The ’70s Had Many Toys that Bring Back Fond Memories Of The Past

The 1970s was an incredible decade, filled with political intrigue, protests, human rights movements, and of course, disco. While adults of the era were distracted by the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Watergate Scandal, and the rising energy crisis, kids had an entirely different world to explore.

Many people see the Easy-Bake Oven as an awful example of gender roles being forced on kids at a young age. Others see it as a simple, fun toy that allows kids to emulate what they see their parents doing in the kitchen. Regardless of your opinion, there’s no denying that these kid-safe ovens were wildly popular in the 70s.

To anyone who wasn’t a child of the 70s, this doll is downright creepy. It honestly looks like something Stephen King would concoct in his twisted imagination. The basic gist of the thing is that it sits across from you at its little table and copies anything you write or draw on your side. 

These incredible action figures came out in 1977, and understandably, kids at the time went wild for them. Each Micronaut figurine was around 3.5 inches tall, and they featured removable parts that could be swapped around among the characters to create new configurations. 

This interactive water feature was a precursor to video games, giving 70s kids plenty of fun and frustration as they tried to get the rings onto the little spikes. All you could do to move those rings was spurt water using the button and tilt the frame. 

If you’ve ever heard anyone say, “weeble wobble, weeble wobble, don’t fall down,” then you’ve at least tangentially heard of the Weebles. These tiny egg-shaped characters were all the rage throughout the 70s after being released in 1969.

Though they came out in the 60s, Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots remained popular all the way through to the 90s. Of course, kids were more interested in their Super Nintendos and Playstations by then, but these robots could still usually be found lurking in toy chests. 

Speaking of Mattel, the company was coming up with its own remarkable inventions as far back as the 1940s. Though it’s most famous for Barbie, Mattel was also the first toy company to bring slime to the market. 

Is it just us, or are dolls inherently creepy? This one isn’t as disturbing as Katie Kopycat, but we still can’t imagine why anyone would want a fully functioning fake baby. Still, kids of the 70s swooned for Baby Alive – the doll that ate food, threw it up again, and even soiled its diapers. 

You’ve probably seen (or at least heard of) the Trolls film franchise, which kicked off in 2016. What you may not have known is that these cute and quirky little creatures were born way back in the 1950s. They originated in Denmark, and it wasn’t until the 70s that they became an international hit. 

Yes, that’s right – 70s kids literally played with rocks. Not only did they play with them, but they paid a company for “pet rocks.” So, when your parents or grandparents complain that you should be more grateful for the amazing things you’ve enjoyed in life, they probably have a point. 

They may be “rinky-dink” (aka old-fashioned) now, but these melting, shrinking, plastic wonders were a hit when they were released in 1973. These fun, shrinkable trinkets were invented in Wisconsin and released in 1973. A couple of moms were responsible for the invention, which they concocted for their kids’ Boy Scouts troop.

This simple toy came out in 1976, and though each one only cost $11 at the time, it went on to make the Kenner company millions. Stretch Armstrong was made of latex and filled with corn syrup. This odd combo allowed him to stretch up to around four feet wide before he would theatrically snap back into his original form. 

Simon was popular among kids in the 70s, but did you know it was also a crowd favorite at the infamous Studio 54? The electronic party game came out in 1978, giving kids and adults hours of fun following the light patterns and memorizing each step. 

Connect 4 proves that a concept doesn’t have to be complex to take off. While modern gamers do appreciate excellent graphics and immersive environments, we’re willing to bet that even the most hardcore MMORPG fan could get engrossed in a game of Connect 4. 

Believe it or not, this Battleship game was considered pretty high-tech by 70s kids. They had, after all, been playing Battleship with paper and pencils up until that time. Regardless of the tech level of your Battleship game, the object remains the same: sink all your opponent’s ships before they sink yours. 

The whole Nerf concept has evolved greatly since the release of the first Nerf ball in 1969. We have Parker Brothers to thank for “the world’s first indoor ball,” which was made of polyurethane foam. By 1972, Nerf had truly taken off, with the Nerf football released that year. 

Star Wars is perhaps the most famous set of films to arise from the 70s. Still popular today, this epic space opera series transformed the lives of many kids in the 70s. Since the popularity of the franchise has never wavered, original action figures from the 70s are now some of the most valuable collector’s items on the market. 

If you were born in the 80s, 90s, or 2000s, you may not be familiar with the Six Million Dollar Man. However, if you were a child of the 70s, this action figure will give you plenty of nostalgic vibes. 

This magnetic drawing toy was released in 1974, and it was a popular choice for parents due to the fact that anyone could safely play with it. Babies could have fun twisting and turning the nobs, while older kids could get deeply involved in drawing pictures and creating designs. 

