Toys from our childhoods hold a special place in our hearts, evoking a sense of nostalgia and cherished memories from times gone by. Some toys are probably better left in the past - like those plastic Sky Dancer dolls that would fly rapidly in unpredictable directions and injure everyone within a two-mile radius - but others we'd be delighted to welcome back into our lives. Thankfully, you can still get your hands on all of the retro toys you loved as children, and they'd even had a glow-up, to, erm, comply with the current UK toy safety regulations...
In an age dominated by technology, there's a unique charm in the tactile nature of retro toys. Whether it's the satisfying click of a Tamagotchi or the comforting weight of a Furby, these toys offer a tangible connection to the past, and they can now be part of your child's story, too. They serve as a delightful reminder that joy doesn't always come from tapping on an iPad screen.
Gone are the days of circling your top toy picks for Christmas in the Argos catalogue on your living room floor (sob), but, we've rounded up our favourite retro toys that you can buy for your mini-me today. Sit back and get ready to bask in the nostalgia.
SHOP: The Best Retro Toys
Tamagotchi has had the ultimate makeover, redesigned and reimagined by the original game designers from the '90s. Loaded with brand-new animations, graphics, and a larger speaker for clearer and more realistic sounds, this might be our favourite retro return.
Beanie Babies became wildly popular in the '90s, causing an absolute collecting frenzy. Your favourite soft toys are back with some new, super cute designs.
We have a love-hate relationship with Furbies. However, the new Furbys are thankfully much cuter and a lot less creepy. With more than 600 responses, the new Furby chats, sings, lights up and even responds to speech.
These tiny playsets featured a diverse range of themes, from castles to malls, capturing children's imaginations worldwide. Your child can explore the wonderful world of Polly Pocket in this unicorn-shaped set.
The original Stretch Armstrong is back! Take a step back in time with this toy that you can stretch, pull and tie in knots.
www.argos.co.uk
Sitting in front of the TV, eating cereal, watching Sesame Stree- what we wouldn't do to go back to those simpler times. The Sesame Street Elmo Slide plush toy dances and plays 'The Elmo Slide' song, encouraging kids to dance along.
www.argos.co.uk
This authentic Ninja Turtle van opens from the front and the back, with room for all four Turtles and even Splinter. The battle action begins when you press the pizza slice on top and the side door swings open. Press again, and the pizza launcher slides out of the side. It's action-packed.
If you were a '90s gamer, you know that it doesn't get better than the old-school Nintendo. This Nintendo Classic is compatible with your TV, marrying '90s vibes with the quality. of today's TVs. It is a great little console for some family fun.
9.
YOYO Ball
Everyone wanted to be a yo-yo master - many tried, and many unfortunately failed. Save your child the tears with this cool yo-ball, which always returns to you, making it much easier to practice those age-old tricks.
What was that rumour? Rub them together, and they have babies. While we can neither confirm nor deny any cases of that actually happening, we are pleased to see you can still purchase these slimy aliens.
These tiny aquatic creatures hatch from dehydrated eggs and have captured children's fascination since the 1950s. Does your child want a pet? Hello, Sea Monkeys. Easy to take care of and entertaining to watch, they're great for teaching children about responsibility.
Super Mario meets Scalextric. Spend the afternoon racing your little one around this Mario-themed track.
www.argos.co.uk
If a Mr Frosty machine wasn’t on your Christmas list as a kid, did you even grow up in the '90s?
Your little one can keep all their secrets in this journal, and while it’s not exactly the same as the one you probably had as a child, the secret lock is giving serious millennial vibes.
We know what you are thinking. Isn’t this the flying doll that they were talking about earlier? Well, yes, it is, but the most important feature of this fly doll is that she automatically stops if she touches anything, saving our pets/hair/ornaments from danger. This doll also lights up, her wings flutter_,_ and she is USB rechargeable – talk about a glow-up.
16.
Spirograph
www.waterstones.com
This commemorative edition set is a reproduction of the original—just like you remember—featuring throwback packaging and retro graphics! With all the iconic wheels and rings of the original, the precision engineered Spirograph® gears work with the 3 design pens included, as well as with most standard pens, felt tips and pencils. Spirograph® putty holds the pieces securely on paper to create intricately beautiful designs with no holes.
Sylvanian families are BACK, so get some more and if you've still got them in your loft, get them down to get involved. We love this little campervan set. Tuck the whole family in for a night under the stars as two adult figures, two child figures, one baby figure and two twin figures can all sleep in the Family Campervan - the seats recline into beds! Obsessed. The kitchen stored under the dashboard contains a frying pan, corncob and grilled fish for cooking fun and the child mountain bike, baby bicycle and fishing rod can be stored in the rear carrier - ideal for getting on the road to move onto the next adventure.
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Hannah Carroll is a Parenting, Lifestyle and Home Product writer for Grazia, specialising in product testing and reviews. With three children, Hannah loves testing the latest industry products on her own family.