These toys are a blast from the past. Toy Insider’s Chief Toy Officer Laurie Schacht stopped by NBC 5 in Dallas to show off some great retro toys that are experiencing a renaissance this holiday season. For more on the items featured in this segment, check out the product notes below, and for the complete rundown of the best toys of the holiday season, be sure to check our complete Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide.


LITE-BRITE ULTIMATE CLASSIC (BASIC FUN!)

  • Lite-Brite is one of the most fun and nostalgic way to create art with light!
  • The new retro-inspired styling resembles the original Lite-Brite from the 80’s.
  • It features a bigger screen, brighter pegs, and more templates, including six retro patterns.
  • Just insert the pegs into the templates or freestyle an original design—then press the button to see the creation light-up in four different ways, from steady to blinking.
  • With an updated stand on the back, kids can easily create and display their masterpieces, then turn off the lights for the ultimate effect!
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $19.99
  • Available: Target

CLASSIC COLORFORMS PICTURE PANELS PLAY SETS (KAHOOTZ)

  • Build colorful themed scenes and puzzles, mix and match over 150 Colorforms pieces to create endless creatures and scenes, then re-stick the shapes to imagine your own stories over and over again!
  • Double-sided Picture Panels enhance creative storytelling with colorful play scenes on one side and fun puzzles on the back.
  • Each Picture Panel also features magnetic edges that connect together to expand and connect your Colorform worlds… panels even stick to the refrigerator to display your creations!
  • The sturdy storage box doubles as a 3D play tray.
  • Choose from Animals, Vehicles, House, Food, School, and Town.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $24.99
  • Available: Amazon, Specialty toy stores


BARBIE ULTIMATE KITCHEN
(MATTEL)

  • The set includes Barbie chef doll, kitchen counter, appliances, cooking and dining utensils, and five different colors of dough to make food items.
  • Lift the cutting board for vegetable molds — fill with dough, press down, and lift to reveal veggies.
  • Make the perfect sandwich – fill the sandwich mold with dough. Place into the machine and press the silver handlebar, watch the dough rise, and slide the lever across.
  • Cook up a side of fries — drop the yellow dough into the fryer, press the handlebar down and watch as the perfect batch of fries emerge.
  • Don’t forget the dessert — place dough into the pie baking mold and slide into the oven. Press the button and listen for the ding.
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $ 49.99
  • Available: All major retailers

POWER ACTION PIKACHU (WICKED COOL TOYS)

  • Cuddly and innovative Power Action Pikachu reacts to motion, lights up, has sound effects, speaks, and has a light-up tail!
  • Engage with Pikachu by squeezing its hands to either see its tail and cheeks light up or for sound effects and to hear Pikachu speak!
  • Innovative sensor technology gives Power Action Pikachu unique interactivity; the more you play and engage with Pikachu, the more varied and dynamic its responses become.
  • Hear Pikachu say “Pika-chuuuuu!” when thrown into battle mode or hear a response with a sad “Pikaaa” when it does.
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $29.99
  • Available: Walmart, Target, Amazon

LOTS OF LICKS ADOPTIMALS (WICKED COOL TOYS)

  • Adoptimals are the Cabbage Patch Kids’ best friends, and they are looking for their forever home.
  • Loaded with cuteness, these precious pets come with a delicious ice cream cone that the Adoptimal really licks.
  • Pair the Lots-of-Licks Adoptimals with any brand new 14-inch Cabbage Patch Kids’ lollipop for even more sweet interaction.
  • Ages: 3+
  • MSRP: $19.99
  • Available: Target, Amazon

RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 43-INCH EPIC SEWER LAIR PLAYSET (PLAYMATES TOYS)

  • This massive playset is the biggest TMNT action figure playset ever, standing 43 inches tall!
  • This deluxe playset is packed with more than 20 features and includes four levels of play and seven rooms for training, kicking back, or taking out the bad guys!
  • Features include Splinter’s Dojo, Raphael’s Weight Training Room, Leonardo’s Rotating Weapon storage wall, Michelangelo’s arcade, the catapult Basketball hoop, hidden projectile launchers for villain invasions, rotating skateboard ramp, collapsing balcony, and so much more.
  • Compatible with Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles basic action figures, which are sold separately.
  • Ages: 4+
  • MSRP: $119.99
  • Available: Amazon, Walmart, Target

About the author

Bill Reese

Bill Reese

Bill Reese is Business Operations Manager at Adventure Media & Events, where he's worked since 2014. A former editor at Playbill and graduate of SUNY–Purchase, he spends most weekends rooting for the New York Red Bulls pro soccer team and making subway systems out of Brio trains with his little boy Jonah.

archivearrow-chevron-downarrow-chevron-left-greyarrow-chevron-leftarrow-chevron-rightarrow-fatarrow-left-blackarrow-left-whitearrow-right-blackarrow-rightarrow-roundedbookscalendarcaret-downclose-whiteclosedocumenteditorial-archiveeyefacebook-squarefacebookfilesgifthamburgerheadinghearthomeinstagram-squareinstagramlatestlinkedin-squarelinkedinmailmedia-inquiresmessagenewsopen-boxpagination-leftpagination-rightpauseplayprintproduct-archiverecent-productssearchsharesort-filterspotifysunteamtiktoktime_purpletimetrendingtvtwitter-squaretwitteryoutube