The Hottest Toys of Past Holidays

BY Jenica December 6, 2021

The toy industry has monopolized children’s brains since the beginning of commercial television. Popular must-haves dominated every commercial break, convincing each child that they MUST have that toy in order to survive. We all remember a coveted toy from our childhood. One that probably sent our parents to the store during the early hours of the morning to stand in line for eons to make sure it made it under the tree for Christmas. So whether you’re fighting the crowds this holiday season for an animatronic Grogu, or just casually online shopping, here are a few favorite toys through the last few decades that emptied our parents’ wallets:

Cabbage Patch Kids- 1983

These little dolls with heads full of yard came with a birth certificate for adoption which made them a coveted item for years! Malls and toy stores nationwide could not keep them in stock.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- 1987

When these radical turtles dominated the television screen in the late 80’s, kids of all ages wished for these action figures.

Furbies- 1998

To our parent’s dismay, Furbies became the must-have toy in 1998. These electronic creatures spoke and interacted with you in a way that let you believe it was alive! Unfortunately once those batteries plugged in, they never turned off.

Beanie Babies- 1993

The Beanie Baby craze was on a whole other level in the 90’s. Divorcing couples would lay their Beanie Babies on the ground as they fought over custody. Specific animals became scarce and valuable. If you were an avid collector, you had a box of plastic tag covers to make sure they stayed in pristine condition. They mostly all currently reside in an attic box somewhere.

Tamogatchis- 1997

Why kids wanted the responsibility of keeping a creature alive in our pre-teen years is still a mystery. These little beeping gadgets needed to be fed, entertained, and even cleaned up after to keep them from death.

Nintendo- 1985

Nintendo dominated the video game market with the NES in the late 80’s. They released self-published games, fun add-ons, and started the video game frenzy we still have today!

Talkboy- 1993

Everyone has seen the Home Alone videos where Kevin uses his iconic “TalkBoy” to create havoc with the Wet Bandits. This little personized recording device made it to the top of everyone’s wish list in the early 90’s.

Tickle Me Elmo- 1996

The Tickle Me Elmo fad is still perplexing as grown adults fought over this giggling muppet. Prices inflated as many paid top dollar to own this coveted doll.

Razor Scooter- 2000

Razor has been the leader in scooters since 2000 when it made its debut. This light and small scooter was named the Toy of the Year and sold over 5 million units in less than six months! We still get bruises from kicking these around.

Nintendo Wii- 2006

For the first time ever, video games became interactive in our own homes! Wii Sports was a group favorite and these consoles flew off the shelves! 

Hatchimals- 2016

Just a few years ago, Hatchimals were being sold by third-parties for outrageous prices! Whoever was lucky enough to get one would have to help these creatures hatch, play, and raise them! You didn’t know what was going to hatch which made several creatures rare.

Are you searching for an impossible item this holiday season? If you find yourself fighting over the hottest toy of the season this upcoming month, may the odds be ever in your favor.