13 Toys Boomers Loved That Are Still Popular Today
If there's one generation that remembers what it was like to enjoy creative play without the use of smartphones, tablets, and virtual reality, it's the baby boomers. For those in the baby boomer generation (born between 1946 and 1964), toys were more than just distractions. They were a gateway to creativity, cooperation, and community.
It's a different world for young kids today. According to a report from Common Sense Media, 40% of toddlers have their own tablet by the time they're two. Many major toy stores, like Toys 'R Us, have started to disappear. Some of the toys that boomers loved are no longer available, but that's not the case for every toy.
Gen Z, or the generation born between 1997 and 2012, knows what it's like to grow up glued to screens, and some of them are vowing to raise their kids differently. Any parent who still takes their kids through the toy aisles knows that there are many classic toys that kids still enjoy.
For boomers, these classic toys shaped their childhoods and left a lasting impression. Experience some nostalgia with us as we revisit these 14 beloved toys that still fuel imaginations through creative play.
Slinky
Invented in 1943 by Richard and Betty James
Released in 1945
Known for its ability to walk down stairs
Hula Hoop
Marketed by Wham-O in 1958
Patented in 1963
Inspired by a wooden hoop children played with in Australia
Barbie Dolls
Invented by Ruth Handler
Released in 1959 by Mattel
Mattel was founded by Ruth Handler, her husband Elliot Handler, and Harold Matson
