These are the most popular retro toys for Christmas from the 1960s to 2000s
The humble bicycle is the most popular retro Christmas gift of years gone by, having appeared on more letters to Santa between the 1960s and 2000s than any other type of toy.
Cult British motor racing system, Scalextric, followed in second place, closely followed by the ultimate construction toy, Lego.
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Hide AdMeanwhile, Barbies and roller-skates followed in fourth and fifth place.
Wholesome family favourites which encouraged group play, such as Monopoly and footballs, were the sixth and seventh most requested retro toys from this period.
Crafty favourite, Etch-A-Sketch, while popular soldier franchise, Action Man, followed in eighth and ninth place.
Meccano’s mechanical construction sets completed the list of the top 10 toys kids of the‘90s through to the 2000s asked Santa for.
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Hide AdWhile these toys stood the test of time, each decade also saw its own trends emerging.
The lists kids sent to Santa in the 1960s were dominated by Scalextric and Barbie dolls, while the 70s saw Action Man and Etch-a-Sketch rise to popularity.
Care Bears, My Little Ponies and iced-drink maker Mr. Frosty were the most popular toys of the 80s.
The 90s saw a shift into technology and gadget-based gifts, with the Nintendo Game Boy, Tamagotchis and Furbies all proving big winners amongst kids of the time.
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Hide AdThe research does, however, suggest times are changing, with 38% of modern parents claiming their children have asked Santa for money and gift cards this year.
“Most of us will also remember the times Santa hasn’t quite got the hint about a toy we really wanted, so it’s understandable that many children are keen to take matters into their own hands with a gift card from Santa. For younger kids, it actually can be educational to go out shopping and in fact this can become a part of the festive fun for families.”
The Top 10 Retro Toys of Christmases Past
Bike
Scalextric
Lego appeared
Barbies in fourth place
Roller skates
Monopoly
A football
Etch a Sketch
Action Man
Meccano
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