It's beginning to look a lot like the 1960s

If you were a kid in the 1950s, you and your friends probably dog-eared the pages of the Sears Holiday Wish Book to be the first on your block to get a Frisbee or a hula hoop or a Mr. PotatoHead. The decade also introduced matchbox cars and the goo of parent nightmares - Play-doh and Silly Putty.

The Victoria Times Colonist
December 4, 2012

In the '60s, Barbie strutted her stuff in her fashionable outfits and accessories. Colourful Hot Wheels and Lego, the Easy Bake Oven and Etch-A-Sketch, Twister games and Troll Dolls dominated holiday shopping lists. GI Joe marched into homes and Lite Brite illuminated creativity.

By the time the 1970s and 1980s rolled around, popular toys were plentiful. Movies and TV started influencing the way we shopped. Star Wars action figures and Space Lego capitalized on fantasies of space exploration. Care Bears, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers and all things Ghostbuster and Batman were the rage. Cabbage Patch Kids became the first toy to inspire an all-out buying frenzy, to be followed by not-so-tickled parents waiting hours to buy Tickle Me Elmo in the '90s.

Since 1990, the must-have toys have included Beanie Babies, Power Rangers, Furby and Game Boy. The 2000s brought Beyblades, Bratz and Bob the Builder.

The toys of our childhood had and continue to have such a profound impact on us. The best-loved of these re-appear every few years and 2012 is one of those years.

According to Fiona Yang, a toys buyer for Sears Canada, "everything old is new again this year."

TOP TOYS OF THE SEASON

. Furby: an automatronic toy that adapts to your child's personality and learns to interact

. Barbie Princess and the Popstar Tori: from the all-new Barbie musical

. Hot Wheels Tracks Demolition Drop: the classic toy that's used gravity to update its play sets

. Lego: Star Wars, Republic Striker Class Starfighter - two retro two trends that have never gone out of style, Lego Star Wars sets are great gift finds for collectors and first-time enjoyers alike

. Beyblades Metal Fury Destroyer Dome: originally on the market over 12 years ago, with new ways to battle these toys have seen a resurgence.

You can check out the 60th Anniversary Wish Book online at www.sears.ca.

- www.newscanada.com