Short list of Childhood fads good and bad.

[no1_vern]

I can tell you they missed Lawn Darts. The 50 Best/Worst Childhood Fads » First Thoughts | A First Things Blog

46. Tamagotchi
What made it the best: Like having a pet that you could carry around in your pocket.
What made it the worst: Like having all the responsibility of having a pet without the loyalty, love, etc.

47. Troll Dolls
What made it the best: They were adorable.
What made it the worst: When you’re not looking, they eat your soul.

48. Yo-Yos
What made it the best: The sense of accomplishment you got from learning to “walk the dog.”
What made it the worst: The stupid string always got tangled and knotted up.

49. Waxed lips candy
What made it the best: You could convince that cute girl/boy to give you “kiss” on your wax lips.
What made it the worst: The heartbreaking let-down of wax lip kisses.

50. Whiffle balls
What made it the best: The bat.
What made it the worst: You could never figure out how to actually play Whiffle ball.

Which favorite fads did I forget?

[no1_vern]

About the furby, there is a story.

Sobrrr: My daughter really really wanted a Furby, so I got her one for her birthday. Later on that night, as she was just about to fall asleep, it was sitting on her nightstand "sleeping" and it opened it's eyes, looked at her and said "Yum". I'll never forget that look of terror as she came screaming down the hallway, "Mommmyyyy!"

[Socalgal]

haha! I'm dating myself but I loved...

4. Charm necklaces
What made it the best: You could create them to match your personality.
What made it the worst: For every birthday someone would give you a cheap charm instead of a real gift.

12. Frisbees
What made it the best: Could make anyone feel like a minor athlete.
What made it the worst: Unless you had a frisbee-catching dog, they quickly became boring.

18. Hula Hoops
What made it the best: Having “hooping” contest with friends.
What made it the worst: Trying to find a place to store them. (that's what garages are for)

29. Ouija Boards
What made it the best: They were dangerous and mysterious.
What made it the worst: They were a starter kit to occultism. (The occultism was short-lived)

41. Skateboarding
What made it the best: The rush of riding for the first time.
What made it the worst: The first rush to the ER after you fell off and broke your arm. (Never broke anything, thankfully)

44. Super Balls (no jokes please!)
What made it the best: Nothing could bounce higher.
What made it the worst: They’d always bounce to a place you couldn’t find them.
(These things could bounce over our 2-story Cape Cod, and they would zig-zag like crazy forever between 2 entrance-way walls)

45. Swatch Watches
What made it the best: They made you feel sophisticated.
What made it the worst: Your parents wouldn’t buy you an overpriced piece of Swiss plastic. (Had to have a Swatch or you were out)

47. Troll Dolls
What made it the best: They were adorable.
What made it the worst: When you’re not looking, they eat your soul. (Soul intact, whew!)

We had Lawn Darts too, lol. And Slip 'n' Slide! And Twister!

[pickel]

Electric trains ( had a BIG layout in the basement)

Roller hockey ( In the schoolyard..play at your own risk )

Building clubhouses in the woods w/ purloined lumber ( There WERE woods in NYC )

Riding the Subways with the boys( the only way to learn)

Going to Jamaica Racetrack with my older brother and learning how to read the "Scratch" sheet.

Watching ships come up the Hudson R. and seeing them dock .

Palisades Park ( before it got sold to land grabbers )

Seeing all the Old Sci Fi & 3D movies when air conditioning first came to the movies( I'm OLD )

Riding around in my Brother's 1948 Buick convertible with our dog.


Etc.,etc. and etc

[PoonDoggy]

Rock 'em, Sock 'em Robots
What made it the best: Hitting opponent just right so the head releases
What made it the worst: When the head released and the annoying sound that accompanies it.

Lawn Darts or Jarts
Got one stuck in my shoulder, straight up and down, inches from my head. Cant believe that thing didnt hit a bone or something.

[surreal]

Magic 8-Ball
What made it the best: More fun than flipping a coin.
What made it the worst: Ask again later.

Ouija Boards
What made it the best: They were dangerous and mysterious.
What made it the worst: They were a starter kit to occultism.

Silly Putty
What made it the best: You could press them on the Sunday comics and make a colored copy of the picture.
What made it the worst: There wasn’t much else you could do with them.

[Steve R Jones]

37. Scratch ’n’ Sniff StickersWhat made it the best: The cherry and banana stickers that smelled like cherry and banana (sort of).
What made it the worst: The licorice one that smelled like the inside of a baby’s diaper. (might have to wait a while before having breakfeast)

43. SlinkyWhat made it the best: Those cool television ads that showed it “walking” down the stairs.
What made it the worst: They taught you the meaning of false advertising.

[tony_j15]

I'm too busy basking in the warm glow of nostalgia to formulate a list.

great thread!