The toys every child begged for from the 1950s to now — how many did you own?

From Hula Hoops and Scalextric to Tamagotchis, Bratz and Squishmallows, these are the toys that defined childhood for generations of kids, sparked playground crazes, Christmas shopping panics and lifelong nostalgia.

collage of retro toys through the decades

Published: May 21, 2026 at 3:00 PM

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Before tablets, viral ugly toy trends and endless YouTube streaming, childhood was often defined by one thing: the toy every child desperately wanted their hands on. Whether it was unwrapping a coveted Christmas must-have, saving pocket money for weeks or begging parents after seeing the latest TV advert, certain toys didn’t just entertain children – they completely took over playgrounds, living rooms and family conversations.

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Over the decades, toy crazes have reflected changing childhoods and cultures too. The 1950s brought simple post-war classics that encouraged imagination, construction and movement, while the 1980s and 1990s unleashed a golden age of brightly coloured collectibles, electronic pets and toys so popular they occasionally caused stampedes in Toys R'Us.

Today’s children might be obsessed with Squishmallows, ASMR toys and ugly collectibles, but many parents and grandparents today still remember the thrill of finally getting their hands on a Rubik’s Cube, Polly Pocket or Action Man and how the mere mention of a favourite toy can take them straight back to their own childhood.

From retro favourites to global phenomena, these are the toys that defined every decade from the 1950s to now — but how many did you own and do you still have any lurking in your loft?

1950s

Some of the items from one of the largest collections of toys ever to come up for auction anywhere in the world which is to be sold by Teeside auction house Vectis over the next few months and expected to make over GBP1 million 04 July 2003. The 50,000-piece Zegel collection has come from the United States and includes the largest number of die cast toys ever to be offered for sale including thousands of Dinky and Corgi toys. Collected by Ferdinand Zegel, a civilian physicist who worked for the American Army and who died in 2002, the collection also includes 30,000 rare die cast toys from makers such as Matchbox, Tekno, CIJ, and Spot On, thousands of toy soldiers and more than 1,000 tinplate toys of every size and description.

PAUL BARKER/AFP via Getty Images

The post-war baby boom brought a new era of optimism and play, with affordable mass-produced toys becoming a staple of childhood. Simple but imaginative favourites like Mr Potato Head and Hula Hoops reflected a decade shaped by optimism, close-knit family life and the growing influence of television advertising.

The 1950s hula hoop craze was one of the biggest toy crazes in history. It started in California with Wham-O toy company manufacturing the first plastic hoops, and became such a phenomenon that hula hoops were even banned in Japan and the Soviet Union. In the late 1950s Brits were competing in hula hoop marathons and trying to break records, and the craze later inspired the launch of hula hoop crisps in the 1960s.

In 1952 Hasbro launched Mr Potato Head, a set of around 30 plastic facial features that children used on a real potato rather than a plastic one like today's iteration. It was one of the first toys to be marketed directly to children via a TV advert, although post-war parents weren't too delighted to see their rationed veg being played with rather than eaten! He was such an iconic toy that he made his Hollywood debut in 1995 in Toy Story.

This toy trend was driven by the highly popular Meccano magazine and gained popularity in the 1950s with the tagline "The Toy that Grows with the Boy". the magazine helped grow a sense of community, while the fact that there were so many kits to collect and add on kept kids coming back for more.

In the 1950s Corgi and Dinky toys went head to head in the race to profit from the craze for collecting miniature die-cast models. Dinky cars pre-date Corgi, but when Corgi introduced "the ones with windows" Dinky had to up their game, meaning there was plenty of excitement and innovation around this toy during this era.

Sometimes it's the simple things that give the most joy and this was certainly the case when it came to the slinky - a coil of metal that could "walk" down stairs! This craze started in America before coming to the UK in when British toy maker J&L Randall Ltd. produced a licensed version under their Merit brand. Get a slinky out today and you'll still have hours of fun.

