Kickin' It Old Skool

If you're anything like me (and for your sake, I hope you're not), you're starting to get just a liitle bit freaked out that the holidays are just around the corner and you have no idea what to get anyone.  Christmas is a big deal to me, and now that I have kids, it's even bigger.  I don't want to just get any old present, I want to get THE present.  The elusive present that makes their eyes light up like...well, like Christmas morning.  (There's a reason for that saying.)  And once I find that special something for my kids, I have to duplicate this magical feat for my nieces, my mom's group Christmas exchange and about a gazillion other events that keep cropping up everytime I think I've got it all under control.  So this year, I had a thought - why not look to Christmasses past?

So I sat myself down and made a list of all the toys that I got (or, in some cases, didn't get) over the years that really made an impression on me.  Ones that I played with and loved and have never forgotten.  Some are still in my closet.  Some can be found on Ebay or Craigslist.  Some have been remade and the newer version can be bought at regular toy stores.

1.  Fisher Price Happy Apple  The first toy that I ever remember playing with.  Excellent for babies because of the larget animated face, and soft chiming sound when it is moved.  Waterproof for the bath and looks great displayed on a shelf, too.

2.  Fisher Price The Woodseys  A family of squirrels that squeaked when you squeezed them and could be used as finger puppets too.  The came with a plastic table, chairs, bucket and broom - all of which could be put in their soft log house with tree branch handle and carried about.  They even came with a storybook.  I played with this for hours.  The actual toy usually goes for an exhorbitant price on Ebay, but similar ideas can be found here, or here.

3.  Mr Potato Head  A classic and still around.  My mom threw this out the car window piece by piece because my brother and I wouldn't stop fighting over it.  Not a budget buster either.  I'm considering getting the new Transformers version for my preschooler.  He'll get a kick out of it.

4.  "My Friend" Dolls  I loved my stuffed animals, but I didn't play with dolls at all.  These are the exception.  I had Mandy and Jennifer.  They are just the right size and have "real" hair that you can style.  The original dolls were sold with clothes patterns to make more outfits.  I recently bought one on Ebay for my friend's daughter's first birthday, and apparently she carries it with her everywhere.

5.  Scroungy by American Greetings  As mentioned, I loved my stuffies.  My absolute favourite was this ratty looking dog called Scroungy that you "saved" from the pound.  He has his own little box and papers.  Sound like a Pound Puppy to you?  This was way better, though - he actually looked like he was from the pound, unlike the well-fed Pound Puppies.  His sad eyes broke my heart, and he slept in my bed every night.  I still have him, in fact, and I just Googled him, and apparently he's very rare.

6.  Shrinky Dinks  OK, admittedly, I'm a bit of a crafty person, but I don't know many kids who wouldn't find this interesting - and they're super easy.  Just trace your pattern onto the special plastic, colour it in and cut it out.  Then into the oven and watch it shrink.  You can make just about anything - including some really neat keepsake ornaments for the tree.  They have tons of patterns including aliens and Disney's Cars (in case you thought it was just for girls..)

7.  Lite Brite  This was a toy I lusted after for years.  My mom probably didn't want to buy it because she thought she would have to pick up the little lightbulbs all around the house.  She failed to understand, though, that I would have hoarded them like Gollum so preshuss would they have been to me.  I was artsy and I slept with a nightlight - this toy was my perfect match.  Lite Brite is alive and well and has many funky new options.

8.  Easy Bake Oven  What little sugar-addicted kid didn't want this thing?  You can make your own cake!  And ice it!  With as much icing as you want!  (I'm starting to see why I never got one..)  Apparently, the baking results are not so tasty, but who cares?  You get to bake with an oven that parents don't yell at you for touching.  Good times.  Hasbro has brought this back, and I still think it's cool.

9.  Millenium Falcon  OK, lately I've been all anti-movie-inspired junk toys, thinking that they don't leave much to imaginative play, but I have to say that I was just as goggle-eyed as my brother when Santa left this under the tree.  Movie sounds and quotes!  Flashing lights!  Cutie Han Solo action figure!!  This toy was da bomb.  And next time I dump on another damned Cars car, I should remember the MF.  Sometimes, you just have to give in and go with the flow.

10.  Dollhouse  The singlemost lasting impression was walking down the stairs to see an entire dollhouse set up and on display under the tree.  I was so in awe that I was - for once - speechless.  And completely entranced.  What can be more enthralling than playing with a miniature version of LIFE?  I can't find the exact one I had but it was a pale blue Victorian dollhouse, similar to this one.  A nice current version is this one from Melissa and Doug.  For a more unisex version, you could try this Plan one.

What about you?  What super toy from your childhood really knocked your socks off?  Inquiring minds - and holiday shopping lists - want to know.

Comments

[katie ~ motherbumper]

I am totally buying myself an easy bake oven this year - I never had one and it is one of my most coveted toys (next to the Lite Brite). Potato Head was the same, and I bought him with my very first pay cheque (no joke). I had forgotten about that FisherPrice Apple and when I read the description for the Woodseys I thought it said they came with bourbon, not broom... you can see where my mind is these days. I love this post.

[Jessica]

This is great! I had Weebles. The egg shaped ones, not the ones they have out today - man, I loved those weird hunks of plastic. My brother used to kidnap them and make them build cabins with his Lincoln Logs.

Okay, now I'm officially old.

[tracey]

Might I recommend also:

Tinker Toys. My kids from ages 3-9 still love them.

Lincoln Logs. Ditto.

Colorform boards. Remember those? They still make them and kids still love them...

Art supplies are still a hit and can be really cheap!

[tracey]

Oh and HOLY COW I had the Woodseys!!! We loved them!!

[Woman in a window]

We wuz poo'. I had me a log. I wouldn't let mama burn 'em. Poo' begger of a log. I luved 'im though, rea' good.

[nicole]

I LOVED Scroungy!! I had him for years, and had to give him up when he was eaten by a real puppy. I was so sad, and still am..

[julie]

I have a scroungy!!! now it is property of my 4 year old daughter. He is disitegrating and his eyes are still there but white(erased). She has asked santa to bring her a new one. Easy task right.