The 70s were definitely a decade of big changes across the globe and the boy’s toy market was no exception. Products became much more complex and the emergence of brands that still fuel young male imaginations really took flight during those years. It wasn’t about wooden guns or cowboys and Indians anymore, there were a much wider variety of toys for boys to choose from. Let’s take a look.

GI Joe – This was the decade that GI Joe took off and offered a way for boys to play with ‘dolls’ like their sisters did and still not feel like weenies. They called them ‘action figures’ and they were a big part of the decade. Back then, GI Joe was still in his large form and looked a lot like Barbie, plus he had a huge range of outfits, weapons and vehicles to play with. Clearly, Joe made an impression because the brand lives on with collectors today.

Tonka – We’ve all seen those big yellow trucks, the durable ones made to last. Well, it was the 70s we can thank because Tonka ruled the day when it came to toys perfect for playing outside with. These practically indestructible toy dumptrucks, bulldozers and cranes were the big dream for a lot of boys on Christmas.

Atari Flashback

Atari – Let’s not forget that home arcades made their entry to the world in the 70s. Pong and plenty of other huge hit games became a big part of the family room. These video games may have been simple, but in their day they really lit up the imaginations of boys and girls alike, though boys were the ones who made them especially popular.

Star Wars – The hit movie from George Lucas closed the decade with a boom in the toy market thanks to Lucas’ merchandising genius. Action figures of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Chewbacca and even Princess Leia became must-have toys for boys of all ages. Once again, these toys are huge hits with collectors worldwide and have been for more than three decades.

When it comes to RC toys, 2009 has definitely been a banner year with plenty of innovation and a huge variety of great new vehicles hitting the market just in time for the holidays. Let’s take a look at three of the very best from this year:

HPI Savage X – This flame covered RC monster truck came out of the starting gates ready to crush all competition. The low center of gravity and improved design of the last HPI Savage has created a beast of a machine perfect for getting optimal lap times. With its 4.6cc engine, you can expect speeds of up to 44 miles per hour and a whole lot of durability behind that speed. You aren’t going to need to make a lot of repairs because this machine can make amazing jumps or even slam into just about anything without taking damage. Once you factor in all of the after market gadgets you can pop onto the Savage X it’s easy to see why this truck topped its category in 2009.

Traxxas Nitro 4 Tec – When you look at a sports car, RC or otherwise, you think of speed and a whole lot of it. Well, the Nitro 4 Tec from Traxxas proves why this company has become a legend in this industry. The sleek and sporty car blasts at up to 75 miles per hour! With electric starting and single handed operation, you can expect this model to tear up the track no matter where you take it, but you better be ready for its high maintenance needs. Not only will you need 8 AA batteries for its radio, you need a 7.2v for car itself plus 20% nitro fuel. Still, for 75mph it’s worth it.

Mini G200 Micro Helicopter

Mini G200 Micro Helicopter – In 2009 we saw a lot of great innovations and the RC micro helicopter market really heated up. The G200 is stable, light weight and incredibly easy to handle. This model’s perfect for those still learning their heli control chops because it’s difficult to damage. It can fly low to the ground and still keep from getting banged up. It’s got a lightning quick reaction time and can do well on any aero course. Plus, it comes put together so there’s no building to do.

Ultimate Buzz Lightyear

The Ultimate Programmable Buzz Lightyear Figure by Thinkway Toys, can now come to life in amazing ways. He is now a walking, talking animated Buzz Lightyear. This figure responds to voice commands, either with response phrases, or movements. He even speaks with a synchronized lip movement. Your child can play with him in Toy mode or Space Ranger mode for different voice phrases.

Fisher-Price 3-in-1 Smart Sports

Fisher-Price offers yet another TV-interactive game system with the 3 in 1 Smart Sports. This includes the base unit, a baseball bat, golf club and tennis racket attachment. There are 9 interactive games with various levels of play. Kids will enjoy swinging away while interacting and boosting their brain along with the physical exercise.

Nanover Nanoscope

The Nanover Nanoscope is a digital hand held game device that kids can play with together while online. Up to 4 Nanoscopes can be played at once, and over 100 Nanover monsters can be collected for battles. The device has a variety of games that you can choose from. This is a great gift for boys ages 7 through 12.

