INFORMATION VINE * The Most Popular Christmas Toy The Year You Were Born *.

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Christmas is a time of joy, giving, and to some, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Regardless of the meaning, Christmas can be celebrated by anyone who loves December and kindness. People have celebrated this holiday for thousands and thousands of years, with traditions evolving rapidly throughout cultures across the world (including the symbol of Santa Claus). 

In the past hundred years, the market for Christmas toys has exploded, and every year there are popular toys that children desire come the holiday season. Whether it be games, dolls, chemistry sets, or scooters, there certainly have been some memorable toys throughout the years. Many iconic toys have been made and mass-produced for decades, and some continue to be classics today.  

1960 - Chatty Cathy 

The Chatty Cathy doll is still talked about today, and it brought a revolution to the doll industry from 1959-1965. Every little girl wanted one of these pull-string dolls that could talk to them and bring joy. 



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This iconic doll was created by Ruth and Elliot Handler, and the Mattel toy company was the primary business that manufactured the Chatty Cathys for six years. 

1961 - Slip 'N Slide

Slip 'N Slides were a magnificent toy to receive at Christmas time (especially in 1961), and children around the world could not wait to use them the following summer.  



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Robert Carrier created this form of entertainment, which is a sheet of artificial leather covered in plastic that kids would soak with a hose, and then slide on; some people would also use oil if the circumstances were safe. If you were lucky for Christmas, you may have gotten the small inflatable pool addition with the Slip 'N Slide. 

1962 - Etch A Sketch 

This classic toy is still widely manufactured today and is a simple yet engaging device. The Etch A Sketch was invented by a French man, Andre Cassagnes, and was produced by the Ohio Art Company in 1960.



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Hundreds of thousands of Etch A Sketches were sold in the 1960s, and every child had hoped that Santa had brought them one and put it under their tree. Thousands of children were able to express themselves artistically with this device and it gave them the ability to develop their talents. 

1963 - Troll Dolls

Pictured below are dolls at a departments store in London in the 1960s. These troll dolls were extremely popular in the 1960s, and they were known as gonk trolls or Dam dolls (the creator was Thomas Dam). 



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The inventor of these dolls had a wonderful sense of humor, and the trolls are a significant part of Scandinavian folklore. Many people purchased and enjoyed these dolls because they are known to bring good luck. 

1964 - G.I. Joe

G.I. Joe is now known as an iconic action figure and has been highly developed since its creation in 1963 by Stanley Weston. Pictured below is someone analyzing a wall of G.I. Joe toys, wondering which to purchase as a Christmas gift.



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The Hasbro toy company was the leading producer of G.I. Joes, and they expanded the action figure into comics and other media franchises throughout the years. Overall, this action figure was based on the U.S. military services, and was a hit amongst children, especially in the 1960s. 

1965 - Operation

John Spinello created this game (pictured below) that simulated surgery in 1964 while he was an industrial design student at the University of Illinois. He sold the rights to the game for a low price, and Hasbro ended up mass-producing the game. 



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This was an admired game and desired as a Christmas gift because it allowed children to role-play as surgeons. Moreover, it helped kids build fine motor skills, all while being an entertaining game for the family. This game is still sold today and enjoyed by millions. 

1966 - Twister

Twister was a groovy gift in 1966 because it could be played by children or adults, and enhanced people's flexibility. Originally the game was called Pretzel, but the name was later changed to Twister. Moreover, it became popular when people played it on The Tonight Show in 1966. 



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This was one of the first modern games to use humans as playing pieces, and it was useful in uniting various age groups. The game sold rapidly for a brief period of time, yet it is still a popular and classic Christmas toy that anyone could enjoy. 

1967 - Tea Sets

Pictured below are little girls hosting a tea party in the 1960s. Tea sets were highly admired as Christmas gifts because they allowed for fun play dates for kids and the use of imagination. 



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Children would often play with others and stuffed animals while they used their tea sets indoors or outside. Thousands of sets have been sold every year for decades, and the styles have evolved throughout the years. 

1968 - Hot Wheels

Pictured below are one of the most popular Christmas toys to this day, Hot Wheels, and they were especially favored in 1968. Hot Wheels were created by toy inventors at Mattel in 1968, and they come in hundreds of different makes and models. 



