18 Toys You Loved Too

What's black and white and fun all over? An intoxicated panda bear—or more likely, a set of dominoes. No one knows when the first ivory domino tiles made their game debut, but today's manufacturers thankfully use man-made materials. Whether you're using the numbered tiles as a teaching tool for learning numbers, game strategy, or how to make a line-up of small rectangles fall down in formation, our bet is this is a gift you'll have for ages.

They might as well find out early on that life is all about making good connections. This classic game is more fun than a barrel of, well, you know. Little kids three and up, and big kids of all ages will think it's easy, but as you try to link together 12 monkeys in a row, anything can happen. Just remember to play fair—no cheating—especially with little ones around. After all, monkey see, monkey do.

What is it about the Easy-Bake® Oven? One minute you're a mature adult admiring your prohibitively expensive stainless-steel gas range, the next minute you're willfully abandoning it to play with their plug-in, portable plastic range making red velvet cupcakes with rainbow sugar frosting. If you remember yours, or once yearned for a mini-oven of your own, this classic cooker will thrill them just as much today.

This is one hot dog. Since its height of popularity in the 1950's, the slinky dog has been losing ground to more advanced and electronic toys for little tots. Then Toy Story came along, and this little pup got a whole new leash on life. The busy toddler will love having someone to pull (or, more accurately, drag) along as they make their repeated rounds of the house. It may look painful, but as we've all learned from the movies, toys don't mind a little rough play—all they really want is to be well-loved.

We may be (Buzz) light years ahead when it comes to past toy technology, but 65 years ago, the Mattel View-Master was a breakout success. Thanks to today's smart phones and touch-tablets, it still remains the only ‘camera' we'll leave in little hands that doesn't have an extended warranty receipt. They can drop it, throw it (gently), drag it, and it'll still show perfect images, every time. Each viewer comes with one reel of images, with separate reels available for purchase, including 3D versions.

Ask any octogenarian: they just don't make things like they used to. The Radio Flyer trike is a welcome exception to the rule. While our kids may only know injection-moulded plastic parts, Radio Flyer has continued using the original manufacturing materials from the 1970's. Their Classic Dual Deck Tricycle is made of solid steel with chrome handlebars, real rubber tires and steel spokes, an adjustable seat and—of course—the all-important bell. A seriously swell ride.

We hope you're sitting down for this. Apparently this famous spud wasn't enough of a stud, so they've given Mr. Potato Head a makeover of sorts. He's slimmer than the original, has grown a pair (of legs, we mean) and comes with more accessories. Progress: it just never stops. The original key elements that made this toy so much fun for kids remain, and a female version (the Mrs, of course) as well as larger ‘Suitcase Sets', which include even more accessories like clothing, are also available. This is one sweet potato for kids to play with.

Depending how your own children were when they crawled, you'll be familiar with the lumpy-but-loveable movement an inchworm makes. Now that they've literally moved on to bigger and better things—standing, walking, running—go retro with the classic Radio Flyer Inchworm ride-on toy. Bouncing up and down on the seat makes the inchworm go, as does pushing off with their feet. Just don't let them get too far out of sight—you know what kids are like: give them an inch and they'll take a mile.

We could explain the mechanics behind the original Etch A Sketch—that it involves line graphic images, aluminum powder, and polystyrene beads—but why dispel the magic? Gift a little wonder with a pocket size (great for travel) or regular sized Etch A Sketch model and let them doodle away to their hearts content.

You're quite a pair aren't you? As your little one grows, their mind expands, and so do your ideas of great ways to spend time together. Hasbro's Original Memory Game will have you both looking for pairs of identical objects—a great exercise for enhancing their (and your) short-term memory, visual scanning, spatial perception, attention, and turn-taking. It'll be hard to remember the last time you had so much fun together.

Need to bounce back from some bland gift ideas? Kids five and up will be challenged by a classic game of jacks. Bounce the ball, quickly pick up a jack. Bounce it again, pick up two, and so on. This jumbo set includes two larger balls and brightly-coloured jacks, and if you can handle the pounding on the floor, this is a great game to get them bouncing.

Bring a little game to your family's daily balancing act. This stunningly simple setup never gets old, despite the Pick-Up Sticks' early heritage and easy instructions. Dump the wooden sticks in a pile. Then, one by one, try to pull each stick out of the intertwined pile without causing other sticks to move. If you're always being trounced during digital game play with the kids, stick it to them (not literally, please) with an old school set of Pick-Up Sticks.

You'll find out quickly what kind of people your friends and family are: smart investors, go-for-broke types, jailbirds, and everything in between. Monopoly remains the world's best-selling board game for good reason, with dozens of editions, including Junior Monopoly, and our favourite—Canada-opoly (you'll love how it helps teach school-age kids about national geography). Take a Chance: we're positive your real-estate mogul-in-the-making will love it.

Once kids have passed the age of wanting to swallow small objects, the game possibilities grow. Gift some fun that will encourage family members to play together. This brightly-coloured set of Chinese Checkers, which includes 60 plastic marbles, pits separately-coloured teams against one another in a race across a hexagram-shaped game board. But be prepared: no matter how old you are, being outplayed by a seven year-old can be hard to digest.

Doodleart, the famous 70's psychedelic-inspired colouring craze, has resurfaced. The classic tubes containing page(s) of precisely-drawn, black-and-white images crying out for colour are back. Each kit or image comes with 12 non-toxic, washable, felt tip markers in a variety of hues, waiting for a masterpiece to be brought to life. Best suited for kids aged five and up. Groovy.

Easy does it. You've been looking for the perfect holiday gift for the family and Jenga, the challenging and engaging game of careful extraction, has it all wrapped up. This festive twist on the classic game gives the usual Jenga pieces a merry makeover to fit the holiday theme, with 54 green and red blocks (and a special holiday-themed dice).

Next to Old MacDonald, Fisher-Price should be credited for making kids particularly keen on farm life. For over 50 years, they have made faux-farm play fun and their Little People Animal Sounds Farm is a particular favourite. With interactive features, four included figures, easy storage (the silo holds all the play pieces) and easy assembly, they'll play with this toy until the cows come home (literally or figuratively, depending on where you live).