Old Skool Toys

December 02, 2010, By Buzz Bishop 2 comments

My brother and I used to spend Saturday mornings crowded around an old Fisher Price city set. We’d face the two sides of the street to each other and load them up with plastic army guys in a mock battle. Hours of fun - hours.

That was 30 years ago.

This morning, my son and niece played out a similar scenario in my parents’ den using the same Fisher Price set my brother and I tossed around as kids.

Are my parents hoarders? Maybe. You should see my father’s garage. But they’ve been selective about what they chose to keep.

There’s the Fisher Price gear, some Matchbox cars, some dollhouse pots and pans and a deep trough of Lego pieces.

Watching the kids play with my old toys, I was struck, once again, by the magic of the old Fisher Price toys. They make sounds without batteries. The lights change by spinning a dial, not with electronics. Sure, the edges are a little sharp, and the little people have been recalled after being deemed a choking hazard, but the durability of the toys and their effectiveness to inspire 30 years later remains.

I’m the guy who recommends you get an iPad for your preschooler for Christmas, yet in the same breath I know that device has a shelf life of barely two years, let alone 30.

A friend opined on Facebook this week “Apparently, babies prefer empty water bottles, Tupperware & bottle caps vs expensive toys! Who knew???”

It got me to thinking, what toys from today would you put in a box for your grandchildren?

Thomas The Tank Engine gear would make a good saver. The stuff is expensive enough to try and get a second generation’s imagination going with it, but it’s also plain wood and solid. They are simple toys that will stand the test of time and also bring back nostalgia for your kids when they see their kids playing with them.

My son loves playing with his big Bruder fire engine and recycle truck. He’s tossed them around hard enough to show the toys have life in them beyond his few years.

Most of the toys I’d save from today, however, are just modern editions of the same ones my mom saved from the 70s. Lego sets, Matchbox racers and board games.

The themes of the toys that last are all the same - basic, sturdy, simple toys that force the child’s imagination to be the leading star of playtime.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. For some additional ideas on what your little one might like this holiday season, click here.

What were your favorite toys as a kid that you’ve passed along to your children? What will you save for your grandkids?