Throwback to the must-have toys
While the holidays aren’t all about presents, especially this year, the Christmas Craze of scrambling to get the year’s hottest toy continues, even in a pandemic.
To be fair, 2020 has been challenging on all of us, so looking forward to a few exciting gifts under the tree is nothing to be ashamed of. After everything they’ve been through, I think we can safely say our kids deserve a treat this year.
What will be this year’s top toy? Only time will tell. But before we find out the predictions, let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at each decade’s standouts.
1980
No surprise here. Invented in 1974, the Rubik’s Cube hit the market in 1980 and immediately shot to the top of the charts. Cabbage Patch Kids, Teddy Ruxpin and NES all tried to claw their way to the top, but the tricky puzzle prevailed. Originally sold by Ideal Toy Corp., there have been more than 450 million Rubik’s cubes sold since its launch. According to the puzzle’s creator, Erno Rubik, there are 43 quintillion possible combinations. Can you solve it?
1990
Cowabunga! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles owned the 1990s, with everything from lunchboxes and action figures to T-shirts and trading cards. These heroes in a half shell beat out heavy hitters Barney, Power Rangers, Beanie Babies and even Furby to become the top Christmas toy of 1990. Judging by the shelves at Walmart, TMNT has managed to stay relevant over the years, maintaining their grasp on pizza lovers everywhere.
2000
Ankle chops, anyone? The top toys of 2000 were Razor Scooters, resulting in enough bleeding ankles and skinned knees to carry us through the entire decade. I guess after surviving Y2K, a little thrillseeking was only natural. The unfold-and-go technology combined with the plethora of wheel and handlebar colours led this sweet ride to the top, leaving Beyblades and Bratz dolls in the dust.
2010
Tech officially became king in 2010, the year that Kid Zoom VideoCams and iPads fought for the top spot. The jury is still out on which gadget truly took home the title that year, but they were closely followed by Leap Pads and Nintendo Wiis. It’s really no surprise that elementary school kids are better at technology than us; it’s in their blood.
2020
So what will take the top spot this year? My guess is LOL Dolls or whatever a Squishmallow is, but your guess is as good as mine.
The Spruce is a digital magazine covering everything from decorating and gardening to home repair and howtos. Each year, Spruce editors review and recommend products, including must-have toys. Their predictions for the top Christmas toys of 2020 include Lego Super Mario, Kinetic Sand, HedBandz, and of course, anything Baby Yoda.
Whatever is under your tree this year, I hope you have a wonderful and safe Christmas.