Toy Story 4, which opened in theaters this June, became the biggest box office animated film blockbuster yet—and it’s no wonder, with beloved toys like Mr. Potato Head playing a starring role.
Toys that engage the body, mind, and imagination, still hold the #1 place in the hearts of children, despite the pervasiveness of digital devices.
In fact, Mr. Potato Head and Play Doh are the top vintage toys that have withstood the test of time, according to new a study of 2,000 American parents.
Other toys that are still starring in American homes and continue to enchant kids after decades of familiarity include trolls, toy phones, teddy bears, and plastic dinosaurs.
Board games have proven to be timeless, as well. Whether you grew up in the ’70s, ’80s, or 90s, families can’t get enough of classic board games—particularly, Scrabble, Monopoly, Candy Land, the Game of Life, and Mouse Trap. They all ranked in the top 30 of toys that were played with by both parents and, later, their children.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Mr. Potato Head, who has undergone several iterations of his own, the survey revealed that adults are still kids-at-heart who love playing with these toys.
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Nearly half of parents said their favorite childhood toy is still on the market—and 84% have purchased, or plan to purchase, that toy for their own child.
When it comes to buying any toy for a child, parents are on the look out for a certain set of qualities. Three in five parents want a toy that’s educational, but just behind that is a toy’s ability to make their kid laugh (60%). Fifty-nine percent are on the hunt for a toy that’s colorful, while 56% look for something interactive.
TOP TIMELESS TOYS (ENJOYED OVER MULTIPLE GENERATIONS)
1. Play Doh
2. Mr. Potato Head
3. Trolls
4. My Little Pony
5. Furby
6. Puzzles
7. Toy phone
8. Bop It
9. Building blocks
10. Bicycle
11. Yoyo
12. Guess Who?
13. Water blasters
14. Teddy bear
15. Scrabble
16. Tricycle
17. Candy Land
18. Game Boy
19. Spinning tops
20. Toy cash register
21. Plastic animals
22. Monopoly
23. Mouse Trap
24. Game of Life
25. Transformers
26. Clue
27. Baby Alive
28. Plastic food/kitchen supplies
29. Scattergories
30. Perfection
ALSO CHECK OUT THE TOP TOYS LOVED BY ADULTS WHEN THEY WERE KIDS
1. Mr. Potato Head
2. Trolls
3. Play-Doh
4. My Little Pony
5. Toy phones
6. Furby
7. Puzzles
8. Building blocks
9. Yoyo
10. Bicycles
11. Bop It
12. Teddy bears
13. Baby dolls
14. Spinning tops
15. Candy Land
16. Guess Who?
17. Tricycle
18. Scrabble
19. Plastic animals
20. Toy cash register
21. Yahtzee!
22. Monopoly
23. Rubber duck
24. Clue
25. Mouse Trap
26. Game of Life
27. Plastic food/kitchen supplies
28. Perfection
29. Scattergories
30. Hungry, Hungry Hippos
31. Scooter
32. Bead maze
33. Sorry!
34. Operation
35. GI Joe
36. Super Soakers
37. Chutes + Ladders
38. Taboo
39. Trouble
The GNN staff loved the surprise of seeing Mousetrap and other favorites making the list of toys that are not in the attic. Tell us which ones have been passed down or repurchased in your family?
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Share The Memories With Your Friends on Social Media—and Tell Us Your Favorite Toy…
Just last night I was playing with my old GI Joes with my son. He said he wished we could have more so I’ve been looking online for some.