If you’re of a certain age, your childhood will have been dominated by terrestrial TV, mix tapes and some seriously colourful fashion - not to mention an array of era-defining toys.
But which childhood toy from the 1980s is officially the most iconic?
From emerging technology found in the SEGA Mega Drive and Speak & Spell, to toys that fuelled our imaginations, such as Fashion Wheel and Spirograph, and the divisive Cabbage Patch Kids, over 40,000 people in the UK have had their say, with the Tree Tots Family Treehouse revealed as the leading item that graced our toy boxes in the 80s.
The revolutionary, pop-up treehouse, complete with nuclear plastic family, which was originally brought to us by Kenner Toys in 1975, received the most votes, followed closely by Nintendo Game Boy and Care Bears.
Over the past three months, the poll, which was created by the home of nostalgia, 80sKids, has invited the public to list and vote for their favourite toys from the era, resulting in a ranked list of 153 classic toys, games and gadgets that take us straight back to the days of ET and Kajagoogoo.
The full top-10 list, tanked in order of votes is:
- Tree Tots Family Treehouse
- Nintendo Game Boy
- Care Bears
- Lego
- Fuzzy Felt
- Etch A Sketch
- Pound Puppies
- Hungry Hungry Hippos
- The Big Yellow Teapot
- SEGA Mega Drive
And where many of the toys, famously over-exaggerated in 80s TV advertisements, are now resting in the archives of our memories, a significant few on the overall list, such as Barbie, Mr. Potato Head, Polly Pocket and Playmobil, remain on best seller lists today.
80sKids founder, Oliver Jones, who created and launched the quiz isn’t surprised by the success of the poll. He said: “The lockdown has spurred a nostalgia for simpler times, where technology and entertainment was uncomplicated and wholesome.
"This quiz, which has attracted over 200,000 views to date, has really captured the British public’s imagination and I’m delighted to see a mix of unforgettable technology, imagination-based, educational and craft toys on the list - it’s like reconnecting with old friends.”
View the full list of 153 toys and cast your vote here.
Check out our Memory Lane local history website that's packed with archive photographs and has an easy-to-use picture colourisation tool.
