It is that time of year when people start discussing which toy should be inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. I am pretty surprised that some of these items are not already in the NTHF. Here is a look at this years nominees:

  • Bubble Wrap, first made by two engineers in 1957. This is another product that was first considered an accident, but who can say we can live without this? It is useful and kids (of all ages love to play with it).
  • The Care Bears. A brand that first started as images on greeting cards in the early '80's and then morphed into super stardom with merchandising, tv shows and movies.
  • Clue, the board-game. Started sometime during World War II, and then patented in 1947. How many family Thanksgivings would not be complete with a game of Clue that started many a life long dinner table argument.
  • Coloring Books, When did they first start? It is a blur to even the most amazing historian. What can be proven, by the posts in my facebook feed, that more and more adults are also enjoying coloring books.
  • Dungeons & Dragons, (Good ole D&D). This 'game' was first started around 1970 and one would have a hard time not agreeing that D&D influenced many generations to come with all sorts of media, including tv shows and video games.
  • Fisher Price Little People. Originally started in the late 1950's as wooden people with no arms. The design took into consideration that it would be easier for kids to pick them up and handle them with out them having arms and legs. But 40 years after they got their start, they also 'got' arms & legs.
  • Nerf. The ball that could be thrown in the house, allegedly without it harming any thing breakable. The whole Nerf world continues to morph into a myriad of games, with new versions, amazingly available, right before each Christmas shopping season.
  • Pinball games. There have been movies, songs, and more than likely poems and haiku's written about this, maybe it's about time to line up your quarters and get this game inducted into the ToyHOF.
  • Rock 'EM Sock 'EM Robots. Oh, I always wanted one of these, but since it is a two player game and I have two sisters, my parents thought it would cause too many fights between us.
  • Swing .Yes, the thing you hope to have in your own yard, but find yourself spending hours begging someone to push you on. Could this be the 'toy' that makes it this year?
  • Transformers. These guys have been around since the mid 1980's, starting as small cars that transformed themselves into amazing objects. Fast forward to mutiple Michael Bay movies, cartoons and of course the merchandising. #RIPOptimusPrime
  • UNO Cards. Agreeably, the most portable game on this list. I remember the first time someone showed me this game. It was a sleepover at a friends house. I came home, begging my parents to buy me this game.

Which one of these games do you think should make it into the National Toy Hall of Fame? The inductees will be announced on November 10, 2016.

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