Lifestyle

Once upon a time… in a world without technology

By Anita Hammond | May 1, 2016

A few days ago, I was taking some time out with a friend at my local cafe to indulge in my favourite pastimes: eating and socializing. Opposite the cafe is a park with plenty of room to run around and a playground for those who enjoy the slide or monkey bars. I couldn’t help but notice a mother pleading with her two kids to go out and enjoy the facilities. But to no avail. They wanted the iPad.

As a product of Gen Y, although I loved sports and playing outside as a child, I quickly and lovingly bonded with the endless amounts of gadgets and gizmos, nintendos, electronics, phones and iPads that surrounded me. Have today’s kids skipped the fun of toys and landed in technology space already?

So I question, what were children doing before Apps? What were the popular toys throughout the decades? Which have lasted the test of time? And what is available today that doesn’t involve copious amounts of screen time?

With a bit or research and asking around, these are my findings:

1930’s

Monopoly

Whist the actual game of Monopoly can be traced back to the early 1900’s, Monopoly was a popular game in the 1930’s and fortunately, still is today.

Bagatelle Game

A Bagatelle is a game with a glass top to stop the balls from coming out. The aim is to get the balls into the hole.

Image via The People History

1940’s

The Slinky

A navel engineer named Richard James designed a spring to support and stabilize sensitive equipment aboard ships. The way the slinky moved soon became a hit and a popular trick played by many.

Image via Reader’s Digest

Bubble Solution

Brilliant idea in the 40’s, still a brilliant idea now!

1950’s

Hula Hoops

Hula hoops were extremely popular in the 1950s. Not only with children, but adults too.

Play-Doh

Play-Doh, originally wall paper cleaner in the 1930s, became a children’s popular molding toy in 50s.

Image Via Good News Weekly

Barbie

Ruth Handler inspired by her ‘young daughter Barbara’s fascination with teenage life and love for fashion dolls’ (Quote via Barbie Media) introduced Barbie in March 1959. Barbie still remains a popular item at children’s stores today.

1960’s

Paddle ball

A paddle ball is a ball attached with a thin rubber cord to a paddle. The aim is to hit the ball as many times as you can to the paddle. Millions were sold in the 50’s and 60’s

Image via Retro Planet

Etch and Sketch

Introduced in the 1960’s and one of the most popular toys of that decade. I personally loved this in the 90s and remember taking it on long car rides.

Image via Toy Tales

1970’s

Rubik’s Cube

A mathematical, multi- coloured puzzle established in 1974 and became one of the world’s most sold toys.

Image via The History of the Rubik’s Cube

Baby Alive

The lifelike doll that was introduced in 1973. Baby Alive was in demand in the the mid 70s and despite already eating, drinking and excreting wastes, she eventually began to even talk. (A little too life-like, perhaps?)

1980’s

Guess who

A two- player game. The winner guesses the mystery face.

Image via Good News Weekly

Cabbage patch Dolls

The Cabbage Patch Dolls each came with a name and birth certificate and became a massive hit in the 80s and the #1 Christmas gift in 1983

1990’s

Tamagotchi

Who could forget the virtual reality pet? Now there is an App Version (of course).

Image via Popsugar

Gak

So weird, yet such a sensation in the 90s.

In the 21st Century so far…

2000’s

Bratz Dolls

Bratz dolls were a massive success in the 2000s. Released in 2001, millions of dolls were sold as well as accompanying items including movies and cds.

Image via ToysRus

Zhu Zhu Pets

These robotic hamster toys were very popular and named the hottest toy of the holiday season in 2009 ( Time Magazine) as they mimicked the cute attributes of a hampster.