Wondering what to put under the tree for the kids this year? Try looking to the past! We opened the history books to find which retro toys are still clocking play hours with children—thanks to that magical something that makes them classic.
“Imagination and creativity are very important elements,” says Leigh Poirier, executive director of the Canadian Toy Testing Council, which tests and reviews hundreds of toys every year. “Children really enjoy role playing, imitating real-life situations and cooperative play that can be enjoyed with parents or their friends.”
Here are just a few classic toys that still have the power to thrill after all these years:
1. The wagon
The iconic ‘little red wagon’ has been a favourite to generations of children who love its versatility—they can push it, ride in it and cart around a load of toys. Today, in addition to the classic steel and wood version there are all-terrain or big roomy plastic models. Radio Flyer’s Ultimate Family Wagon comes with two flip-up seats, loads of storage space, cup holders, and a removable UV canopy.
The Ultimate Family Wagon
About $190 (available at select retailers across Canada), photo courtesy of Mastermind Toys
2. The rocking horse
The good ol’ rocking horse has come a long way from the hobby horse, which was a fake animal head on a broomstick. Since the rocking version cantered on to the scene a few centuries ago, not much has changed. Models with stoppers are safer, preventing tipping during over-enthusiastic rocking and ensuring the horse doesn’t gradually inch forward. This model has a saddle, stirrups, reins and sound effects.
Rocking Horse with sounds
About $160, available at and photo courtesy of Mastermind Toys
3. Pull-along wooden toys
There’s something undeniably quaint about a wooden pull-toy. Children love a toy that ‘follows’ them and the fun noise as it moves. “Parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents are buying them,” says Marie Dion, owner of Quebec wooden toy company L’Atelier du Cheval De Bois. “They say it’s just like one they had when they were a child. Environmentally, they like that it is made locally and isn’t shipped halfway around the world.” This adorable frog comes in several non-toxic finishes and hops when you pull it.
Blue Jumping Frog
$35, available until December 7 at and photo courtesy of One of a Kind Show
1 Comment
My husband is refurbishing an old "flyer" wagon thrown out last fall during cleanup time in our city. It only needs a coat of paint to spruce it up and he is planning on building supports for the back & sides so our 18month old grandson wont fall out. A fun way to recycle,reuse.