Boomer Toys That Today’s Kids Wouldn’t Understand

Before the age of video games, iPads, touchscreens and VR headsets, playtime looked entirely different — and far less digital. During the Boomer generation’s childhood (born between 1946-1964), toys were simple yet sparked boundless creativity and imagination. Kids spent hours fully immersed in pure, unstructured play — a concept that often feels foreign to today’s tech-savvy generation. Take a nostalgic journey and explore these 14 classic toys that defined Boomer childhoods.

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 Handler and her husband, Elliot

Mr. Potato Head

• Invented in 1949 by George Lerner
• Distributed in 1952 by Hasbro
• Claim to fame: the first toy ever advertised on TV

TONKA Trucks

• Invented in 1947 by Mound Metalcraft Company in Mound, Minnesota
• Mound is located near Lake Minnetonka, hence the name “Tonka”
• TONKA uses 119,000 pounds of yellow paint each year

Play-Doh

• Started as wallpaper cleaner
• Was first used as modeling clay in 1955
• Became known as Play-Doh in 1956

GI Joe

• Introduced in 1964
• Called an “action soldier” or “action figure” instead of a doll
• Originally introduced as an Army soldier but a Navy sailor, Air Force pilot, Marine and NASA astronaut were later added

View-Master

• Originally called Sawyer’s View-Master
• Introduced at the World’s Fair in 1939-40
• First intended to be an adult education tool

Easy-Bake Oven

• Invented by Ronald Howes and introduced in 1963 by Kenner
• Heat source was two 100-watt incandescent bulbs
• Could bake actual edible food

Etch A Sketch

• Introduced at the 1959 International Toy Fair
• First called L’ecran Magique, or The Magic Screen
• Aluminum powder and tiny beads are held to the screen via static charges

Chatty Cathy

• Released in 1960
• Pull-string on her back made Cathy “talk”
• Started with 11 phrases, including “I love you”
• Second most popular doll in the 1960s after Barbie

Hot Wheels

• Debuted in 1968 at the International Toy Fair
• Inspired by California hot rods
• Original batch included 16 cars, called “The Sweet 16”

Cootie

• Invented in 1948 by William H. Schaper of Minnesota
• Was an educational game designed for ages 3-11
• Still a popular game for families