It’s been said that a classic never goes out of style. The saying holds true not only in the world of fashion but also when it comes to our favorite toys from childhood.
Now more than ever, we could all do with a reminder of what it feels like to be a kid again. With that in mind, here is a list of nostalgic toys from the ’60s and ’70s that I vote we bring back.
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Micronauts
Micronauts were revolutionary for their time, due to their numerous points of articulation. These 3.5-inch action figures came with various parts that could be detached and reassembled onto other toys within the same line and helped pave the wave for Transformers.
Slime
No matter how old you get, you never get tired of playing with slime. This ooey-gooey product from Mattel practically leaped off the shelves and was a must-have stocking stuffer for all kids, regardless of age or gender.
Pong
Pong was the video game system that started it all. This simple electronic version of table tennis would inevitably give birth to Atari, and also helped to pave the way for the video game revolution that took place in the late 80s.
Mood Rings
These groovy psychedelic accessories were all the rage in the 60s and 70s. Mood rings came with a corresponding color chart that was supposed to reflect the mood of whatever person happened to be wearing it at the time.
Spirograph
When I was a kid, I used to love playing with my mom’s old spirograph set. I was never really all that great at it, but I thoroughly enjoyed attempting to make all of the intricate designs that decorated the front of the box.
Electric Football
There’s nothing wrong with nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. Haters might say that Electric Football was nothing more than a glorified vibrating lightbulb, but I could watch those tiny figurines dance their gridiron ballet all day and night.
Simon
Simon was a computer-powered memory game, similar to Bop-It (I’m dating myself here). The whole idea behind Simon was to memorize and try to repeat the pattern of colors and sounds, without making any mistakes, before the time ran out.
Easy-Bake Oven
The original Easy-Bake Ovens were incredible. Not only did these fun-filled toys allow children of any age to become baking connoisseurs, but they also helped to foster a lifelong love and appreciation of the culinary arts. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots
I can still hear the jingle for the Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em commercial playing in my head — oh to be young again! The only thing more fun than making these guys punch each other furiously in the face was seeing their heads pop off when victory was secured.
Lite Brite
Long before the days of LEDs, Lite Brite used to make kids’ bedrooms look like the Las Vegas strip. I never had the patience for making the patterns included in the box, and instead opted to spell out swear words in a brilliant illuminating fashion.
Stretch Armstrong
If you ever owned a Stretch Armstrong doll in your lifetime, then you know full well that the only thing more fun than playing with Stretch is discovering the limits of how far he’ll go before he would inevitably tear in half.
The Pet Rock
The Pet Rock is one of the most perplexing toys in all of human history. It came exactly as it was described and before the fad came to its inevitable end, the Pet Rock wound up making its inventor more than $1 million .
Battleship
While these still exist in certain capacities, the originals are incredibly hard to come by. Nowadays, you can even find electric versions of the classic board game, but it’s no substitution for being able to yell out “You sunk my Battleship!” at the top of your lungs.
Hungry Hungry Hippos
I love games where you don’t need to take strategy into consideration, and they don’t make games any less strategic than Hungry Hungry Hippos. This classic addition to family games night is the epitome of a free-for-all and provided countless hours of fun in homes all across the country.
Atari 2600
Video games have become a part of our collective pop culture. Nowadays, there are TV shows, toys, and even full-length feature films all based on the events that transpire in video games. And none of that would’ve been possible without the system that birthed a whole new generation of gamers — the Atari 2600.
