Skip to headerSkip to main contentSkip to footer
Get our Free E-newslettersGet our Free E-newsletters
Kiplinger logoLink to homepage
Get our Free E-newslettersGet our Free E-newsletters
Subscribe to Kiplinger
Subscribe to Kiplinger
Save up to 76%
Subscribe
Subscribe to Kiplinger
  • Store
  • Home
  • Investing
  • Retirement
  • Taxes
  • Personal Finance
  • Your Business
  • Wealth Creation
    • Podcasts
    • Economic Outlooks
    • Tools
    • Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine
    • The Kiplinger Letter
    • The Kiplinger Tax Letter
    • Kiplinger's Investing for Income
    • Kiplinger's Retirement Report
    • Store
    • Manage My E-Newsletters
    • My Subscriptions
Skip advert
  • Home
  • personal finance
  • spending
spending

15 CAN'T-MISS CLASSIC TOYS

Each year, kids' toys get pricier and noisier as toy makers pack on, literally, more bells and whistles.

by: The Kiplinger Washington Editors
January 1, 2012
Skip advert

Each year, kids' toys get pricier and noisier as toy makers pack on, literally, more bells and whistles. If you're looking to simplify this holiday, we've pulled together a collection of 15 classic toys that have stood the test of time, bringing smiles to millions of kids year after year -- no batteries or earplugs necessary.

They're inexpensive, too. Most items on our list cost less than $30. (For simplicity's sake, all prices are from Amazon.com, unless otherwise noted.) Take a look:

Use the navigation at your right.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

1 of 15

LEGO

Skip advert

PRICE: $15
(Find the best deal)

This Lego tub of 221 pieces is the perfect starter set for your little builder (and it provides a place to store all those little pieces). Or, for $10 more, spring for the 401-piece set.

Lincoln logs are another great building toy -- but they're a bit pricier. A 115-piece set in a commemorative tin runs $35 on Amazon.com.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

2 of 15

GUND SESAME STREET PLUSH

Skip advert

PRICE: $14 to $16
(Find the best deal)

Remember when plush toys were simply for snuggling? The Sesame Street collection from Gund is sure to put a smile on any little child's face, even though these toys (thankfully) don't giggle, sing or do the chicken dance.

The 12- to 14-inch dolls are the perfect size for a cuddle, and the perfect price. Choose from Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Grover, Oscar, Bert, Ernie and more.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

3 of 15

TONKA TRUCKS

Skip advert

PRICE: $6 TO $30
(Find the best deal)

There's a Tonka truck for every budget, whether you're looking for a small hand-sized vehicle for inside play or a big heavy-duty one for the yard.

Tonka trucks are well-known for their long-lasting quality. They're made from steel and rugged plastic to hold up to the roughest play. Tonka even makes some with lights and sounds, if that's what the kids in your life like.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

4 of 15

PLAY DOH

Skip advert

PRICE: $7 to $25
(Find the best deal)

Just sit back and watch the kids create. A basic case of Play Doh colors costs $7. The Play Doh Creativity Center (pictured here) runs $25 and includes doh, molds, cookie cutters and more accessories to keep kids interested.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

5 of 15

CABBAGE PATCH KIDS

Skip advert

PRICE: $15 to $30

One look at their cheek-pinchingly cute faces and it's easy to see why these dolls are still so popular. You can buy a newborn baby doll or a "big kid" (pictured here).

Plus, they still come with a birth certificate and adoption papers to welcome them into the family.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

6 of 15

BOOKS

Skip advert

PRICE: Any budget

Don't write this off as a boring gift. Babies and toddlers adore books of any kind. For school-age kids, tap into an interest such as dinosaurs, horses or outer space.

For pre-teens, get a book on something interactive such as origami, drawing, magic tricks or balloon animals. For teens, think fun: a collection of their favorite comic strip or a book set by their favorite author.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

7 of 15

BOARD GAMES

Skip advert

PRICE: $10 and up
(Find the best deal)

Video games are the time-killer du jour among kids these days. But if you long to increase familial interactivity and still have a raucous good time, look no further than good old-fashioned board games.

Some time-tested hits include Clue, Twister, Chutes & Ladders, Monopoly, Scrabble, Pictionary and Battleship. (You can even find "junior" editions of several classic games for younger kids.) Or, go for a modern classic, such as Guesstures, Scattergories, Cranium, Taboo or Catch Phrase.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

8 of 15

NERF

Skip advert

PRICE: $10 and up

For playing catch in the backyard or a rowdy game of flag football at the park, you can't go wrong with a classic Nerf football. You might even find one in your child's favorite team's colors.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

9 of 15

RADIO FLYER CLASSIC RED WAGON

Skip advert

PRICE: $60

This toy hall-of-famer is well worth the splurge. Its top-notch quality and durability make it strong enough to stand up to the rigors of childhood. Shop around, though: We found the same classic red wagon on different Web sites from $60 to $115.

