Nostalgia at Its Best: Throwback Toys That Every 70s Girl Grew Up With

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Oct 11, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Before smartphones, streaming, and doom scrolling on social media ruled all of our free time, all a girl needed to pass the hours was a few good toys and a vivid imagination. The 1970s may have very well been the golden age of playtime — a decade where bright colors, bold patterns, and endless creativity defined childhood. (Well, it also defined the counterculture and the pop culture of the time, but I digress.) Whether you were styling your dolls' hair, collecting charms, or begging your parents for the latest must-have toy from the Sears Christmas Wish Book, playtime was magical in its simplicity.

These toys weren't just lumps of plastic and packaging, they were companions, fashion icons, and imaginary friends that shaped entire afternoons. I'll be honest, I was born decades after the '70s, but I grew up with plenty of hand-me-downs from older cousins. Those toys had a certain charm that made them timeless; you simply couldn't bring yourself to throw them away even after you'd outgrown them.

So, take a stroll down memory lane and see how many of these beloved '70s toys you remember from your own childhood (or secretly wish were still tucked away in your attic).

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  • 01

    Hands Down

    hands down the slaphappiest game ever... featuring the colorful exciting SLAM-O-MATIC! hands hands hands hands 11 1 UMOD UMOр UMOD UMOD hands down DEAL
    via Pinterest
  • 02

    Dip-a-Flower Start Kit

    crafts by whiting MAKE MAGNIFICENT MBA MILTON BRADLEY COMPANY FLORAL BOUQUETS WITH AGES 12 to ADULT Dip-a-Flower TM. STARTER KIT 1 Form soft wire into shape of a petal. Dip into Dip-a-Flower 2 formula. 3 Arrange petals to make a flower. COLORS IN THIS SET ARE MAGENTA
    via vintagetoyarchive
  • 03

    Dancerina

    Dancerina A joy to watch as she gracefully toe dances, bows, pirouettes, even turns her head-stops-turns again like a real ballerina. Dances to her own 33% rpm record A $1799 without batteries She's pure enchantment in her fluffy tutu, dancer's tights, and laced toe shoes. A pretty tiara tops her rooted hair and hides the control you turn or push to direct each ballet step. Vinyl; 24 in. tall. Needs 2 "D" batteries sold on facing page. 79 € 30426C-Shipping weight 5 pounds.......$17.99 Ballet Cas
    via Pinterest
  • 04

    Beautiful Crissy

    SEEN ON TV 5 Beautiful Crissy Her hair grows from flirty flip to the hem of her micro-mini 999 8 1.99 6 Extra outfits 3.99 Bach 7
    via Pinterest
  • 05

    Ants in the Pants Game

    BUSIN panis ants pants GAME AAMAA
    via Paul Dittmer
  • 06

    Fisher Price Little People Play Doll House

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    via stevenbrandist

  • Now, I wasn't born until the 90s, but I had all of these Fisher Price Little People sets thanks to my thrifty grandmother's knack for holding on to nostalgic items.

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    Fashion Plates

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    via Abi Tkaczuk
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    Fisher Price Play Family

    Play Famil Ages 2-8 Seven playtime friends for the child's world of make-believe NREAKABLE ROWOOD URNED FIGURES TOUGH CASTIC PARTS SAFE NON-TOXIC FINISHES Butch Pany Mommy" "Daddy PeeWee "Penny" "Fido" Tider Price Fisher-Price Toys Crack Fashize Toys, CA Calen 663
    via vintagetoyarchive
  • 09

    Fisher Price Music Box Ferris Wheel

    FISHER PRICE Music Box Ferris W Wheel TICKETS C (c) EyE BLINK JUCIC BOX PLAYS...In The Good Old Summer Time
    via JenSing
  • 10

    Fisher Price Play Family Camper

    A 0&SHER-PRICE Play Family Camper B
    via Joy Murphy
  • 11

    Jaws Game

    It's you against the great white shark... One wrong move... and the JAWS go snap! * a trademark of and licensed by Universal City Studios, Inc. AGES 6 AND UP DEAL 2 TO 4 PLAYERS MFD. BY IDEAL TOY CORP, HOLLIS, N.Y. 11423
    via Laurie Thomas

  • This Jaws game looks adorable and not nearly as terrifying as the film it's based off of!

  • 12

    Weebles Playground

    weebles Playground
    via Pinterest
  • 13

    Play Doh Hair Salon

    Cheezburger Image 10562662656
    via Pinterest
  • 14

    Perfection

    Lakocsides Perfection ST403 * X
    via indulgyworld
  • 15

    Easy-Bake Oven

    EASY-BAKE OV BAKES WITH 2 ORDINARY ELECTRIC LIGHT VEN KENNER EASY-BAKE OVEN EASY-BAKE MIXES ARE AVAILABLE AT YOUR DEALER MACK Enclosed Cooling Chamber COMPLE UTENSIL UL FUNI Bake IT'S C and take White Cake Apple Pe matty&t Man EASY which peshe
    via Project Nursery
  • 16

    Mattel 1972 Barbie Doll Friendship United Airplane

    United
    via Pinterest
  • 17

    Give-a-Show Projector

    GREAT ALL NEW SHOWS 2ND EDITION NEW TV CHARACTERS Kenner's BATTERY OPERATED GIVE-A-SHOW PROJECTOR with 112 COLOR SLIDES giving NEW shows of 16 FAVORITES Each show is complete on a strip of seven 35MM color slides GREAT ALL NEW SHOWS! Projects FILL COLOR PICTURES GIVE ALL THESE EXCITING SHOWS OF FAMOUS CHARACTERS! гол 2ND EDITION NEW TV FAVORITES GIVE A SHOW PROJECTOR 112 COLOR SLIDES of 16 F DECTS FALL SOLE CTURES OP 1 PROJECTS AN
    via Vintagetopia
  • 18

    Blow-Up Barbie Furniture

    Cheezburger Image 10562664704
    via Pinterest
  • 19

    Barbie Beauty Bath

    Barbie Beauty Bath
    via Pinterest
  • 20

    Corning Ware Cookware

    Chift YOX PLATE PONS OF CORNING WARE COOKWARE YOM YOY PLASTIC ROUS OF Chilton CORNING WARE COOKWARE ALL CLEM 3 we c
    via eBay
  • 21

    Beauty Barbie Doll's Dog

    R6423> P643>108" Beauty Barbie doll's dog The glamorous dog that's so soft & fluffy! Pose her! Comb her! Love her! Collar Leash Crown Cape Medal Comb/brush Dog dish Dog bed Straw hat DOLL NOT INCLUDED MATTEL RHILD WORLD LDREN'S PL 550
    via Treasure Keeper

Tags

games throwback retro toys childhood nostalgia 70s board games Nostalgia Overload gen x memory lane 1970s that 70s show girlhood vintage
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