Anyone remember GI Joe? The action man’s action man. What about the iconic Care Bears? Or Cabbage Patch dolls? These are just three of the toys of the 80s and 90s that every kid wanted for their collection. In many ways the era was defined for children by these brands, with everyone desperately keen to own at least one or two.
So whether you were a kid, a parent or a grandparent during the 80s and 90s, this list will bring back some great memories!
1. Cabbage Patch Kids
No discussion of toys of the 80s and 90s would be complete without mentioning Cabbage Patch Kids. Who can now remember the incredible demand to own one of these cuties? Now collectable and quite valuable, they still retain their magic with young (and old) kids.
2. Creepy Crawlers Workshop
The brilliant Creepy Crawlers Workshop (who was the genius that came up with this idea?) kept many a budding young entomologist busy during the 80s and 90s. Each workshop had enough material to make over 100 creepy crawlies, or “ucky, yucky, squirmy, wormy creatures” in the words of the manufacturers.
3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The masked, nunchuck-lobbing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were all over our TV and cinema screens and playrooms in the late 80s and early 90s, battling numerous evil villains. The Turtle van and TMNT blimp were ones I always wanted Santa to bring. They are still popular today, but in my opinion you can't beat the original series!
4. Fisher Price Roller Skates
Remember these Fisher Price roller skates? The three easy-to-use settings on these beauties made learning to skate as easy as 1-2-3! They made the transition to rollerblades that little bit easier!
5. Gi Joe Action Figures
GI Joe action figures fought many a battle in kids’ bedrooms throughout the 80s and 90s. Loyal, brave and indefatigable, the action figures represented the many faces of the true all-American hero.
6. Care Bears
No young ‘un of the 80s or 90s could forget the gorgeous and character-filled Care Bears. The toys came in a range of colours and designs but all shared the same feature — they were perfect to cuddle!
7. McDonalds French Fry Maker
Making french fries McDonald’s style was never easier than with the French Fry Snack Maker. Using foods found at home this was a great way to trick the kids into eating healthy food!
8. Jurassic Park Toys
Jurassic Park the movie was a box office smash. But what about the toys? Here’s proof that dinosaurs roamed kids’ bedrooms up until recent times.
9. My Little Pony
Now very collectable, the My Little Pony toys have drawn a cult following over the years. Based on the original TV series of the early 80s, the toys have morphed in style and design to appeal to new generations.
10. Pogo Balls
Who remembers pogo balls? These toys were brilliant for kids learning how to balance and have fun at the same time. Consisting of a round rubber ball in a plastic disk, the object was to place your feet on the plastic and stand (or bounce if you were good enough).
11. The first consoles and pocket games
Game Boy, Atari and Nintendo 1 may look dated, even quaint, now in comparison to Wii and the latest PC computer games. However they were huge in the 80s and 90s, ushering in many hours spent perfecting skills in front of the TV or handheld devices. The precursor of things to come, who would’ve thought these would end up being collectables?
12. Transformers
The toys that inspired a number of films and TV series are now highly collectable. And why not? The beauty of these was their ability to “transform” into vehicles, robots, animals and other figures just by using a bit of imagination.
There you go, a collection of some very iconic toys from recent years. Do you have any of these stored away? Perhaps the kids have grown up and left home and you can’t bear to throw them out? Why not check to see if they are valuable?
There are a number of collectors’ stores now that specialise in the sale of toys from the past. Many consist of valuable toys that our grandparents may have enjoyed, however don’t be surprised if you get a decent price for a rare collectable from the 80s or 90s very soon!