Spin Master Air Hogs SwitchBlade

The Spin Master Air Hogs SwitchBlade is a remote control hybrid flying machine. It is part helicopter and part airplane. It takes off using rotating blades like a helicopter, but then there is a morph button that is selected and the wings align which then causes it to fly like a regular airplane. This is a highly durable toy for children 6 years and up.

Techno Source Rubik’s Touch Cube

After thirty years of Rubik’s Cube puzzling even mensa members, Techno Source has produced a Rubik’s Touch Cube. This version does not require twisting and turning the cubes to solve the puzzle. Instead, it’s all electronic and all you need to do is run your finger on the line of cubes you would like to move and they will digitally change for you.

WowWee Roborover - 8405

The wowwee Roborover is a fun and easy robot buddy. He’s always ready to explore. He takes commands via a remote control unit, which help him become bold and comfortable with the environment. The more your child interacts with him the more sophisticated his personality and speech become. He is an advanced robot toy that any child age 9 to 12 would love to own.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Figures

The Ultimate Fighting Championship figures are the most complete and official line of deluxe figures resembling the wrestler of the MMA Fight organization. There is a wave 0 and a wave 1 series to the new line of figures and include poseable figures resembling Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar, Chuck Liddell, Anderson Silva, Rampage Jackson, Forrest Griffin and Royce Gracie.

Tag Junior

Tag Junior Pal by Leapfrog is designed for young explorers, aged 24 months to 4 years old. Using a character based, handheld electronic device, your toddler can touch it to the various board books anywhere on a page and hear the pages read aloud, listen to fun sound effects, or hear music. Toddlers will discover reading and the wonder of books.

Dora’s Explorer Girls: Dora Links from Mattel

The Dora’s Explorer Girls collection from Mattel features the new The Dora Links doll for girls ages 5 and up. The doll is an older Dora that is connected to the internet and an online virtual world where your girl can play games and customize and solve mysteries with Dora and her friends. Just plug her into the computer and access her online world

Rawr

The D-Rex 2.0 Interactive Dinosaur is a remote control robot that is designed to be a pet dinosaur. He runs on batteries and comes with a bone controller that features such commands as guard, attack, prank and even seek. He can even tell the future, and enjoys having his head scratched. This toy is great for boys eight and up.

FurReal Friends Lulu My Cuddlin Kitty Cat

The FurReal Friends now has Lulu My Cuddlin Kitty Cat by Hasbro. This stuffed animal is a kitty that moves and sounds like a realistic kitty when responding to your child’s touch. If you pet her head she will purr and roll back. If she scratches her on the whiskers, Lulu will move her head. Recommended age is 4 and up.

Bugsby Reading System

Bugsby Reading System

The Bugsby Reading System by V-tech is for children, 3 to 7 years old. While the technology is not new, the books and stories are. The Bugsby pen is touched to a page and your child will hear the story, individual words, or other words and sounds associated with the various pictures. The initial set comes with the Bugsby pen and a story about him.

Zippity From LeapFrog

The Zippity Learning System is a gaming system by Leapfrog that incorporates learning and motion with the Disney characters that kids are already familiar with. Children aged 3 to 5 use an interactive mat and joystick (bopper) that is connected to the television to play the games. Game skills include learning letters, music, colors, shapes, numbers and more.

Smart Fit Park

Smart Fit Park by Fisher-Price for children ages 3 to 6 is another gaming system which uses a mat much like the game Dance Revolution. Children are motivated to walk, jump, stomp and run in 8 different games and races. Not only will your child exercise his body, but his mind as he learns letters, numbers, shapes and more while interacting with the games.

Hot Wheels Color Shifters

For fans of miniature cars, the new Hot Wheels Color Shifters by Mattel are a fascinating new toy. Just add cold water to turn your street car into a race car.  These cars will hold their color at room temperatures. To change them back, just dip them in warm water.

Bristlebots Invasion!

Invasion of the Bristlebots

The book Invasion of the Bristlebots for ages 8 and up, comes with two mini bots, basically motorized toothbrush heads, called Bristlebots. These mini bots race around the room, running into walls and other objects. They are customizable with included add-ons such as wire legs, feelers and little beady eyes.

Build It Bigger!

Build It Bigger! Building Sets are designed for pre-schoolers. The large nuts, bolts and tools are excellent for small hands. You can encourage creativity and imagination while enhancing your childs fine motor skills.  Your pre-schooler can certainly build it biggest by using both build it big and build it bigger.