1960s

Betta Bilda Airfix building construction toy, Weston-super-Mare museum, Somerset, England, UK.

Photo by: Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

As pop culture exploded, plastic became more mainstream and the Space Race captured children’s imaginations, toys became faster, brighter and more ambitious. From Hot Wheels to Scalextric, this was a decade of creativity, movement and miniature worlds inspired by modern life and scientific discovery.

The Etch A Sketch became one of the defining creative toys of the 1960s after being launched in North America in 1960 and quickly finding fans around the world. Children spent hours twisting the two white knobs to create surprisingly elaborate drawings on the magical-looking silver screen. It perfectly captured the era’s fascination with invention and design.

Few toys captured the excitement of the 1960s motoring boom quite like Scalextric. Originally launched in the late 1950s but hugely popular throughout the following decade, the electric slot-car racing sets transformed living rooms into miniature racetracks. For many British children, carefully assembling tracks around the carpet and battling siblings for pole position became a weekend ritual and there's still a devoted fanbase today.

Before Barbie stole the spotlight, there was Sindy... She was launched in Britain in 1963 as “the girl next door” and quickly became popular. With her fashionable outfits, tiny accessories and ever-growing collection of dream homes, pets and vehicles, Sindy reflected the swinging sixties obsession with style.

Airfix model kits became one of the biggest hobbies of the 1960s. Children, often helped by parents or grandparents, spent hours carefully assembling and painting miniature planes, tanks, ships and cars inspired by real-life vehicles and wartime history. Cheap enough to buy with pocket money and sold in toy shops and newsagents across the UK, Airfix kits became a rite of passage for generations of children.

When Action Man launched in the UK in 1966, he became one of the first hugely successful action figures aimed at boys. Based on the American G.I. Joe toy, Action Man came dressed for every adventure imaginable, from military missions to deep-sea diving and Arctic exploration.

1970s

Young David Sammuels and friends bouncing on space hoppers near Tower Bridge in London, UK, 29th July 1974.

Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Childhood in the 1970s was all about imagination, outdoor play, hours of freedom and toys that could survive years of rough-and-tumble fun. As colour TVs and blockbuster films became part of family life, children embraced everything from action figures and construction sets to stretchy, strange novelty toys.

LEGO exploded in popularity during the 1970s, with themed ranges including LEGO Town, LEGO Castle and LEGO Space capturing children’s imaginations and encouraging hours of open-ended play. The decade also saw the rise in popularity of DUPLO for younger children after its 1969 launch, helping cement LEGO as a toy box staple for generations of families.

The Fisher-Price Chatter Telephone became one of the most recognisable toddler toys of the 1970s. First introduced in 1961 but hugely popular throughout the following decade, the pull-along toy delighted young children with its clicking wheels and chattering mouth. Decades later, it remains a nostalgic symbol of early childhood.

Few toys have ever changed playground culture quite like the original Star Wars action figures. After the release of the first Star Wars film in 1977, demand for Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Princess Leia figures became so intense that shops struggled to keep them on shelves. Children spent hours recreating lightsaber battles and space adventures, while the franchise also transformed the toy industry by proving just how profitable film merchandise could be.

Part toy, part exercise equipment and part chaos machine, space hoppers became a huge craze during the 1970s. Children bounced around gardens perched on the brightly coloured inflatable balls, gripping the handles for dear life as they attempted races and tricks. Originally inspired by the Space Race era and often decorated with goofy faces or horns, they perfectly captured the playful, energetic spirit of 1970s childhood and contributed to plenty of scraped knees along the way.

Clackers (sometimes called click-clacks or knockers) were one of the loudest and most dangerous toy crazes of the 1970s. The toy consisted of two hard acrylic balls attached by a string that children swung up and down to make them smash together at high speed, creating the signature clacking sound. The brittle plastic balls were known to shatter unexpectedly, sending sharp shards flying. It’s safe to say they would never pass modern health and safety standards, but that only adds to their legendary status!