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Toy designers, a car designer, and a scientist all gathered in the 1960s to make this toy possible, and now there have been over four million Hot Wheels sold throughout the world. It has had numerous competitors over the decades, yet this has always won as the Christmas favorite. 

1969 - Chemistry Set 

Chemistry sets were fantastic gifts in the 1960s and 70s, and they encouraged science education for the youth. These toys have also drastically changed over the years, and there are different sets for different age groups. 



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These kits would come with basic science equipment such as chemicals, protective gear, a manual of science experiments, beakers, and much more. You were the coolest kid in town if you got this chemistry kit for Christmas in the 1960s!

1970 - Dollhouses

Pictured below is a family playing with a dollhouse in 1970; the dollhouses came in a myriad of forms, and some were quite complex. Santa would bring children handmade or mass-produced dollhouses and dolls for Christmas, and it continues to be a traditional gift during the holidays. 



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People would order these toys through catalogs or purchase them at department stores for their kids, and they would come with hundreds of accessories like furniture, clothing, and cookware. 

1971 - Weebles

Weebles were designed in the late 1960s and were immensely popular with toddlers and babies. They were admired for their egg-shaped bodies and the fact that they didn't fall over. Generally, the toy set would come with a family of Weebles. 



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These toys were popular for a short but profitable time, and it was one of the thousands of Fisher-Price's kiddie toys that left an impact on society. Children were attracted to Weebles because they were colorful and round, which pleased their developing senses. 

1972 - The Big Wheel

Groups of toddlers riding on Big Wheels would roam the streets in the 1970s, so getting one for Christmas was a fantastic surprise for a child. Louis Marx and other inventors created this tricycle, and it was massively produced in Pennsylvania.  



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These trikes were ridden until they were nothing but mangled plastic, and any garage in a suburban neighborhood had one in the 1970s. Every child wrote this toy down on their Christmas list, and the toy is still popular today. 

1973 - Shrinky Dinks

Shrinky Dinks were created in 1973, and they are a fascinating craft for kids of all ages. Children would get these magical plastic pieces for Christmas, draw on them, bake them, and create a memorable piece of art that could be turned into jewelry. 



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The polystyrene strips could be cut with common scissors, and the activity was easily done with adult supervision. Betty Morris of Brookfield, Wisconsin created this kids toy, and it was popular for over a decade before it became lesser-known. 

1974 - Tonka Toy Trucks

Tonka Toy Trucks have been a staple in every boy's childhood, and the boy pictured below in the 1970s surely won't forget playing with his Tonka Trucks that he may have gotten for Christmas. 



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The Tonka Toy Truck industry has a rich, complex history, and originally, the company did not even start out making toy trucks; the business was around for decades before the trucks became extremely popular. 

1975 - The Pet Rock

Pictured below is Gary Dahl, 39, the creator of the Pet Rock. He is pictured selling them in California, for it was the most popular and profitable item of the Christmas season. There were over a million sold, and there were over $2 million in sales no more than three months after the product was released.



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The rocks that were used for this product came from Rosarito Beach in Mexico, and the popularity lasted less than a year before sales dropped - yet the rock that was advertised and sold as a live pet has withstood history. 

1976 - Kites

Kites have been around for thousands and thousands of years, and in the late 1970s, they made a comeback as a popular fad amongst the youth. There were kite clubs, and it was a great active, social activity that kids wanted to be a part of. 



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With all of the designs that kites can come in, any kid would have exploded with joy if they saw a personalized kite under their Christmas tree, to which they could fly almost any time of year with their friends. 

1977 - Pogo Sticks

The pogo stick was invented in Germany in the 1920s and was enormously popular as a Christmas gift in the 1970s. Originally it was called a Spring and Hopping Stilt, but the name was quickly adapted to the more fun term, pogo stick. 



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These toys have a long history, and they were created as a mode of transportation at first. Over time, the youth treasured them as toys, and they were a wonderful Christmas gift because they could be used individually or with the family. 

1978 - Star Wars Action Figures

Some of the first Star Wars action figures were created in 1978 and now hundreds of assorted styles of them have been produced for people. The action figures were based on the movies, which were based on the comics. 