For other sure-hit toys on wheels, consider Radio Flyer's Classic Red Tricycle or Little Tykes Cozy Coupe.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

10 of 15

MR. POTATO HEAD

Skip advert

PRICE: $7 to $15
(Find the best deal)

This little guy is the biggest spud on the block and is packed with silly fun. A basic 13-piece spud set costs $7. Or the Mr. Potato Head Silly Suitcase ($15) comes with 40 parts to get creative with.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

11 of 15

TRANSFORMERS

Skip advert

PRICE: $10 and up
(Find the best deal)

Transformers first hit toy stores in the '80s, but they are making a comeback this year thanks to the summer's blockbuster movie. The action-figure robots morph into vehicles to help your child save the world.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

12 of 15

TRAIN SET

Skip advert

PRICE: $22 and up
(Find the best deal)

All aboard! There's a train set for any budget, and you can buy add-ons as holiday gifts for years to come. Brio is a good choice for a wooden train set. On the inexpensive side, you can get the starter set for $22. (A 96-piece set and table costs $130.) Fisher-Price makes a popular remote-control set called GeoTrax. The Grand Central Station set is a good bet at $40, pictured here.

And, of course, for the wow factor (and for a kid or grown-up enthusiast who would truly appreciate it), there are the classic Lionel electric trains. These sets run about $100 to $300 on Amazon.com.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

13 of 15

CRAYOLA ART SUPPLIES

Skip advert

PRICE: $1 and up
(Find the best deal)

Release kids' inner Van Gogh with anything Crayola. The classic choices, of course, are crayons, markers, colored pencils, watercolors and finger paints. Pair them with a pad of paper and they make a great gift for kids of any age.

Or, try out some of Crayola's newer offerings sure to become classics in due time, such as the Color Wonder and Color Explosion collections (ink and paint only work on special paper -- not on your couch, kids' clothes or skin) and Bathtub Crayons (water soluble crayons for drawing on tub walls).

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

14 of 15

HOTWHEELS MATCHBOX CARS

Skip advert

PRICE: $1 and up

Here's a proof you don't have to spend a lot of money to be a hero Christmas morning. HotWheels matchbox cars make great stocking stuffers, and they're easy on your wallet.

We've seen them in stores raging from $1 to $5 each. Or go for the giftpack -- Toys 'R' Us has a 20-pack for $20, pictured here.

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

15 of 15

BARBIE

Skip advert

PRICE: $15
(Find the best deal)

She's 49 years old, but Barbie is still as fresh a gift today as ever.

The new Diamond Castle Princess Liana Doll is on little girls' radars this year. Regular price is $30, but we found it at Amazon.com for $20. With the money saved, you can spring for the Barbie and the Diamond Castle DVD ($11).

Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert
  • leisure
  • spending
Share via EmailShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert
Skip advert

Recommended

Prepare for Painful Utility Bills, Gas Station Visits
spending

Prepare for Painful Utility Bills, Gas Station Visits

While brutal pump prices are dominating the headlines, consumers also are absorbing rapidly escalating utility bills.
June 14, 2022
Why Are Gas Prices Still Going Up?
spending

Why Are Gas Prices Still Going Up?

The cost of a gallon of gas is at an all-time high. What’s driving the surge and will gas prices go down anytime soon?
June 13, 2022
30 Best Kirkland Products You Should Buy at Costco
Costco

30 Best Kirkland Products You Should Buy at Costco

Many of warehouse club Costco's store-branded Kirkland Signature items get high marks for quality and value. Check out our picks.
June 3, 2022
Are Today's Pump Prices Higher Than 2008's Gas Prices?
spending

Are Today's Pump Prices Higher Than 2008's Gas Prices?

Americans haven't felt this much pain at the pump in well more than a decade, but by one measure, gas prices still haven't topped 2008's highs.
June 2, 2022

Most Popular

5 Best Dow Dividend Stocks to Buy Now
blue chip stocks

5 Best Dow Dividend Stocks to Buy Now

This mini-portfolio of blue-chip dividend payers is well-positioned to both generate income and hold up to headwinds for the rest of 2022.
June 27, 2022
Your Guide to Roth Conversions
Special Report
Tax Breaks

Your Guide to Roth Conversions

A Kiplinger Special Report
February 25, 2021
Top Bear Market Tips from 10 Financial Advisers
investing

Top Bear Market Tips from 10 Financial Advisers

When a bull market turns into a bear market, it can be hard to know what to do. Take comfort in the guidance of 10 financial professionals.
June 30, 2022
  • Customer Service
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us (PDF)
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Kiplinger Careers
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Preferences

Subscribe to Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Save up to 76%Subscribe to Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Do Not Sell My Information

Kiplinger is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site www.futureplc.com
© Future US LLC, 10th floor, 1100 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. All rights reserved.

Follow us on InstagramFollow us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterConnect on LinkedInConnect on YouTube