1980s

11/28/1983- Chicago, IL- , The Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, rage of the doll market this holiday season, were the objects of near-riots at several department stores as hundreds of people, some waiting at the doors for hours, scrambled to.

Photo by Bettmann/Corbis/Getty Images

The 1980s transformed toys into full-blown cultural phenomena, fuelled by Saturday morning cartoons, toy adverts (that you couldn't just fast forward!) and must-have Christmas crazes. Bright colours, collectibles and character-driven franchises ruled the playground as children became obsessed with everything from Transformers to My Little Pony.

The Rubik’s Cube became one of the biggest toy crazes the world had ever seen after launching internationally in the early 1980s. Invented by Hungarian architecture professor Ernő Rubik, the brightly coloured puzzle cube challenged children (and their parents) to twist and turn the squares back into matching colours. By the middle of the decade it felt like everyone had one - schools held speed-solving competitions, celebrities posed with cubes and more than 100 million had been sold worldwide by 1982 alone.

“More than meets the eye” was the slogan of one of the defining toy crazes of the 1980s. Transformers figures thrilled children by changing from robots into cars, planes and trucks in just a few clever moves, combining action figures and puzzles in one toy. Backed by hugely popular cartoons and comics, characters like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee became playground icons almost overnight. The franchise proved so successful that Transformers are still being rebooted for new generations more than 40 years later.

With their pastel colours, brushable manes and tiny symbols known as “cutie marks”, My Little Pony toys became a must-have for many children during the 1980s. Originally launched by Hasbro in 1983, the ponies came in countless colours and styles, encouraging children to collect, swap and build entire magical worlds around them. The brand’s animated TV specials and merchandise only added to the craze, while the toys themselves remain one of the most instantly recognisable symbols of 1980s childhood.

Using plastic templates, rubbing crayons and endless combinations of outfits, children could create everything from glamorous evening gowns to sporty daywear with the spin of a wheel. Although first introduced in the 1970s, the toy became especially popular throughout the 1980s and was a staple of rainy afternoons, sleepovers and bedroom floors covered in colourful paper designs.

Today's kids might think they're the first to embrace the ugly toys trend but way back in the 1980s. The Cabbage Patch Kids craze became so intense in the 1980s that it sparked chaotic scenes in toy shops as desperate parents scrambled to buy the dolls before Christmas. Each soft-bodied doll came with its own name and adoption certificate, making children feel as though they were bringing home a truly unique toy. Originally launched in the US, the craze quickly spread internationally and became one of the biggest toy success stories of the decade. Some shops even had waiting lists for the dolls — and news reports showed parents physically fighting over them during the festive rush.

1990s

The "Pogs" invade schoolyards in France in June, 1995.

Photo by Xavier ROSSI/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

The 1990s ushered in the ultimate playground craze era (and eventual banning of some toys by schools!), when pocket-money collectibles and quirky electronic toys dominated life. Whether children were raising virtual pets, trading Pokémon cards and Pogs or snapping shut Polly Pockets, toys became more interactive, portable and trend-led than ever before.

The Tamagotchi turned playgrounds into virtual pet nurseries almost overnight after launching in the UK in the mid-1990s. Children became completely obsessed with feeding, cleaning and caring for the tiny digital creatures living inside the egg-shaped keyrings, often sneaking them into school bags and classrooms to keep them alive. The craze was so intense that some schools banned them after too many lessons were interrupted by beeping pets demanding attention.

Tiny enough to fit in a pocket but packed with miniature accessories, Polly Pocket became one of the decade’s most-loved toys for imaginative play. The compact clamshell cases opened into colourful little worlds including houses, shops and theme parks, complete with tiny dolls and hidden surprises. Originally launched in the late 1980s, Polly Pocket reached peak popularity during the 1990s and remains a huge nostalgia favourite for millennials today.

