Thousands of new toys and technology devices come out every year, but there are some that become so popular that nearly every kid has to have one. Growing up in the 90's and early 2000's was a great time for such toys, and what a better time to get them than for Christmas. Here are what I believe are some of the best Christmas present fads that existed growing up.
Skip-It
The Skip-It was probably the greatest form of entertainment and exercise growing up. To use it, you put a hoop on your ankle that was connected to a string and a ball at the end which counted the amount of skips you did in a period of time. Although they first came out in the 1980's, the toy became an extremely popular Christmas gift in the early 90's. Sadly, they were discontinued, so you'll have to eBay shop for this toy.
Tamagotchi
Your own digital pets styled as a key-chain; what more could you ask for? First popular in Japan in 1996, these flew off the shelves in the U.S. in 1997, as every kid asked for their own portable pet for Christmas and are still popular today. Best part about these? Unlike a regular animal, if you forget to take care of it and it accidentally dies, you hatch a new one and don't have any consequences.
Furbies
These little critters hit the shelves in 1998 and instantly became a hit, especially around the Christmas season. They had their own 'Furbish' language and each had their own names. If you didn't have one of these growing up, don't worry, because they still sell the updated version of them in stores today.
Anything Pokemon
Although the Pokemon Nintendo games really started off this trend in 1999, anything in this franchise was on every kid's Christmas list. From Pokemon cards, clothes, cartoons, and movies -- this was the ultimate gift as a child. Today, they still make electronic games, cards, and air cartoons based off of these popular characters.
Razor Scooter
Forget toys, this bad boy was THE best ride around town. Coming in five different colors, kids and adults felt that this was the coolest way to get around. An instant hit when they came in 2000, the Razor scooter was something that every kid wanted. If you were still interested in buying this sweet ride, updated versions are still being sold throughout stores all over.
Bratz Dolls
These dolls were first released in 2001 but did not become popular until Christmas the following year. When they reached success, they were a hit to girls all over the country. With their pop-themed clothes and snap-off shoes, Bratz dolls were a girls dream toy. Hasbro changed the ideal and looks of the dolls in 2015 so they may look slightly different, but to anyone that grew up with these, Bratz will forever be the girls with 'the passion for fashion'.
Easy-Bake Oven
This convenient toy allowed girls and boys all over to make their own delicious snacks and desserts without the help of any parents. First released by Hasbro in 1965, this toy really gained popularity during the Christmas of 2003. From brownies to soft pretzels, you could make it all.
There you have it, some of the most popular Christmas fads growing up. If you didn't ask for a least one of these presents, did you even have a cool Christmas list?
