The best and worst toys of all time
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220068)
Walnut Creek, California
December 19, 2016 11:04am CST
With Christmas coming, many of us will be buying toys for the younguns in our lives. That got me to thinking about the best and worst toys I can remember from my lifetime. I think Legos and other stacky blocks are always a winner, because they involve no batteries and kids will actually USE them. And guess what: they teach fine motor skills and a little bit of physics. As for books, no child in my life doesn't get Where the Wild Things are when they're five or so. And right now I love the Elephant and Piggy series by Mo Willems. I Will Take a Nap is my favorite.
As for the worst toys in history, I'd have to go with Bratz Dolls. Do you remember them? "Teach your daughter to look like a street walker! Even the orientation of the hands suggest feminine helplessness. But with a drug dealer boyfriend, and three or four welfare babies, she'll be fine!!!" Those things were popular in the ghetto about ten years ago, and many of the 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old girls I worked with had Bratz dolls, Bratz lunchboxes, and other (w)horrors.
Do you have a favorite and least favorite toy for kids?
21 people like this
20 responses
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
19 Dec 16
I do love legos, that's not a boy toy, that's an everyone toy! lol I hated garbage pail kids stuff.
3 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
20 Dec 16
@TheHorse I like stacky blocks IF there are all kinds of shapes, like someone handmade a set with columns and arches and stuff the sets dont come with
1 person likes this
@paigea (36316)
• Canada
19 Dec 16
LEGO is great for one kid on my list. He loves it. I bought a couple kids the picture book "The Darkest Dark" by Chris Hadfield (astronaut). I am stumped often as I don't know their particular interests enough and I don't know everything they already have.
2 people like this
@mommymonky (325)
•
20 Dec 16
I like the leappad toys. They're fun and educational, and one piece that I don't end up having to spend a lot of time picking up....like legos :P. I don't like Barbie, just because they cost more than what they're worth, and my kids will loose all the small pieces and clothes within the first 48 hrs after getting them.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Dec 16
@mommymonky The girls I work with will turn even tennis balls and such like into mommy ball, daddy ball, and baby ball. I'm not sure if they dress them up.
1 person likes this
@mommymonky (325)
•
26 Dec 16
@TheHorse It's all about the accessories my friend. My girls will play with Ninja Turtles if there are enough accessories.
1 person likes this
@youless (112561)
• Guangzhou, China
20 Dec 16
I think the gifts like books, Legos and toys concerning sports such as bike, soccer etc. will be good toys for children. They can develop themselves in many ways. And I don't think it is a good idea to buy toys like iPad for children. As it is easy for them to be addicted to it and do nothing else. And it is also harmful for the eyesight. I always think children need more outdoor activities.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
19 Dec 16
I always bought books for my children (and for myself). I discovered books for babies to use in the bathtub, books for toddlers and books for any age. My smallest granddaughter is artsy so I give her super-doh.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100518)
• India
19 Dec 16
Boggle and scrabble... there was another boat with balloon...but it depends upon whom you have to give that gift. My little friend needs to grow a bit older. :) My princess...she gets dress..she is so pretty...she will break many hearts when she grows up. sigh.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100518)
• India
19 Dec 16
@TheHorse ..why..you get free bridge sites.
But there are better ones..this one has quite a few mistakes..lol.
Play this free, classic card game online! Team up with a computerized partner and pit your Bridge skills against two clever in-game opponents. Score points by winning tricks during play. Best of three games wins! Play Bridge for free today!
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
28 Dec 16
Roller skates (yes, skates-not blades) that are used on the pavement and hula hoops would be great here. Still in style, work in most areas, and no batteries or recharging needed.
1 person likes this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
20 Dec 16
I don't have a clue. I like to give those washable tattoos, and disposable cameras. Depending on the child's age, finger paint is a fun thing. I can't spend a lot of money and I like simple toys for kiddos, the camera notwithstanding. I guess a lot of kids nowadays have their own phones to take pictures with so maybe the camera is out (besides not being environmentally correct). As I said, I really don't have a clue.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
20 Dec 16
Of course you know the best thing to give a child is yourself, and your attention. Barring that, any toy that allows for pretend, like legos and play dough.Paper and pencils and colors and markers and things that are messy. Toys that promote doing and learning. My son had a Fisher Price Camping set, with a canteen, compass, binoculars, etc. Loved that. Electronics are the worst type of toy to give. Now if they work for the money to buy their own, they do get a good lesson in economics. I personally hated furbies. Speaking of Bratz I saw a feature on the internet where a woman "rescued" Bratz dolls or maybe some other trashy ones. She removed the garish makeup and painted soft childlike faces and restyled the hair. Dolls that had feet only made for high heels she re shaped with shoes that made them look normal too.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Dec 16
This woman made a good statement. I fear it may be lost on some children who have no strong FEMALE role models. Right now I'm working mostly on the boys. Just made six Christmas trees with an 8-year-old. Even let him use my pocket knife. He loved it.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
19 Dec 16
Not a toy exactly but my granddaughter just turned 3 and her aunt gave her a child's makeup set. 
Good way to teach her that she's not beautiful without paint, she's not gorgeous as God made her. Of course she loves it, though, even though neither her mother nor I wear makeup.
Talking dolls are never a good toy. I remember getting a Chatty Cathy and my aunt pulling the cord over and over until she broke on Christmas Day. They only have a few phrases and I would think a child would get bored after a few days.
Best toy I can remember is a puzzle of the United States with 50 pieces. My brother and I played with it then used it in war games, seeing how many states we could win in battle with toy soldiers and tanks or playing war with cards with the states as prizes. I still see that puzzle in my head when I picture a state and I know just where every state is.
Good way to teach her that she's not beautiful without paint, she's not gorgeous as God made her. Of course she loves it, though, even though neither her mother nor I wear makeup.
Talking dolls are never a good toy. I remember getting a Chatty Cathy and my aunt pulling the cord over and over until she broke on Christmas Day. They only have a few phrases and I would think a child would get bored after a few days.
Best toy I can remember is a puzzle of the United States with 50 pieces. My brother and I played with it then used it in war games, seeing how many states we could win in battle with toy soldiers and tanks or playing war with cards with the states as prizes. I still see that puzzle in my head when I picture a state and I know just where every state is.1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Dec 16
I hope your Granddaughter has a big ol' time painting her face and then forgets about it. I like those 50 piece US puzzles! I talk about the States as I do them (US puzzles) with kids, so they'll remember a bit about each State. I think that's a good toy! My brother and I did battle with our model airplanes and toy soldiers, but we never did conquer individual States.
1 person likes this
@Butchcass4 (5895)
• United States
19 Dec 16
My favorite toy was Chrissy you could pull her hair out long and push a button and it was short again. Also a racing track set my brother got was awesome. I think paper dolls was my least favorite. I didn't care to get fruit in my stocking but I understand my parents weren't rich and did the best they could. Thank you God for my parents. Although my father is in heaven now. I know I'll see him again one day.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80635)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Dec 16
Well the Barbie series will always be a favorite for girls and I suppose any kind of sport equipment like baseball bat, ball and glove for boys. Among the worst I have to say for me it was the Peteena the Poodle doll. Kid you not a white plastic poodle in a bikini. I asked for it and I got it but in the commercial it looked really different.
1 person likes this
@Meramar (2695)
•
19 Dec 16
Legos never stop to be modern and are well for all ages. They are entertaining and good for someones mind, as they work out their fantasy and prepair all players in constructing... and concentration is required. Therefore, I also love the puzzles. It's another timeless joy for kids for almost all ages.
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