There are some toys, though, that haven't made the resurgence they deserve. Let's dust off that Magic 8 Ball and see if our kids will be getting these old favorites for their next birthdays.
Lincoln Logs
1 of 16
My kids go straight for the Lincoln Logs when they get to Grandma and Pappy's house, and they will never get over the injustice of having to dismantle their villages so people can actually walk in the TV room. Legos are great for building a rocket ship, but Lincoln Logs are where it's at for creating an entire town in a matter of minutes.
Simon
2 of 16
Simon is a simple game of memory and dexterity, with the added bonus of musical notes that correspond to the buttons to annoy parents. Today's version is more of a touch screen than the big, clunky button, which kids will love but Simon purists may not.
Etch A Sketch
3 of 16
It's understandable that kids don't really want to play with the Etch A Sketch anymore since they now can draw on a tablet and actually save their creations. But this toy was so much more than that. It took real skill to draw on an Etch A Sketch, and kids these days will just never know the sacrifice it took to shake it up and start from scratch.
Stretch Armstrong
4 of 16
This classic is one of the most popular '70s toys ever, but because production stopped in 1980, our kids are mostly unfamiliar with it. Too bad because the stretchy nature of the doll is great for keeping hands busy, and who doesn't love stretching a 15-inch doll four to five feet? Luckily, production of the original toy has resumed, and Netflix has ordered 26 episodes of Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters, an animated series expected to release in 2017.
Lite-Brite
5 of 16
I remember the promise of a blank Lite-Brite paired with careful piles of colored pegs, and I loved the glow of my own creations shining on my face while popping colored pegs into the black Lite-Brite paper. You can still buy Lite-Brites, but it's no surprise that this classic game has been passed over for apps that offer similar opportunities to create art without the bulky box or small pieces. In fact, Lite-Brite has created their own game in app form!
Sit 'n' Spin
6 of 16
These days I can't even think about a Sit 'n' Spin without getting dizzy, but back in the day I could spin for hours. The simple spinning wheels, the colors of the room flying past with each turn and the danger of either puking or spinning so fast it fell over made the living room feel like the carnival.
Ker Plunk!
7 of 16
Ker Plunk! is a game of skill suited for kids 5 and up, which is awesome when you're trying to find games older kids and adults will like that won't frustrate the younger crowd. The object of the game is to skillfully remove sticks from a tube while dropping the fewest marbles possible. Today's version is, as things often are, not as sturdily built as the one you played with as a kid, but the classic game is still time-tested.
Stretch Armstrong
9 of 16
This classic is one of the most popular '70s toys ever, but because production stopped in 1980, our kids are mostly unfamiliar with it. Too bad because the stretchy nature of the doll is great for keeping hands busy, and who doesn't love stretching a 15-inch doll four to five feet? Luckily, production of the original toy has resumed, and Netflix has ordered 26 episodes of Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters, an animated series expected to release in 2017.
Lincoln Logs
10 of 16
My kids go straight for the Lincoln Logs when they get to Grandma and Pappy's house, and they will never get over the injustice of having to dismantle their villages so people can actually walk in the TV room. Legos are great for building a rocket ship, but Lincoln Logs are where it's at for creating an entire town in a matter of minutes.
Simon
11 of 16
Simon is a simple game of memory and dexterity, with the added bonus of musical notes that correspond to the buttons to annoy parents. Today's version is more of a touch screen than the big, clunky button, which kids will love but Simon purists may not.
Lite-Brite
12 of 16
I remember the promise of a blank Lite-Brite paired with careful piles of colored pegs, and I loved the glow of my own creations shining on my face while popping colored pegs into the black Lite-Brite paper. You can still buy Lite-Brites, but it's no surprise that this classic game has been passed over for apps that offer similar opportunities to create art without the bulky box or small pieces. In fact, Lite-Brite has created their own game in app form!
Etch A Sketch
13 of 16
It's understandable that kids don't really want to play with the Etch A Sketch anymore since they now can draw on a tablet and actually save their creations. But this toy was so much more than that. It took real skill to draw on an Etch A Sketch, and kids these days will just never know the sacrifice it took to shake it up and start from scratch.
Sit 'n' Spin
14 of 16
These days I can't even think about a Sit 'n' Spin without getting dizzy, but back in the day I could spin for hours. The simple spinning wheels, the colors of the room flying past with each turn and the danger of either puking or spinning so fast it fell over made the living room feel like the carnival.
Ker Plunk!
15 of 16
Ker Plunk! is a game of skill suited for kids 5 and up, which is awesome when you're trying to find games older kids and adults will like that won't frustrate the younger crowd. The object of the game is to skillfully remove sticks from a tube while dropping the fewest marbles possible. Today's version is, as things often are, not as sturdily built as the one you played with as a kid, but the classic game is still time-tested.
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