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The Kenner toy company made these action figures because of how well-loved the movies were and ended up selling over 300 million of them in a matter of a few short years. 

1979 - Atari VCS

When you received one of these for Christmas in 1979, you may remember it coming with everything pictured below, plus a free game cartridge! This was one of the devices that accelerated the video game revolution, and it was one of the most popular Christmas gifts in 1979.  



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At first, there was only nine games total, yet this technology was so successful that video games and consoles started to be quickly developed and sold across the world. A few years after its release, it dominated the video game industry, and people were spending a lot more time indoors playing games on the TV. 

1980 - Rubik's Cube

The Rubik's Cube is still immensely popular today and can be found in many stores and anywhere online. Ernő Rubik, a Hungarian sculptor and architecture professor, is the one who invented this entertainment device. 



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Originally it was called the Magic Cube, and it has taken a plethora of forms over the past few decades. They can be made from wood or plastic, and the cubes can be of assorted colors. 

1981 - Smurfs

The Smurfs were around a couple of decades before they became highly popular in the toy industry, and it all started when a Belgian comic strip artist created a series with these characters. 



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According to the creator, Smurf is a made-up word, and the Smurfs are a symbol of freedom. Now, decades later, the Smurfs have been involved with shows, movies, books, toys, and other forms of media. 

1982 - Lincoln Logs

Lincoln Logs are a classic toy favorite that has been around for more than a century and was originally created by John Lloyd Wright. In 1982, this toy made a comeback, and it was at the top of every child's Christmas list. 



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This toy is named after the president, Abraham Lincoln since he lived in a log cabin. Lincoln Logs are like a simpler version of Legos and are now made from several types of wood. 

1983 - Cabbage Patch Kids

Cabbage Patch Kids were created in 1982 and produced by Coleco Industries; they are said to have grown in a magical cabbage patch and that the children who bought them were saving them and providing them with a loving home. 



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Xavier Roberts created the dolls at a hospital in his hometown of Cleveland, and it's hard to imagine where the world's youth would have been without these iconic, classic dolls. 

1984 - Transformers 

Transformers were created in Japan and became explosively popular after their release in the 1980s. These action figures were able to transform from cars to robots, and there were several action figures that were released. 



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This is one of the hundreds of other classic toys that branched off into movies, and Transformers continue to be highly well-known today, with kids still asking for Transformer merchandise for Christmas every year!

1985 - Teddy Ruxpin 

Teddy Ruxpin is now a highly recognizable toy even though it was only made for eight years in the 1980s and 1990s. This teddy bear was unique at the time because it was an animated, talking toy. 



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Ken Forsee created Teddy Ruxpin after working for Disney and gaining experience with animatronics. It took Ken multiple tries and prototypes until the final Teddy was produced, and once it was on the market, it was a hit amongst children. 

1986 - Care Bears

This toy came to symbolize generations and was created in 1985. These bears, which taught love and kindness, amongst other principles, were highly popular and continue to be almost half a century later. 



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Care Bears have gone through a unique evolution, and countless books, TV shows, and movies were made that involved these characters. Each one has a distinct personality, and children have loved them for decades!

1987 - Koosh Ball

Scott H. Stillinger created the Koosh ball, a simple toy made of rubber strands, and it was specifically designed for kids since it stimulated their senses. The name of the ball comes from the sound the creator thought it made when it landed in his hand. 



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The Koosh ball was sold in several sizes and color combinations across the world and became popular in places such as arcades and claw machine games. It continues to be a simplified toy that keeps a wide variety of people entertained. 

1988 - Nintendo Entertainment System

By the late 1980s, video games were becoming a popular craze amongst the youth as new gaming consoles were released. Many of them originated in Japan and became a rapid hit in the USA and Europe. 



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Over 10 million of these consoles were sold in 1988 because millions of people were obsessed with video games and Nintendo. Nowadays, these toys are considered antiques and are difficult to find. 

1989 - The Game Boy

For $89.99 in 1989, you could get Nintendo's first hand-held console, the Game Boy. Throughout the years, there would be countless deals on this toy as new versions and other consoles appeared on the market. 