Beanie Babies transformed soft toys into one of the strangest collecting crazes of the 1990s. The small plush animals filled with plastic pellets became highly sought-after after toy company Ty retired certain characters, convincing collectors their toys might become valuable. Children traded them in playgrounds while adults queued in shops and tracked rare editions, helping turn Beanie Babies into a billion-pound craze before the bubble eventually burst.

At their peak, Pogs were everywhere – stuffed into school bags, swapped in playgrounds and stacked in towering piles during lunchtime competitions. The small cardboard discs, often decorated with colourful designs and cartoon characters, became a massive global craze after arriving from Hawaii in the early 1990s. Children used heavier “slammers” to flip the discs during games, while schools across the UK frequently banned them after playground arguments.

Furby came out in 1998 and went straight to the top of every child's Christmas list. In its first year, Furby sold over 40 million toys and we loved them because we'd never seen anything toy-related that could interact with us like that – it was like seeing the first robot in action! Plus, they were so cute with their wiggling ears and blinking eyes.

2000s

collection of Pokemon merchandise from the early 2000s

Photo by Yves Forestier/Sygma via Getty Images

As technology rapidly entered everyday life, toys became louder, faster and increasingly connected to screens, gaming and global entertainment brands. From Bratz dolls and Beyblades to the Nintendo DS, children’s play reflected a new digital generation growing up online.

With their oversized heads, glossy lips and bold fashion choices, Bratz dolls brought a completely different attitude to the toy aisle in the early 2000s. Launched in 2001, the dolls quickly became hugely popular with children who loved their trend-led outfits, chunky accessories and distinct personalities. Their success was so enormous that Bratz briefly outsold Barbie in parts of the world, helping define the fashion-obsessed style of the decade.

Beyblades turned school playgrounds into spinning-top battle arenas during the early 2000s. Children launched the customisable tops into plastic stadiums using ripcords, watching them clash dramatically until one was knocked out or stopped spinning. Inspired by the Japanese anime series, the craze became so intense that many schools banned the toys.

When the Nintendo Wii launched in 2006, it completely changed family gaming by getting players off the sofa and into the action. With motion-controlled games including Wii Sports, tennis matches and bowling tournaments suddenly became a living room activity for all ages. The console was a huge hit with both children and parents, and shortages before Christmas made it one of the decade’s most sought-after gifts.

Although Pokémon cards first appeared in the late 1990s, the craze exploded even further during the early 2000s as children traded, collected and battled with their favourite characters in playgrounds around the world. Rare holographic cards became prized possessions, while rumours of ultra-valuable finds only added to the obsession.

The Nintendo DS helped define portable gaming for an entire generation of children. Released in 2004, the handheld console became famous for its dual screens, touchscreen controls and hugely addictive games including Nintendogs, Mario Kart and Brain Training. Many children carried their DS everywhere, using PictoChat to send messages to friends long before smartphones became part of everyday childhood.

2010s

close up of lol surprise dolls in 2017

Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images for MGA/L.O.L. Surprise!

The rise of YouTube, unboxing videos and social media transformed the toy industry, turning surprise reveals and collectibles into huge trends. Toys became as much about sharing and showing off online as they were about play itself, with crazes like LOL Surprise and Hatchimals dominating wish lists.

L.O.L Surprise! Dolls became one of the biggest toy crazes of the 2010s thanks to their addictive unboxing gimmick and social media appeal. Each ball contained layers of tiny surprises including stickers, accessories and dolls, turning every opening into a mini event that children rushed to share online and with friends. The combination of collectibles, mystery reveals and YouTube unboxing culture helped make LOL Surprise a global phenomenon almost overnight.

Tiny, colourful and based on everyday supermarket items, Shopkins transformed ordinary groceries into one of the decade’s biggest collecting crazes. Children spent hours trading the miniature characters, from smiling cupcakes to shy-looking toilet rolls, while trying to complete entire themed collections. Their pocket-money price and endless new releases made them especially addictive for young collectors.

