Following the postwar austerity, the 1960s was a decade of minimalist, homemade Christmas gifts. However, this doesn’t mean the ’60s kids didn’t scream happily when they opened the boxes under the Christmas tree. From dolls to kitchen appliance toys, the most wanted gifts then were those that made kids feel like grownups. Here are five ’60s Christmas gifts that kids got excited over.
Ken Dolls
Most kids love playing make-believe with dolls. In the ’60s, dolls were not just for female kids- male kids also enjoyed it. Well, the reason isn’t far-fetched; in the 60s, there were male dolls that both boys and girls could play with.
In 1961, the Ken doll made its debut, joining its female counterpart, Barbie. With hair made of felt, the Ken doll was as realistic as a male doll could get. Although the ‘natural hairdo’ changed after some years, the doll remained a fave throughout the decade.
Wham-O Super Balls
Wham-O was a household name when it came to toy manufacturers in the ’60s and ’70s. However, among the several kid toys produced by this company, these super balls were one of the most memorable.
The bouncy balls contained hydrated silica, stearic acid, polybutadine, and zinc oxide. The way it bounced was something kids adored. In the 1960s, seeing Wham-O super balls under the Christmas tree meant a beautiful Christmas.
Lite-Brite
This was one of the most exciting gifts a child could receive for Christmas in the 60s. Launched in 1967, this toy took the toy industry by storm- every kid wanted to have one.
Lite-Brite consisted of sixteen picture sheets to be laid on the magic box; the pictures were always pre-printed, of course. Most 60s kids have a memory of freaking out when the box fell while working.
Chatty Cathy
Aside from the interesting name, Chatty Cathy was a major highlight of ’60s toys. While Barbie made her debut in the late 50s, Chatty Cathy stood out for its amazing ability. It was the second highest-selling doll of the 60s.
Chatty Cathy could talk; kids just had to pull the string from her back to hear her talk. There were 11 programmed phrases that Chatty Cathy spoke- and the kids never got tired of hearing them repeatedly.
Etch-a-Sketch
While parents got their kids some gifts just for fun and entertainment, kids received other gifts from older family members because they were educative. Well, Etch-a-Sketch was one of those educative gifts.
As the name implies, Etch-a-Sketch was a small board that kids could write on. Available in different colors, these boards made writing more fun for kids in the 60s; they could act as teachers.