Pyramid (by Playmobil)

The toy set, Pyramid, is the newest in a line of historical toys produced by the German company Playmobil. Once built the Pyramid is designed with traps and hidden areas to defeat grave robbers.  There are many movable parts, and you can purchase additional sets as addons to create an Egyptian kingdom if you would like.

Crayon Town Wild Planet

Crayola has brought the favorite pastimes of coloring, construction and creativity together in Crayon Town.  Color the cardstock, bend and fold and create a 3-D world that incorporates even the crayons into play. Crayon Town has 5 different themes to entice your child aged 3 and up: Neighborhood, Horse Ranch, Airport, Zoo and Construction Site.

Girl Gourmet Sweets Candy Jewel Factory Oven

With this special oven, your 8 year old (and beyond) will love decorating themselves in edible jewelry. Now your special little girl can make hard candy jewelry and unique treats for themselves and friends, or even you. Oven comes with various candy molds, jewelry pieces and a safety feature to protect from burns.

Princess and the Frog “Just One Kiss” Tiana

Princess Tiana

Elementary and pre-teen aged girls will enjoy the newest Disney Princess, Tiana. Tiana is determined to find her prince even if she has to kiss a frog to do so.  This doll comes with a frog prince and will refuse to kiss him until the 4^th time he is put near her face.  She also repeats phrases from the movie while refusing and then accepting the kiss.

Disney Hannah Montana

The most wanted doll among young girls is the highly popular Disney’s Hannah Montana doll. The doll has even beat out Barbie and Bratz as the most wanted (fashion) doll on the market. The double life living character can even be found with the option of being able to sing.  Young girls everywhere will be singing along this year.

Monopoly City

The latest game version of Monopoly City is now in 3-D. There aer 80 3-D buildings that you can use to develop your monopoly property.  Included aer 6 game pieces, district cards, chance cards, a rent dodge card, 2 dice and of course, money. It also requires 2 AAA batteries which are not include.  What kind of land baron will your game players aged 8 and up be during this game?

According to a fact box in a story at the Marietta Times, the Associated Press lists the top toys for Christmas 2009 as:

Must Have Toys Story

Zhu Zhu Pets.

Moxie Girlz (dolls made by MGA Entertainment Inc).

Liv Dolls (by Spin Master Ltd).

Barbie Fashionistas (by Mattel Inc).

Nerf items by Hasbro Inc.

Lego building sets.

Mindflex by Mattel Inc.

Source: The Associated Press

As you know, the Zhu Zhu pets are all over the news. They’re inexpensive, scarce, and have had rumors of safety concerns. All that aside, parents and children alike are actually rather mixed about the toy when I talk to them. As for the other toys on the AP list, it’s a lot of the ones we see on other lists. I’ll try to document those here this week. That way, over the years, you can come to Top Toys Blog to see what was popular in years past.

Do you agree with this top toys list? Why or why not? What toy is missing? What toy shouldn’t be on the list?

As parents we tend to separate our girls from our boys and forget that all children have a basic curiosity and want to learn. Just as boys want to explore the world around them, so do girls.  Unlike boys, their world is a somewhat more contained.  From the very young, when they wish to be independent, to the young teen when they actually begin to become independent.

As a toddler your girl will thoroughly enjoy Jake and Emma, the learn-to-dress dolls for today’s growing child. There are no bells, no whistles, just cute dolls that are fashionably dressed, and designed to teach toddlers important skills such as lacing and tying shoes, buttoning, snapping, etc.  Learn to dress dolls are designed to help teach children how to dress and undress.

Easy Bake Oven

Your elementary aged child will be amazed with the Easy Bake Oven that has never gone out of style.  Since 1963 Easy Bake has been creating fun for families around the world.  The classic light bulb oven still excites with a girls first real baking experience.  As a side note, there are actually contests for being creative with Easy Bake recipes.  Give your girl something to aspire to, a goal to reach while learning a lifelong skill.

One of the best educational toys for young teen girls, (and boys) is the game Trivial Pursuit.  This game is full of trivia that is not always trivial. Dozens of question sets have been released for the game. The question cards are organized into themes. Some question sets have been designed for younger players and others for a specific time period.  Share this game with your favorite girl and she will not only learn some useful facts, she will soon be spending quality time with the rest of her family.