If childhood had a soundtrack, it would be a mix of boisterous laughter and the memorable tunes from toy commercials we knew by heart. From board games to action figures, our favorite toys stay with us no matter our age — and those clever, catchy songs and taglines still have the power to whisk us back to the carefree days of our youth.
We may not remember the words of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address or have the ability to recite Shakespeare’s sonnets by heart, but the refrain “I don’t want to grow up / I’m a Toys ‘R’ Us kid” lingers in our collective memory.
If you find yourself yearning for a walk down memory lane, these jingles and slogans will take you back in time, reminding you of your favorite toys or even resurrecting the memory of a long-forgotten plaything. After all, it’s always a joy to reminisce about and introduce the next generation to the treasures of our past.
Slinky
What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs, and makes a slinkity sound? / A spring, a spring, a marvelous thing! / Everyone knows it’s Slinky.
Puppy Surprise
Surprise! Surprise! Puppy surprise! / How many puppies are there inside? / There could be three, or four, or five!
Weebles
Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down!
My Buddy
My buddy, my buddy / Wherever I go, he goes.
Jenga
You take a block from the bottom and you put it on top / You take a block from the middle and you put it on top / Till someone knocks it over, and that’s when you stop / But you start all over putting blocks on top.
Connect Four
Go for the glory! / Go for the score! / Go for it! (I win!) / Connect Four!
Dream Phone
Who, who, who’s got a crush on you?
Mouse Trap
The trap is set, here comes the net! / Mouse Trap, I guarantee / It’s the craziest trap you’ll ever see!
Easy-Bake Oven
You can mix up a yellow and a chocolate cake / You can have lots of fun with an Easy-Bake / In just 10 minutes, it’s done just right / To frost, share, taste, bite!
Hungry Hungry Hippos
If you want to win the game, you gotta take good aim / And get the most marbles with your hippo / Playing Hungry Hungry Hungry Hippos / Hungry Hungry Hippos!
Cabbage Patch Kids
They’re one of a kind / They’re Cabbage Patch Kids / You can give them all of your love!
Trouble
Have you got Trouble? / Wait, don’t run! / This kind of Trouble is lots of fun!
Lite-Brite
Lite Brite, making things with light / Out of sight, making things with Lite-Brite!
Nintendo Game Boy
Now you’re playing with power — portable power!
My Little Pony
My Little Pony, My Little Pony / I take her wherever I go / My Little Pony, My Little Pony / Oh, I love her so!
Featured Image Credit: pf91_photography/ Unsplash
Kristina Wright
Kristina is a coffee-fueled writer living happily ever after with her family in the suburbs of Richmond, Virginia.
