10 Amazing Toys from the '80s & '90s That You Can Still Buy for Your Kids
by Jacqueline for Momtastic
The second I found out I was pregnant, my parents came down with a serious case of “Grandparents Nesting” and turned my old childhood room into a nursery. Quicker than you can say “Care Bear stare,” my favorite ’80s toys were brought down from the attic and set out for a second life. Of course, an infant doesn’t have much use for a Pound Puppy, but now that my daughter is almost 2, the retro toys are so much fun to play with. Reading a dogeared Golden Book, or tugging at an animated Mickey Mouse (in the style of Teddy Ruxpin, no less) totally tugs at my heartstrings.
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With this somewhat sappy nostalgia in mind, I did some digging on other awesome new toys made in memory of their ’80s and ’90s originals. I was surprised to see how many are mainstream! Take a peek.
1. Cabbage Patch Kids
A limited edition, vintage design CPK (pictured) will set you back about $50, versus the more modern designs that are $20 or so, but who can resist their so-ugly-they’re-cute charm?!
Photo: Toys ‘R’ Us
2. Glo Worm
Hasbro’s Gloworm still exists, albeit with a modern look, for $16.99.
Photo: Toys 'R’ Us
3. Kitty Surprise
Personally, I found Kitty Surprise, $24.99, to be a bit of a crap shoot as a kid (Who wanted the cat with – surprise! – three kittens, when you could have four or five?). But, the “Surprise, surprise kitty surprise” jingle recently came on between cartoons the other day, and the remake is pretty cute.
Photo: Toys 'R’ Us
4. Popples
The Popples are coming back in late 2015, via a Netflix show! You can buy the vintage toys on eBay, of course, but we expect that there will be plenty of new merchandise to go along with the show that creators say will “re-imagine the adorable nostalgic characters” from the hit '80s cartoon.
Photo: Saban Brands
5. Rainbow Brite
Rainbow Brite fans may need to shell out $250 for an original, in-box doll from 1983, (but can also scour Etsy for some gently loved ones). If you’re not quite that nostalgic, or a bit of a germophobe, a 2010 doll was released… still collector, but $41.99.
Photo: Etsy (left); Amazon
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6. Sit-and-Spin
Playskool re-released the classic Sit-and-Spin, $24.99, and I totally took the bait this past Christmas. It’s not half as fast as the original (I imagine that’s a good thing!) – but it’s an absolute godsend on rainy and cold days.
Photo: Amazon
7. Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine
Looks like the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine is still (anticlimactically?) churning and swirling its way into the homes of little kids. Was anyone else’s mom as neurotic about not using this toy inside? No? Just me? Today, it costs around $18.
Photo: Barnes & Noble
8. Strawberry Shortcake
What little girl didn’t love Strawberry Shortcake and her adorable cat, Custard? Beyond cute scratch and sniff dolls of Shortcake and her pals Lemon Meringue and Blueberry Muffin, there was a cool playhouse, fun bed sheets, and so much more. (These sweet characters were like the Frozen of the '80s!) Let your kid in on the fun – and give Anna and Elsa a well needed break – with this modern day doll ($19.99).
Photo: Amazon
9. Transformers
While original Transformers can be found on Ebay for around $35, today’s have a little bit “more than meets the eye” with safe hinges and pops of neon color for $16.99.
Photo: Toys 'R’ Us
10. Fisher-Price Record Player
Fisher-Price Classics has some choice toys that you (and your parents!) will remember from childhood. That includes my personal favorite, the Record Player ($29.99).
Photo: Toys 'R’ Us
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