It’s no secret that children have always loved playtime and toys, but did you know that the most popular toys over the past four centuries have changed dramatically? We’ve gone back in time to uncover what kids the world over were playing with during each of the last four ages: 1500, 1900, 1950, and 2000. Read on to find out which toys topped the list!
In 1500, some of the top five toys included wooden dolls, spinning tops, kites, mazes, and a game called Nine Men’s Morris. These toys were made from simple materials such as wood, stone, or paper, and offered hours of fun for children of all ages. Most of them were based on traditional games and were small enough for kids to take with them wherever they went.
As we move on to 1900, classic wooden toys are still popular, but we can also see some new inventions enter the top five list, such as tinplate cars, baby walkers, dolls, puzzles, and early versions of building blocks like Lego. By this time, mass production was making these toys widely accessible to children all around the world.
By 1950, the top five toys included a range of radio-controlled vehicles, cardboard jigsaw puzzles, model planes, hula hoops, and electric trains. Innovations in technology enabled better quality and more intricate designs, leading to greater popularity among kids.
In 2000, the top five toys shifted to include video game consoles, remote-controlled cars, toy robots, stuffed animals, and LEGO. Thanks to the rise of the digital world, these toys had become even more available and affordable than ever before.
Today, the trend continues with remote-controlled drones, board games, VR headsets, and other tech-driven toys dominating the market. This shift marks a clear evolution in the way kids play and interact with their environment.
