Take a trip to any Toys R Us shop, and chances are you’ll be greeted by more than a thousand choices, most of which are probably toys you and your playmates have only dreamed about in your time. From Android-powered tablets to motion-sensing gadgets, there are so many toys that today’s kids can choose from. But with the successful comeback of Furby, the popular owl-like robotic toy of the ‘90s, you might be wondering if it’s a good idea to wrap your beloved classic toys for your little one instead. Well, why not?
Here’s a roundup of the coolest vintage toys kids would surely enjoy:
- 1. Etch A Sketch – If you want to give your children a non-techie alternative to their iPad or tablet games, then go for Etch a Sketch. Dubbed as the original tablet toy, Etch A Sketch is one of the best known toys of the ‘60s. This mechanical drawing toy features two knobs on the lower corners of the frame. The knobs are twisted to move the stylus to create solid lines or drawings. The left knob controls the stylus horizontally, while the right one controls the stylus vertically. To erase the drawings, all one needs to do is turn the toy upside down and shake it. Etch A Sketch proves that awesome graphics or high-resolution images are not a requirement for kids’ entertainment.
- 2. Multi-coloured wooden xylophone – Anyone who has owned a multi-coloured wooden xylophone in their childhood would probably remember how excellent the instrument is in helping one discover the beauty of making music (and in driving parents mad when you play it for hours on end). Wooden xylophones are fun to play with and have always been proven to encourage musical creativity. Who knows, this may be the first of the many instruments your child would be playing. Be careful, though, about buying one as there are some brands in the market that are so poorly made they can’t even play recognisable melodies.
- 3. Colorforms – Listed as one of the Top 10 Toys of the century, Colorforms is a perfect activity toy to inspire the creativity and imagination of little kids. Colorforms has been around since 1951, which means it’s one of the toy brands that parents and even grandparents trust. Young children can tell stories and express themselves simply by sticking the colourful, vinyl sheet images on the plastic laminated board. Plus, the great thing about Colorforms is that they’re easy to use and not messy at all, something that both kids and parents would definitely appreciate.
- 4. Rocking horses – Hollywood horror films may have given wooden rocking horses a bad reputation, but there’s no doubt that they remain to be one of the best-loved children’s toys of all time. They remind one of an age where people where gentler and where time seemed to pass a lot slower. And if you’re looking for a simple and classic rocking horse for your kid, you can browse from the various choices available online and in stores. However, make sure to buy only from a trusted wood carving specialist. Master woodcarvers know what it takes to produce an exquisite rocking horse, as well as the various techniques to restore old rocking horses.
There’s a reason why these toys are called classic – they simply never go out of fashion!
By Debra Wright
Debra Wright is a creative online writer who supplies cyberspace with interesting and informative write-ups about her favourite topics including Toys for kids. A wide reader and ardent web surfer, she believes she can do anything as long as she has an Internet connection. Follow Debra on twitter @debrawrites…