Toys bring out memories

Nothing brings back the childhood memories more than toys from our past. While putting together my holiday shopping list a toy that comes to mind when I think back on the holiday get together's with my family are my Lincoln logs. 

I used to sit for hours just my brothers and I with those logs building cabins of our dreams. Not only did we create a castle for my Barbie Princess but I helped them construct a fortress for their G.I Joe's and Army men figurines. Lincoln logs weren't just for one or the other girl/boy, but for everyone to play together. That was my favorite part. It wasn't a gender specific toy so it didn't matter who was playing everyone had a good time together. Lincoln logs are such a classic toy that is still continuing to make children all across the world smile. 
   
Toys are something every culture can understand, and toys like Lincoln logs, Lego's, and Slinky's will bring joy to every heart. I'm sure this Black Friday, Lincoln Logs will be a major hit among all the top toy deals! They have all kinds of different style sets now that I didn't have back when I was a child. With all the "new" toys on the market these days Lincoln logs just seem to be one of those toys that has always and will always do well with the children. Again, one of my favorites!

VTech Toys

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VTech is an award winning electronic learning toys company offering the best learning toys on the market today.

Playmobil – Enchanting children 40 years later

2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the first Playmobil toys produced for sale.  What was first sold at the International Toy Fair in Nuremburg, Germany, has grown to become a staple of childhood for millions of people.  The creator of Playmobil had a couple of specific ideas in mind – make the toys flexible but not too complex and a facial design based on children’s drawings.  Playmobil people are intentionally not given names to help spur on a child’s imagination – they can be whoever the child can dream up.  They quickly relate to these little figures that have faces the way they would make them!

But Playmobil isn’t just for kids.  Many adults own and collect sets and there have even been licensed products marketed for adults, such as a BMW Z4 that was available only with a test drive.  Adults can spend quality time with their children and share in the joy of Playmobil – these classic toys are only limited by imagination.

K’NEX – building toys for older kids

Tinkertoys have been a staple of childhood since 1914 – wow, can you believe they’ve been around 100 years?  The simple wooden spool and stick sets have delighted children for many generations now.  In 1992, Joel Glickman was sitting at a wedding reception one day, fiddling with a straw.  He thought what could I do with straws if I could connect them?  Thus the idea behind K’NEX was born.

Glickman tried to market K’NEX to four major toy companies – all of which turned him down.  His attempts ultimately lead to contact with Toys R’ Us, which received the first shipments of the toy in Oct. 1992.  Since then, K’NEX has been a staples of building toys.  K’NEX is similar to Tinkertoys, but more intricate parts such as gears and motors are available, making them suitable for slightly older children (5 to 12 years according to K’NEX website – 5 to 100+ as any adult that loves Tinkertoys and K’NEX knows.)  

Board & Card Games – Brings Families and Friends together!

Board and card games have been a staple of the American family for many years.  They’re a great way to have a family night of fun.  There are great classic games that are still going strong and a lot of new ones that are just as much fun.

Monopoly:  The first version of this classic was called The Landlord’s Game in 1904 and was very similar to what became Monopoly.  By 1935, Parker Brother’s had acquired the rights to the game and it’s been around ever since.  These days there are numerous incarnations of the game, from Classic to Empire (modern companies), Electronic Banking, and licensed specialty versions – even the Walking Dead version!

  

Risk: This game was invented in France in 1957 and acquired by Parker Brothers in 1959. Much like Monopoly, there are numerous versions today – Classic, Legacy, 2210 AD, and licensed specialty version like Dr. Who.

Apples to Apples:  This game is a personal favorite of mine.  Cards are dealt, players take turns being the judge who puts down a card, then the other players put down a card that they think compares ‘apples to apples’ with the judge’s card.  The judge rules on whose card is best.  Because of the wide variety of cards, some of the comparisons are truly hilarious!  This game has won numerous Game of the Year awards and expansions decks are available.

CardsAgainst Humanity:  Okay, okay, this isn’t for the kids… but adults like games too!  Cards Against Humanity has been called ‘the party game for horrible people.’  One player asks a question from the black cards and the other players answer with a white card.  Description sounds a little boring, right?  Not when black cards say things like ‘When I was tripping on acid, ______ turned into _____.’  A white card played might say something like ‘a cooler full of fresh organs’ and ‘samples.’  See why it’s called Cards Against Humanity? 

Retro Toys – Do you remember these from your childhood?

Retro seems to be a new buzzword these days – retro clothes, retro shoes – so how about some retro toys?  There are a LOT of toys still around that delighted us (and our parents, and even our grandparents.)  We’ve already mentioned a few, such as Tinkertoys and Playmobil.  How many of the ones below do you remember?

Spirograph – I loved this toy.  I spent hours making all kinds of designs in all kinds of colors… on every piece of paper I could find, including those I shouldn’t have used.  Spirograph is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Simon – I still remember when Simon first came out.  As soon as I saw what it was, I said I have to have one of these!  (Yes, this was before computers and game consoles were everywhere.)  

Operation – I didn’t have one of these, but my friend did and I was so jealous.  The premise of Operation is so simple, yet so challenging.  The one piece I could almost never get out - the charley horse.  I’d lose every time on that one!

Rubik’s Cube – Released worldwide in 1980, the Rubik’s Cube exploded in popularity.  I had a love-hate relationship with the Rubik’s Cube.  I was completely determined to solve it but never could get more than 4 sides.  Finally got a hold of a hint book so I could ‘solve’ it myself! 

Trouble – Admit it – you sat there at some point just repeatedly popping the dice to get on your parents’ nerves.  But it was so much fun to do!  This board game is still around, both in classic and new editions.

Board games… I think that’s a topic for another day (like tomorrow.)

Hello Kitty – still a favorite!

I definitely remember Hello Kitty from childhood. This super cute character was created in Japan in 1974 and first invaded the U.S. in 1976.  Since then her popularity has never waned… there are more Hello Kitty products out today than ever, both for children and adults.

If you hadn’t already heard, in 2014 it was reported that Hello Kitty is not a cat, but a human girl named Kitty White who lives outside of London.  According to Sanrio, the maker of Hello Kitty, this is a partial truth.  She is an anthropomorphism – an animal that personifies a human.  Think of Mickey Mouse – he’s definitely a mouse, but more than a mouse too.  That is Kitty White aka Hello Kitty.