Hatchimals became the must-have Christmas toy of 2016 after demand for the interactive creatures caused major shortages in shops around the world. Children had to nurture and rub the speckled eggs until the toy finally “hatched” on its own, creating a dramatic reveal moment that perfectly suited the social media age. Some desperate parents reportedly paid hundreds online to secure one before Christmas morning.

Nerf guns dominated gardens, parks and living rooms throughout the 2010s as foam dart battles became a favourite activity for children. Originally launched decades earlier, the brand reached new heights during the era thanks to increasingly elaborate blasters, competitive games and viral trick-shot videos online. Birthday parties, family tournaments and YouTube challenges all helped turn Nerf into a modern toy powerhouse.

For a few months in 2017, it felt impossible to go anywhere without seeing a child spinning a fidget spinner. Originally marketed as stress-relief toys, the small spinning gadgets quickly became a full-blown playground obsession, with countless colours, shapes and light-up versions flooding shops. Schools across the UK and US frequently banned them after classrooms became filled with distracted children trying to perfect tricks and compete with friends.

2020s

Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images Getty

Today’s toy trends are being shaped by social media crazes, viral videos and a huge demand for comfort-driven collectibles. Children’s play is now heavily influenced by online fandoms, helping toys like Squishmallows, Labubu and Pop Its become overnight sensations around the world.

Soft, squishy and available in hundreds of different characters, Squishmallows became one of the defining toy crazes of the 2020s. Originally launched in 2017, the plush toys exploded in popularity during the pandemic years as children embraced comfort-focused collectibles. Rare designs sparked online resale frenzies, while TikTok helped turn the cuddly toys into a global obsession with devoted fans hunting down new releases.

The Nintendo Switch became the console that defined family gaming in the 2020s, thanks to its ability to transform from a handheld device into a traditional TV console within seconds. Games including Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart and Zelda became hugely popular during lockdown periods, with many families using the console to stay entertained at home.

With its mischievous grin and furry appearance, Labubu became one of the most unexpected toy crazes of the decade. Created by artist Kasing Lung and sold in “blind box” packaging by Pop Mart, the collectible figures exploded on social media as fans filmed themselves revealing which version they had received. Celebrity fans and viral TikTok videos helped fuel the craze, while rare editions quickly became highly sought-after collector’s items.

Jellycat soft toys have become a huge phenomenon during the 2020s as shoppers fall in love with the brand’s ultra-soft plush characters and quirky food-themed designs. From smiling croissants to cuddly avocados and bashful bunnies, the toys became wildly popular on TikTok and Instagram, with collectors eagerly hunting down limited editions. Their comforting, cosy appeal perfectly matches a decade shaped by self-care trends and nostalgia-driven shopping.

Pop Its transformed a simple bubble-popping sensation into one of the biggest playground crazes of the early 2020s. Originally inspired by sensory and fidget toys, the brightly coloured silicone gadgets became hugely popular with children who loved endlessly pressing the bubbles in and out. Viral TikTok videos, rainbow designs and novelty shapes helped fuel the obsession, while many parents and teachers praised them for helping children focus and relax.

Whether future childhood crazes are powered by AI, virtual reality or the next viral TikTok trend, one thing is certain – every generation will always have that one toy they begged for, treasured for years and that takes them straight back to their childhood decades later.

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Pics: Getty Images

Authors

journalist and two young kids sat on a bench in France for a review of Eurocamp

Hollie BondSenior Digital Journalist

Hollie is Senior Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes articles about pregnancy, parenting, child health and getting pregnant. She has written for a number of national lifestyle magazines and websites over the past 12 years including Family History Monthly, You and Your Wedding and Muddy Stilettos. She has two children aged 5 and 8 and hasn't slept since 2017!

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