Toy Fads That Hooked Us
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![Zhu Zhu Pets]( "Zhu Zhu Pets")
Zhu Zhu Pets
Formerly known as Furbies, these multi-hued, befuzzed, motorized robots had us at chirps like Hee-haw!
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![Silly Bandz]( "Silly Bandz")
Silly Bandz
Multi-colored rubber bracelets shaped like anything and everything? What's not to like about entertaining your kids for only $2.99-ish?
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![Bakugan]( "Bakugan")
Bakugan
A zillion-dollar franchise built around small round plastic magnets that unfurl to reveal monsters on metal surfaces.
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![Beanie Babies]( "Beanie Babies")
Beanie Babies
Who didn't collect these saggy cuties in the '90s? And believe it or not, these PVC-pellet stuffed animal bean bags still fetch upwards of $375 on eBay!
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![Skip-It]( "Skip-It")
Skip-It
If you are even remotely coordinated, this rotatable, plastic ankle ball can give you one heck of a workout!
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![Furbies]( "Furbies")
Furbies
This owly-looking Zhu Zhu predecessor forecasted more than $300M in sales back in 1999 and spoke Furbish, plus 40, count 'em, 40 other languages!
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![Giga Pets/Tamagotchi]( "Giga Pets/Tamagotchi")
Giga Pets/Tamagotchi
A handheld egg that eats and plays, providing kids with a digital spin on the circle of life.
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![Barbie]( "Barbie")
Barbie
The original blonde plastic icon and her spiffy entourage have helped little girls play big for over 50 years.
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![Pokemon]( "Pokemon")
Pokemon
The endless array of cards, video games and accessories can ignite a young kid's imagination for hours upon hours. And seriously, how much fun would it be to sit around conjuring names like Pikachu, Koffing and Weezing all day?
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![Colorforms]( "Colorforms")
Colorforms
See a laminated board? Stick vinyl shapes, forms and figures on that laminated board where you can make them do all kinds of things. So simple, yet oh-so entertaining.
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![Magic 8 Ball]( "Magic 8 Ball")
Magic 8 Ball
An eight ball that tells your fortune through the arbitrary positioning of a floating octagon? Talk about a profound lesson in synchronicity!
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![Ouija Board]( "Ouija Board")
Ouija Board
Without a scientific explanation for exactly how this portal channels messages from the great beyond, color us M..Y..S..T..I..F..I..E..D.
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![Easy-Bake Oven]( "Easy-Bake Oven")
Easy-Bake Oven
The notion of cooking actual food by light bulb is every bit as fun and fascinating today as it was in 1963.
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![Baby Alive Doll]( "Baby Alive Doll")
Baby Alive Doll
Little girls just can't resist mothering a baby doll that can drink, burp, giggle, and coo just like they used to.
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![Pick Up Sticks]( "Pick Up Sticks")
Pick Up Sticks
This game may be just what it sounds like — 50 multi-colored sticks that you have to pick up — but playing is a terrific way for kids to hone fine motor skills.
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![Lego]( "Lego")
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![Tech Dech]( "Tech Dech")
Tech Dech
An early lesson in cool, these cute mini-skateboard replicas are designed to encourage your mini-Tony Hawk to scale mini-skate ramps with their ever-so dexterous mini-fingers.
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![Bok Choy Boys]( "Bok Choy Boys")
Bok Choy Boys
Emblazoned with random elements and Chinese symbols to evoke the stuff of legends, these colorful, collectible vending machine martians are an el cheapo way to ignite the imagination.
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![Webkinz]( "Webkinz")
Webkinz
They may look like your run-of-the-mill adorable stuffed animals, but the ability to adopt and nurture Webkinz online forges a sweet, special connection for your kid.
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![Cabbage Patch Dolls]( "Cabbage Patch Dolls")
Cabbage Patch Dolls
Between the dolls and various spinoffs, the Cabbage Patch brand was the obsession of a generation, raking in around $2 billion in sales since the '80s!
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![Bobblehead Dolls]( "Bobblehead Dolls")
Bobblehead Dolls
Whether you're prepared to acknowledge it or not, watching a large head float atop a really small body can be kind of funny.
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![Pet Rocks]( "Pet Rocks")
Pet Rocks
Any marketer that convinces thousands to BUY ROCKS earns snaps for his or her sheer genius.
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![Lincoln Logs]( "Lincoln Logs")
Lincoln Logs
Rugged, rustic and charmingly old school, what school-age kid can resist the lure of designing their own little cabin retreat?
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![Baldeez]( "Baldeez")
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![Boinks]( "Boinks")
Boinks
These mesh finger traps, available in a vast array of bright, primary colors, make for an inviting challenge to anyone in the single-digit age bracket.
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![Garbage Pail Kids]( "Garbage Pail Kids")
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![Atari 2600]( "Atari 2600")
Atari 2600
One must pay reverence to the granddaddy of all electronic games, because without this bad boy, there would be no Mario Kart.
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![Bananagrams]( "Bananagrams")
Bananagrams
A variation on the Scrabble concept, this spelling game is totally portable (always a plus for parents!) and can be enjoyed by 1-8 players.
