While children today yearn to unwrap Minecraft building sets, Xbox One consoles, and Disney Frozen dolls come Christmas morning, the toy landscape was completely different 20 years ago. Kids today may scoff at '90s playthings, but the generation that embraced slap bracelets and butterfly clips, danced the "Macarena," and rocked Lisa Frank gear understands just how cool they really are — present tense — since many faves are still around.
When buying a stocking stuffer for someone born in the '90s, consider appealing to his or her sense of nostalgia with one of these picks, which will conjure up sweet memories of childhood.
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Polly Pocket
Barbie was cool and all, but you couldn't carry her Dreamhouse around! Polly Pocket, however, managed to live rather lavishly in a roomy house conveniently built inside a portable compact. Some of her dwellings and hangouts — which were shaped like hearts, seashells, daisies, and stars — were even equipped water slides, ice skating rinks, swimming pools, and ballet stages. There were just sooo many ways to have a Polly day! Polly Pocket Deluxe Dressing Room Pop 'N' Lock Fashions Playset, $83 at Amazon.com
Tamagotchi
These key chain-sized virtual pets may be needy, but their demands pale in comparison to those of a real-life dog or cat! When one of the original Tamagotchi devices was activated, an egg would hatch on its screen and a baby digital pet would appear. Kids were then tasked with feeding it, cleaning up its waste, giving it medicine, entertaining it, and meeting all of its needs as the pet grew into adulthood. Newer models offer the ability to befriend other Tamagotchis. Tamagotchi Connection Version 3, $145 at Amazon.com
Socker Boppers
Akin to inflatable boxing gloves, Socker Boppers totally encouraged roughhousing among children but were, as advertised, more fun than a pillow fight. In retrospect, it was probably not a great idea to entice kids to sock one another. Adults, however, can glove up any day and laugh hysterically as they pummel each other with these pillow gloves. Big Time Toys Socker Boppers, $20 at Amazon.com
Goosebumps Books
Starting with 1992's Welcome to the Dead House, author R.L. Stine ruled the children's horror fiction realm, penning 62 titles for the original series alone. There were revenge-seeking lawn gnomes, Halloween masks made of real living skin that possessed those who wore them, Machiavellian ventriloquist dummies come to life, and many more spooky, spine-tingling scenarios. Revisiting these spine-tingling tales might just give you goosebumps all over again! Goosebumps Retro Scream Collection Limited Edition Tin, $42 at Amazon.com
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Moon Shoes
Billed as "mini trampolines" for your feet, Moon Shoes promised to defy gravity and make you jump up and down like a happy kangaroo. Doesn't that still sound awesome? Big Time Toys Moon Shoes, $60 at Amazon.com
Beanie Babies
Stuffed with plastic pellets as opposed to the traditional cotton and synthetic fibers used for plush toys, Beanie Babies distinguished themselves by being small, squishy, and malleable. Still, what triggered the Beanie Babies mania of the late '90s was a simple matter of supply and demand: each new design was produced in a limited quantity and retired soon thereafter. Those born in the '90s will lay eyes on one of these lovable babies and remember the time they spent scrambling for a Princess Diana Bear or a Mystic unicorn. Ahh, the memories! TY Knuckles the Pig Beanie Baby, $7 at Amazon.com
Game Boy
Way before Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja, before mobile phones were even a thought, there was the Game Boy. Once Nintendo launched this hand-held video game device, kids all over the US could play Tetris on long family road trips. The litany of "Are we there yet?" chants emanating from the back seat decreased exponentially. Game Boy Color, $48 at Amazon.com
Furbies
Labeled the hottest toy of the 1998 holiday season, the Furby was an animatronic critter that looked like a cross between an owl and Gremlins' Gizmo. Each sensor-equipped Furby reacted to light, touch, and sound, fluttering its eyelids and perking up its ears. At first, Furbies communicated only in "Furbish" but they eventually "learned" English and uttered phrases like "Pet me" and "Me love you." Newer models can be synced to a Furby app (available for iPhone and iPad) so that owners can collect digital eggs and create communities of virtual Furby Furblings. Furby Boom Plush Toy, $60 at Amazon.com
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Magic Eye Books
Depending on who you ask, these psychedelic picture books were either genius or pure evil. Each enigmatic page featured a three-dimensional objecr concealed within a 2D pattern. Those who recall their eyes glazing over and tearing as they stared intently and resolutely at one of these pictures, determined to discover that secret image — all to no avail — can try again 20 years later and maybe, just maybe, find some redemption. Magic Eye Vol. II, $15 at Amazon.com
Pokémon Cards
Odds are that, two decades ago, fantasy football fans were feverishly forming their Pokémon rosters, trading cards and collecting cards, then using the creatures therein to win heated battles. Reacquaint them with Pikachu, Tepig, Whirlipede, Solrock and all their favorite Pokémon characters. 100 Assorted Pokémon Cards, $33 at Amazon.com
Nickelodeon Gak
Gooey, stretchy, colorful, and slimy, Nickelodeon Gak was great fun — until it got stuck to mom's carpet. Now that they're adults, '90s kids can get squishy with as much Gak as they like without worrying about incurring mom's wrath. Nickelodeon Gak, $16 at Amazon.com
Troll Dolls
Bizarrely androgynous and featuring wrinkled, old-looking faces, slightly creepy grins, googly glass eyes, and jarringly bright hair that was perpetually natty and standing upright, troll dolls were ubiquitous in the 1990s — and, somehow, considered totally adorbs. Modern versions are considered tokens of good luck and come in whimsical outfits. My Lucky Sundress 6" Troll Doll, $30 at Amazon.com
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Twister Rave Skip-It
Jumping rope was so 1980s! Kids of the '90s hopped to the rhythm of the Skip-It, which featured a colorful ball attached to an ankle hoop via a chain-like strand. Modernized versions like the Twister Rave Skip-It feature balls that light up as you hop and, for an even greater challenge, light patterns that must be replicated. $39 at Amazon.com
Super Soaker
Released in 1991, the Super Soaker 50 made every kid want to bear arms — of the water-squirting variety that is! The first installment in the Super Soaker series utilized manually pressurized air to fire water from a reservoir bottle located at the top of the blaster. Every model since has upped the ante, offering even greater range and drenching power. Super Soaker Scatterblast Blaster, $10 at Amazon.com
Pogs
The artwork on these coaster-like cardboard discs referenced everything from the Power Ranges to The Simpsons, Michael Jordan, The Wizard of Oz, Alf, Ouija boards, and Magic 8 Balls. Collectors swore they'd be worth as much as rare baseball cards. Sadly, they're not, but they're still a lot of fun. Angry Birds Pogs Power Caps Game Booster Pack, $15 at Amazon.com
