Popular Toys - Are They Forever Green?

From the time toys first began to be manufactured by commercial companies the most popular toys have made their way into children's hearts. Some ageless toys, including the best toddler toys will often be passed down through several children, surviving multiple owners because they are sturdy in their construction and fun in their design. Lego blocks and Barbie dolls, for instance, have remained popular since their creation and have evolved for new generations of children. Today Lego even makes robotic toys while Barbie has "traveled" the world in her own jet and snazzy convertible.

So why are toys popular? Or, more to the point, why do some toys become popular for a long time while the appeal of others quickly disappears? It's hard to say. Certainly toys that are well built, educational and easy for children to use will do better than those of lesser quality and interest. Parents recognize good toys in terms of value for the price and engagement on the part of the child and make recommendations to other parents based on those observations. Often the toys that rapidly decrease in popularity are those associated with the release of a film or the debut of a television program. Once the "buzz" about the movie or show is over, children lose interest in the toy.

Scrabble

Scrabble has been one of the most popular board games since its creation in 1938. Practically everyone has played Scrabble at some point in their lives and many homes have a copy of the game in their cupboard. Word games attract players at many skill levels and adults can easily "dumb down" their word choices to the skill level of younger children. Scrabble is an excellent game to teach words and spelling to children but also offers highly competitive play for older wordsmiths.

Lincoln Logs

Lincoln Logs were created in 1917 and have remained a popular toy in the intervening 89 years. The notched logs, roof and chimney pieces allow children to construct log cabins or if the set is large enough, whole settlements. Paired with action figures or toy animals, a Lincoln Log set can provide children with hours of entertainment in imaginary communities of their own creation.

Lionel Trains

Lionel trains were originally produced by the Lionel Corporation, which was founded in 1900. It sold the product rights to its trains to General Mills in 1969. Lionel trains are a popular collector's item with a lifespan that far exceeds the duration of childhood. Train enthusiasts lay out complex railroad routes with intricate miniature settings on tabletops and in specially constructed rooms, making Lionel and other "toy" trains a passion for a lifetime.

Trivial Pursuit

Trivial Pursuit, introduced in 1979 by Scrabble enthusiasts Scott Abbott and Chris Haney has remained popular because the sets of questions and answers have been continually updated and specialized allowing for multiple variation of the game. Now special editions like Simpson's Trivia and Star Wars Trivia are best-selling party time favorites for "kids" of all ages.

Mr. Potato Head

Mr. Potato Head continues to be one of the most popular toys around as it helps children use their imagination to create different fun figures. The potato head, itself, is blank. Children add different attachable plastic parts to make a face. First invented in the 1940s and sold to a breakfast cereal manufacturer, Hasbro later took up the product.

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