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The Game Boy would go on to be one of the most famous video game devices for years, and kids would always write to Santa for one in the 1990s and early 2000s! Hundreds of video game cartridges went on to be made for children as different movies and shows were adapted into games for this device. 

1990 - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman created the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (originally the Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles) in 1983 in a comic book form. They were both American artists who developed the comic professionally a year later in 1984, only to find instant success. 



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Very soon after the comics were released, the creators allowed a toy company to make action figures, and $1.1 billion was made from the toys within four years. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles who fight crime in NYC continue to be highly popular in society and countless shows, movies, and merchandise has been made. 

1991 - The Super Nintendo 

You may remember this screen on the Super Nintendo in 1991 after you got the console for Christmas! This Nintendo was originally made in Japan in 1990 and came to North America a year later. The Nintendo Entertainment System came before this console, and the Nintendo 64 would follow it. 



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Even though there was a lot of market in the video game console market at the time, the Super Nintendo had tremendous success, and everyone was purchasing them for the Christmas of 1991!

1992 - Barbie 

Barbie dolls had been around for decades before 1992, although they made many exciting comebacks throughout the years. Almost every little girl dreamed of the Barbie dolls that came with clothing, shoes, accessories, and possibly even a vehicle! 



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Ruth Handler was the creator of the first Barbie, and thousands of versions have come out since; there are also Barbie shows, movies, and merchandise throughout the world too. In 1992, the Barbie franchise made almost $2 billion, showing its immaculate popularity, especially as Christmas gifts. 

1993 - Talking Barney 

Greg Hyman created the Talking Barney toy in 1993, and after the toy company, Playskool, produced it, it was a success with toddlers and little children. The show, Barney & Friends, was created in 1992 and due to its popularity, innumerable amounts of toys began to appear on the market. 



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Four versions of the Talking Barney were created in a short matter of time, and all of them were admired by the youth and sold out in stores in days, and in hours during the holiday season. 

1994 - Power Rangers

In August of 1993, The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers appeared on American television and was nothing but a success. The show was inspired by numerous Japanese shows, and the Power Rangers suddenly became a cultural phenomenon after the release of the series. 



Photo Courtesy: [Mario Ruiz/The Chronicle Collection/Getty Images]


A year after the TV show's release, toys and action figures of all sorts were created and made available in the toy market; every child wanted Power Rangers action figures under the Christmas tree. These characters have gone on to be immensely popular throughout the decades and certainly affected a generation.

1995 - Beanie Babies

H. Ty Warner was the one to create the iconic Beanie Babies, and they got their name because they are stuffed with little plastic pellets (beans) versus the usual stuffing. These toys were noted as the first internet sensation, and children and adults alike loved these toys. 



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Beanie Babies continue to be popular today, and mostly they come in the form of animals. When they first came out in the 1990s, they were not only bought and played with but also purchased as collectibles since they had a crazy resale value.

1996 - Tickle Me Elmo

Tickle Me Elmo was made by Tyco Toys, and young children loved this character off Sesame Street, so it was a success in the toy market. When this toy is squeezed, Elmo will vibrate, shake, and giggle, which is good stimulation for babies and toddlers. 



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Tickle Me Elmo was based on a previous successful toy, Tickles Me Chimp, and the year it was released (1996), over one million dolls were sold in five months. Two women were arrested in Chicago for fighting over a Tickle Me Elmo, and people would chase down delivery trucks to try to get their hands on one of these toys in 1996. 

1997 - Tamagotchi

Tamagotchis were a Japanese invention, and for Christmas, you could have gotten either a male or female pet, or you could have received both, gaining the ability to make Tamagotchi babies! 



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Tamagotchis were an instant hit when they came out in 1997, and now they are a type of nostalgic toy that can be hard to find. These virtual pets die after a few weeks, to which the player then restarts the game with a new pet to complete the life cycle once more. 

1998 - Furby

David Hampton and Caleb Chung created the Furby in 1998, and it became extremely popular amongst children and became a symbol for many generations. Some children feared the owl-like creature, while others embraced it and its catchphrases. 



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It took over a year to design the Furby, and Tiger Electronics was one of many toy companies to produce this toy. It was a robotic toy that would cry when it needed fed, make distinguishing sounds, and say kid-friendly sentences. 

