Remember the most popular toys of the 60s

With no computers or smartphones, kids these days have no clue the amount of fun that could be had with a single doll or a barrel of plastic monkeys. Toys of the 1960s might have been simple but they definitely weren’t boring. While many toys of this decade have now been discontinued, others, such as the ever-popular Barbie doll, have withstood the test of time. Here are a few of the more nostalgic toys that you’ll definitely remember playing with when you were a child!

Chatty Cathy

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The release of this unique doll was incredibly exciting for little girls everywhere because Chatty Cathy was the first doll that could actually speak to you. All you had to do was pull the string on her back and she would spurt out one of her many phrases including “I love you” and “Please take me with you”. Chatty Cathy’s incredible popularity even gave Barbie dolls a run for their money but not even a life-like, speaking baby doll could outsell the most successful toy in the world.

Troll Dolls

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These plastic dolls with their bright and spiky hair became a huge fad in the 60s with every kid asking their parents for one. They had their start in Denmark and grew in popularity around Europe before finally making their way overseas where they were also called good luck trolls and gronk trolls in the United Kingdom. While almost every kid in the ’60s had a troll doll in their overflowing collection of toys, they’re not as common anymore and early makes can now be sold to collectors for more money than you would think!

Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots

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This two-play action game was the perfect way to spend hours on end each weekend. With the two iconic players in the ring, The Red Rocker and the Blue Bomber, the aim of the game was to basically knock the head off your opponent. Although a bit gruesome when you think about it now, this game was the perfect way to assert dominance over your siblings or even settle petty arguments.

Barrel of Monkeys

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Although this game sounds fairly simple, kids would sit around, completely engrossed in the process, for hours. All you had to do was dump the small barrel of about 12 monkeys on the table and carefully hook them together until they made the perfect chain. But if you’ve played this addictive game before you’ll also understand the frustration of getting so close to the end before one monkey slips out and it’s all the way back to the start you go!

Chatter Telephone

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This roll along pull toy was a must have for young children everywhere. Not only could they make pretend phone calls on it but they could also roll it behind them everywhere they went. It had a big smiling face and eyes that moved up and down when it moved. And of course, who could forget the overly-loud chattering noise that filled the house whenever someone took it for a roll around!

Easy-bake Oven

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There’s a reason why so many baby boomers such talented cooks and it’s probably thanks to this invention. This fully-functioning toy oven used a light-bulb as a heat source to bake goods like cakes, brownies and cookies. Even though the end product wasn’t exactly a gourmet meal, kids fell in love with this fairly adult toy that came with a range of recipes, utensils and cake mixes. 

Army Men

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Possibly one of the most iconic and over-used toys for little boys were these tiny, plastic army men. Even though they were small and their stance was permanent, these little men were the inspiration of hours of imaginative play. These also seemed to be the perfect choice for parents as they were dirt cheap and could be bought in bulk. They’ve definitely stood the test of time since they were first made in 1938 with many children today probably still having a few of these little green men lying around.

Do you remember these? What’s was your favourite toy as a child?