The top toys parents loved to play with that they’ve passed down to their kids
Play Doh, Mr. Potato Head and Trolls have been named as the toys most likely to stand the test of time, according to new research.
The study of 2,000 American parents examined the toys adults played with as children and which toys are still played with by their kids today — despite a digital revolution.
Other top toys that have been played with throughout the ages and continue to enchant today’s kids include toy phones, bicycles, teddy bears, water blasters and plastic animals.
And whether you grew up in the ’80s, ’90s or beyond, people can’t get enough of board games — Guess Who?, Scrabble, Monopoly, Candy Land and the Game of Life all made the top 30 things played with by both parents and children when growing up.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Mr. Potato Head, who has undergone several iterations of his own, the survey revealed that adults are kids at heart since they still love playing with toys.
Nearly half of parents said their favorite childhood toy is still on the market in some version and 84 percent of those plan on or have purchased that toy for their child.
A favorite toy doesn’t hog the spotlight for long though, since the average “lifespan” as the most-loved toy is 11.3 months.
Part of the reason certain toys wear the crown might have to do with where they come from. Receiving a toy on a birthday or holiday leaves a lasting mark, especially if the present came from a parent, grandparent or aunt.
Sadly, when adults were asked where their most beloved toy was today, the number one response was it had been lost.
Thankfully the panic over a lost toy doesn’t last forever. Forty-five percent of children will lose their favorite toy, but not to fear — 68 percent of lost toys find their way home.
The most common places lost friends turned up were under the bed, in the car, left at a family member or friend’s house, behind the couch or hidden in the kitchen.
When it comes to buying a toy for a child, parents are on the look out for a certain set of qualities.
Three in five parents want a toy that’s educational, but just behind that is a toy’s ability to make their kid laugh (60 percent).
Fifty-nine percent are on the hunt for a toy that’s colorful, while 56 percent look for something interactive.
TOYS THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME (PLAYED WITH BY PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN WHEN GROWING UP)
- Play Doh
- Mr. Potato Head
- Trolls
- My Little Pony
- Furby
- Puzzles
- Toy phone
- Bop It
- Building blocks
- Bicycle
- Yoyo
- Guess Who?
- Water blasters
- Teddy bear
- Scrabble
- Tricycle
- Candy Land
- Game Boy
- Spinning tops
- Toy cash register
- Plastic animals
- Monopoly
- Mouse Trap
- Game of Lif
- Transformers
- Clue
- Baby Alive
- Plastic food/kitchen supplies
- Scattergories
- Perfection
TOP SPOTS LOST TOYS ARE FOUND
- Under the bed
- In the car
- Left a family member or friend’s house
- Behind the couch
- In the kitchen
- In sibling’s room
- In a closet
MOMENTS PARENTS LOOK FORWARD TO WITH THEIR CHILD
- Teaching their child to ride a bike
- Learning to swim
- First beach trip
- Play with toys together
- Have a shared passion
- Dancing
- Start playing a sport
- Playing catch
- Watch a beloved childhood movie
TOYS ADULTS LOVED AS KIDS
- Mr. Potato Head
- Trolls
- Play-Doh
- My Little Pony
- Toy phones
- Furby
- Puzzles
- Building blocks
- Yoyo
- Bicycles
- Bop It
- Teddy bears
- Baby dolls
- Spinning tops
- Candy Land
- Guess Who?
- Tricycle
- Scrabble
- Plastic animals
- Toy cash register
- Yahtzee!
- Monopoly
- Rubber duck
- Clue
- Mouse Trap
- Game of Life
- Plastic food/kitchen supplies
- Perfection
- Scattergories
- Hungry, Hungry Hippos
- Scooter
- Bead maze
- Sorry!
- Operation
- GI Joe
- Super Soakers
- Chutes + Ladders
- Taboo
- Trouble
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