Listen, I know it's the year 2024, but I can't help thinking that our lives will be happier and less on-edge if our kids spent more time playing with old-fashioned toys. These days, everything lights up and makes noise, instant gratification is at its peak, and what’s “in-season” seems to go out the door quicker than a candle flame.
What do you think would happen if we spent Saturday afternoons enjoying card games, reading magazines, and playing with vintage toys? I bet our kids would love it! Well okay, maybe not at first. Classic toys are often too simple to capture the minds of this generation for a good length of time. But same as with anything, you can cultivate your child's taste for simpler things with a bit of consistency. Here are some retro toys and activities that might ignite an interest in your child (or even your whole family)!
Get All Dolled-Up!
Wanna talk about golden childhood toys? Paper dolls were certainly some of mine! These cute little paper creations allow your child to delve easily into the world of fashion, and the best thing is that they're inexpensive, don’t take up much space, and make lovely tag-alongs for simple outings.
Why give your child the iPad game system at the restaurant table when you can pull out a Ziploc bag of paper dolls with clothing and accessories and let her imagination sparkle? Nowadays, we have the traditional paper dolls that can be somewhat finicky (after all, it is paper) as well as the magnetic paper dolls that are a lot easier to dress / undress. Or… you can even make your own! But if you prefer to purchase a set, I've compiled 5 favorite choices right here.
Story Magic Dress-Up Dolls and Travel Playset >> Find it on Amazon.
Tiger Tribe Vintage Paper Dolls >> Find it on Amazon.
eeBoo Musician & Artist Paper Doll Set >> Find it on Amazon.
Melissa & Doug Magnetic Wooden Dress-Up Dolls >> Find it on Amazon.
Magical Horses Dress-Up >> Find it on Amazon.
"Pop" These Out on a Whim
Another fun option along the lines of paper dolls are pop-out books. They're a 3-D adventure providing productive screen-free fun for toddlers and preschoolers. Your child can take out the sturdy, board book cutouts and enjoy them for playtime, and they easily snap back into their respective places in the book once it's time to clean up. The pop-out book pictured below is called Pop Out at the Zoo and is a WoodlandMommy.com Editor's Pick.
Hit the Road, Jacks!
If your child enjoys playing with balls, a game of jacks might just tickle his fancy! This activity definitely helps with hand-eye coordination and dexterity, but more than anything, it's an intense and enticing game to play, and you can pack it away in a tin can for those “Mommy, I’m bored!” moments during a weekend. I recommend jacks for older elementary, pre-teen, and teen ages. Here's a set of vintage metal jacks that comes with 2 balls and a carrying container.
Other charming skill-building toys to have on hand are yoyos (these by Duncan Toys work well and they light up), spirographs (like this Original spirograph set by Kahootz), and Rubik’s cubes (they come in many varieties these days, but here's an original classic version).
Hatch a Batch of Sea-Monkeys
Remember the hatching sea-monkeys? They were so fascinating to me as a kid, but I never got a chance to experience owning them until I became an adult and purchased a kit for my own kids. In reality, these mysterious creatures are just a tiny breed of shrimp, but they're such a thrill to observe as they hatch and grow. To be honest, sometimes they hatch, and sometimes they don't, and the Amazon reviews are mixed, but mostly positive for this Sea-Monkeys brand.)
Bye-Bye Boredom, Hello Board Games
It's hard to go wrong with any type of board game, but it seems like when I talk about games to my mommy friends, they're usually bringing up the latest and greatest ones that I’ve never even heard of. I know there are so many new board games to explore, but I think the classic ones will still be a hit with our kiddos. Candy Land (the classic & delicious beginner board game), Operation, Battleship, Connect 4, Checkers... and did you ever learn how to play Backgammon? (I’ll admit, I didn't!)
Stay Cool and Classic
Don't be tempted to spend all your money on the hottest new Playstation game. Save a few dollars for the tried and true items such as Mr. Potato Head, building blocks, spinning tops, Slinkys, stuffed animals, and wooden train sets. Aside from sparking individual creativity, these toys are great for improving collaboration skills if your child chooses to pull them out during playdates.
Hey, What a Sweet View!
Viewfinder—and no, not the video game—is another interesting and relatively quiet activity that's easy to take along with you to the park, church, a restaurant, or practically anywhere. Basically, your child looks into the viewer and advances from slide to slide to see various images. You only need one slide viewer, and you can purchase all kinds of slide reel cards to use based on your child's interests.
Another quiet, imaginative classic toy that delights the pickiest of kids is a kaleidoscope! First invented in 1816, the kaleidoscope is a magical handheld device that creates beautiful, colorful mosaics and patterns at every turn. Here's the best-selling kaleidoscope 2-pack on Amazon! 
Creative Classics aren’t Sketchy!
Etch A Sketch, Lite-Brite, and Latch Hook sets might have officially gone out of style years ago, but these treasured activities are still around and can be found on Amazon and in some bricks-and-mortar stores. There’s nothing like curling up by the window on a rainy day, designing a picture on an Etch A Sketch or carefully working through a latch hook set. Who knows? Your child might be occupied for hours!
Get a Move-on, Kiddo!
Nah, you don't need a Nintendo Fit to get the kids moving. A hula hoop, jump rope, 3-wheeler, and even a box of sidewalk chalk (they can draw a hopscotch board) will suffice for fun and simple outdoor activities that will burn off extra energy. Say cheers to the couch, and hello to getting that heart rate up.
Ready, Set, Read!
Reading is an age-old activity that can be even more enjoyable than screentime - if you choose the right books for your child! Ask your librarian for suggestions. Remember, there are picture books for younger kids, chapter books & novels for older ones, and many other types of books like graphic novels / comic books, cookbooks, non-fiction reading, magazines… the pages keep turning! Amazon makes it easy to find children's books in a variety of different categories. In my day, Highlights for Kids was a big hit, and this magazine is still around today (with a junior version for younger ones called "High Five").
Enjoy the World of Make-Believe in a Play Tent
Tents bring a special kind of magic to the everyday lives of children! A tent can be a whimsical retreat for your child to escape, play with stuffed animals, read a book, have a nap, or play make-believe. A tent is a cave, a fort, a reading nook, a sleepover palace - or anything else your child can think up! The options are limitless, really. The Eaglestone Kids neutral-colored tent pictured below comes with a padded mat, lights, and pom-pom fringe, is spacious enough to accommodate friends, and makes a fun addition to corner of your child's bedroom.
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