1999 - Pokémon

Two Japanese men, Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori invented Pokémon in 1996, and it was mind-blowingly popular for decades. Today, there is still massive amounts of merchandise being produced including clothing, Pokémon cards, and action figures. 



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In 1999, every child wanted new Pokémon cards so that they could trade them at recess and battle with their friends. Pokémon was an instant hit, and now there are almost 900 distinct Pokémon species that have been created. 

2000 - Razor Scooter

Over five million Razor Scooters were sold in 2000, six months after its release. This compact scooter was popular amongst the youth and was a fantastic gift for Christmas to keep children active. 



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Three years after its release, an electric version was put on the market, and the Razor Scooter craze happened all over again. Micro Mobility Systems was the creator of this transportation device and toy. Generations remember this scooter as quite fun despite how hot the metal got in the summer sun and the sharp edges that could slice your ankles. 

2001 - Bratz

Bratz dolls were without a doubt a massive success, and the dolls developed into shows, movies, and iconic merchandise shortly after their release. Carter Bryant created Bratz while he was a clothing designer for Barbie dolls and is known for selling the idea to MGA Entertainment, which was the rival of the Mattel toy company. 



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This evolution of dolls was a hit worldwide and pictured above are girls in Paris (2001), posing with the well-admired Bratz dolls. These dolls were another type that influenced generations, for they set fashion trends and they were extremely popular with young people. 

2002 - Beyblades

Beyblades were first invented in Japan in 1999 and soon became popular around the world. Children liked this spinning toy because it transformed once it was spinning, and they could have tournaments and battles with their friends. 



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Beyblades had numerous accessories including battle arenas, and Hasbro began to sell Beyblades and merchandise when they received permission from the Japanese company. 

2003 - Hokey Pokey Elmo

The Hokey Pokey Elmo was $20 and like most Elmo toys, it created a wild toy craze. This toy was created by Fisher-Price and could have been found in any department or toy store, especially the Christmas of 2003. 



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This Elmo can move in multiple ways and has more catchphrases than previous Elmo toys. Pictured above is the original Hokey Pokey Elmo, for there were three versions, and other Sesame Street characters were made into Hokey Pokey dolls. 

2004 - RoboSapien

In the early 2000s, technology had started to develop more, so robotic toys such as RoboSapien were on every child's Christmas wish list. Mark Tilden created this robot, and WowWee toys were the main company that produced this interactive toy. 



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The robot came with a remote control that had over 20 buttons, reacted to touch and sound, and had preprogrammed moves. It was a unique toy in the market at the time, which led to its worldwide popularity. 

2005 - Xbox 360

When the Xbox 360 was first released worldwide, it was in short supply. This was to no surprise because this was an extraordinary device in the gaming console evolution, seeing that the user could play games, music, or videos. 



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The Xbox 360 ended up being the highest-selling gaming device in history that was produced by an American company. At first in 2005, the device was $300, yet they sold out in every store, for every kid wanted this revolutionary console. 

2006 - Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii was released a month before Christmas in 2006, so many people went without one for Christmas the first year it was released because all stores sold out quickly. The Wii was highly popular for some time because it was a gaming device that promoted family time and physical activity. 



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After a little over a decade, the Wii faded out because its creators wanted to focus on other gaming consoles, but in its prime, it competed with Xbox and PlayStation. There are over 1,500 games for the Wii, and it highly impacted people due to the entertainment it provided and the groups of people it brought together. 

2007 - Nintendo DS

As the 2000s progressed, many of the top Christmas wish list toys were video game and technology-related; children became more attracted to virtual games and hand-held devices. With this, the Nintendo DS created a massive gaming revolution after its release, for it was even better than the Game Boy in some ways. 



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Over 200 million of these gaming devices were sold, originally for the price of $150. Over 2,000 games were made for the Nintendo DS, and there were various versions of it created. 

2008 - Webkinz 

Webkinz were extraordinarily popular in the 2000s, and they were created by the Ganz Corporation. There are over 68 animals in the Webkinz family, and there are over one million people subscribed to the Webkinz website. 



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These stuffed animals created a craze because of how adorable they were and the fact that kids could then interact with the pets online and utilize the educational resource that the creators had invented to coincide with the toys.