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![Oball Stranz]( "Oball Stranz")
Oball Stranz
This hollow ball made with faux-plastic string is easy to catch — the perfect esteem booster for younger ball players!
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![AirZooka]( "AirZooka")
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![Thomas the Tank Engine]( "Thomas the Tank Engine")
Thomas the Tank Engine
The epic blue wooden choo-choo and his free-tooting comrades consume a considerable amount of space in every preschooler boy's brain.
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![Nerf Anything]( "Nerf Anything")
Nerf Anything
Foam balls that you can whip, hurl and toss with all your might without costly residual damage? True love for both kids and parents!
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![Transformers]( "Transformers")
Transformers
It's a monster! No — it's a monster truck! Wait — it's a monster! Transformers retained their cool status for over 25 years while impressively making their mark on the film, TV and publishing industries.
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![Marshmallow Shooters]( "Marshmallow Shooters")
Marshmallow Shooters
An automated way to whip a marshmallow at your brother with all your might? Priceless!
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![Skuut]( "Skuut")
Skuut
One cruise on this eco-friendly wooden balance bike and you'll hear your proud trainee shout, "Look mom! No pedals!"
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![FurReal Friends]( "FurReal Friends")
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![Flying Turtle]( "Flying Turtle")
Flying Turtle
A scooter that consists of a bicycle seat, handle bars and a bar that holds them together. Wheeeeeee!
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![Splatster]( "Splatster")
Splatster
A wireless paintbrush that allows you to virtually paint, draw, splat, spin, spray and play on your TV screen? Woot! Who isn't madly in love with no-mess art supplies?
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![Life/Monopoly]( "Life/Monopoly")
Life/Monopoly
With all kinds of nifty design boosts and customizations, Life (age 150!) and Monopoly (age 75!) are no-fail ways to stay entertained on rainy days.
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![Polly Pockets]( "Polly Pockets")
Polly Pockets
These tiny dolls and their tiny little worlds are not only adorable, but they're also fantastically collectible and won't dominate the toy bin.
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![Big Wheel]( "Big Wheel")
Big Wheel
A middle-aged classic constructed of lightweight plastic, this trike gave many of us our first taste of the open road. No wonder it's the No. 1 selling ride of all time!
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![Fisher Price Corn Popper]( "Fisher Price Corn Popper")
Fisher Price Corn Popper
This classic plastic/wooden push toy has simultaneously captivated and thrilled toddlers for over half a century.
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![Silly Putty]( "Silly Putty")
Silly Putty
An oldie but goodie from 1943, Silly Putty is comprised of a palm-sized, flesh-colored, sticky silicone-based substance that can both alleviate stress and lift images from newsprint!
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![Troll Dolls]( "Troll Dolls")
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![Pogs]( "Pogs")
Pogs
In the '90s, we couldn't get enough of a game comprised of slamming bottle-cap-like cardboard discs on tables. Why? Because it's way too much fun to slam things!
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![Raggedy Ann/Andy]( "Raggedy Ann/Andy")
Raggedy Ann/Andy
Your great-grandma had one. Your grandma had one. You had one. Now your kid has one. After 95 years on the planet, the quintessential redheads cannot be denied their rightful place on this list.
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![Calico Critters]( "Calico Critters")
Calico Critters
Kids love these teeny, tiny little fuzzy animals and their delicate array of teeny, tiny accoutrements so much, they make big bank!
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![Razor Scooter]( "Razor Scooter")
Razor Scooter
How DO our children learn to balance and ride two metal bars with two small wheels so fast?
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![Mr. Potato Head]( "Mr. Potato Head")
Mr. Potato Head
Another oldie but goodie, the art of placing facial features, limbs and accessories on a plastic potato never wears on a newly nimble two-year-old.
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![Monchhichi]( "Monchhichi")
Monchhichi
These cute thumb-sucking dolls have charmed millions since their inception in '70s Japan — and they're STILL for sale!
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Zhu Zhu Pets
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Silly Bandz
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Bakugan
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Beanie Babies
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Skip-It
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Furbies
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Giga Pets/Tamagotchi
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Barbie
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Pokemon
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Colorforms
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Magic 8 Ball
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Ouija Board
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Easy-Bake Oven
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Baby Alive Doll
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Pick Up Sticks
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Lego
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Tech Dech
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Bok Choy Boys
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Webkinz
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Cabbage Patch Dolls
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Bobblehead Dolls
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Pet Rocks
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Lincoln Logs
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Baldeez
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Boinks
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Garbage Pail Kids
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Atari 2600
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Bananagrams
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Oball Stranz
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AirZooka
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Thomas the Tank Engine
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Nerf Anything
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Transformers
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Marshmallow Shooters
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Skuut
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FurReal Friends
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Flying Turtle
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Splatster
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Life/Monopoly
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Polly Pockets
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Big Wheel
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Fisher Price Corn Popper
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Silly Putty
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Troll Dolls
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Pogs
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Raggedy Ann/Andy
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Calico Critters
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Razor Scooter
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Mr. Potato Head
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Monchhichi