Yes, the Etch-a-Sketch was the original magnetic drawing toy, invented in 1960, which incidentally was the peak of the Baby Boom. While it was first released to Boomers when they were still babies, the Etch-a-Sketch maintained its appeal for decades. It even enjoyed a cameo in the Toy Story series. 

The Lite-Brite was another Hasbro invention. Though it was first released in 1967, it was in the 70s that this creative toy truly took off. Each Lite-Brite features a simple grid with backlights behind it. You cover the grid with a black sheet of paper and then push colored pegs into it to create different patterns and pictures. 

While most modern kids have tablets and similar devices to play with, 70s kids had to make do with the Speak & Spell. Of course, they had no idea this toy was low-tech at the time. It’s only in retrospect that we see how far we’ve come. 

Did you know Hungry Hungry Hippos was originally created in Japan? A guy named Fred Kroll bought the rights to the game in the mid-70s and then released it in the United States. Knowing a good thing when they saw it, Milton Bradley soon bought the rights from Kroll.

Who knew this globally popular game was a product of the 70s? Released in 1971, the game was developed by a Cincinnati resident named Merle Robbins. At first, Merle made it to play with friends and family. However, when he saw how much people took to the game, he had 5,000 copies printed and began selling them from his barber shop. 

Mastermind is yet another classic game to have its origin in the 70s. Released in 1973, the board game is still popular today. Indeed, it has inspired a whole host of spin-offs and variations. 

This iconic TV show was wildly popular in the 70s, and any show or movie that gained enough popularity would inspire a set of toys. This meant kids at the time were soon treated to toy versions of the famous red car from Starsky & Hutch. 

Evel Knievel was another iconic 70s figure, which meant he had to have his own set of toys. Kids from the 70s could play with Even Knievel action figures and stunt car sets. The popularity of these toys has never diminished, and they are now valuable collector’s items. 

Cher is still a pop icon to this day. However, many of her newer fans don’t know much about her first husband, Sonny. Before Cher became the “Goddess of Pop,” she was in a folk duo with Sonny. The two enjoyed plenty of success, but their relationship was tumultuous. 

This simple yet marvelously creative geometric drawing tool was invented by a French mathematician in 1881. While it got its start in the world of mathematics, by the 1960s, it was transformed into a toy and marketed to children. With “a million marvelous patterns” to create, the toy took off.

No list of 70s toys could be complete without mention of the famous Rubik’s cube. This colorful cube-shaped puzzle can be arranged into a staggering 43 quintillion unique variations. However, the general goal is to mix it up and then return it to its starting block pattern. 

You know those small, colorful plastic skateboards that gained popularity in the 2000s thanks to their retro aesthetic? Well, they weren’t considered “retro” in the 70s – they were the latest, greatest thing for kids to collect. 

If you love playing Minecraft or Fortnite, it’s worth knowing that these games share a common origin: Pong. Invented by Atari, Pong was the first video game to gain commercial success. This may seem crazy to modern kids since all you do in the game is bat a digital ball back and forth with pixelated paddles. 

One of the first hand-held electronic games, this Classic Football mini-console was a precursor to popular classics like the Gameboy. Released by Mattel in 1977, the game itself was simple. Its true value lies in the gaming legacy that flowed after it. 

Building on the popularity of Pong, Atari released the Atari 2600 console in 1977. This updated gaming system allowed users to play more than just one simple game. Instead, you could choose from a whole library of titles. 

While video games were among the more exciting developments in the 70s, board games were also wildly popular. Considered “old-school” by today’s standards, dice games like Boggle were cutting-edge for kids in the 70s. 

Another board game to gain popularity in the 70s, Ants in the Pants was a great way to keep little ones entertained. The goal of the game was simple: Be the first to jump all your ants into the big plastic pair of pants. 

In 1971, the most coveted Christmas gift was a Space Hopper. These bright and bouncy balls were all the rage, with kids happily leaping all around their gardens and through their neighborhoods. Ask any child of the 70s, and they’ll probably tell you they can still recall the rubbery smell of their beloved Space Hopper.

Here’s another invention that has stood the test of time. What kid wouldn’t want to play with a set of walkie talkies? This is the kind of toy that can probably even drag modern youngsters away from their tablets and their Minecraft biomes. After all, a set of walkie talkies can make you feel like a real-life secret agent. 

LEGO is one of the oldest toys, originating in the 1950s. However, it was in the 70s that LEGO sets began to take off. During this decade, all sorts of new sets were released, allowing kids to create mini worlds in their bedrooms.