15 toys children wanted for Christmas in the 70s, 80 and 90s

Here’s a list 15 of the most must-have Christmas toys going back over nearly 50 years.

Chopper Bikes – in 1969 the Raleigh Chopper bicycle was first launched in the UK and really took off in the 70s. Its unique design became a cultural icon and is fondly remembered by many who grew up in that period. The design was influenced by dragsters’ “chopped” motorcycles.

Little Tikes Kitchen first came on the market in 1977. It was your own kitchen to cook pretend meals in. It had an oven, a sink and you could buy all the pots and pans and aprons.

Cabbage Patch Dolls - these chubby cheeked dolls were the must-have toy for Christmas in the 1980s. They even caused fights in shops as parents fought to get their hand on them.

The ‘real’ Ghostbusters Proton Pack from 1984 came with a “PKE meter” for detecting ghosts and a "neutrino wand" for zapping them. There was even a Ghostbusters armband and an ID badge - enabling you to fight your own ghosts without calling the Ghostbusters.

Teddy Ruxpin - who could forget the talking bear from 1985? You placed a cassette in Teddy’s back and listened to stories while his eyes and mouth moved. Teddy was so popular that manufacturers continued to create bigger and better versions.

Once upon a time…a long time ago…before Nintendo 3DS and before people played games on mobile phones…there was something called a Game Boy. You inserted cartridges and played to your heart’s content. Then once it got dark you would need a light to see the screen (none of this back-lit caper in 1989!)

Optimus Prime – this character from The Transformers is another favourite from the late 80s. What more could you want from a toy but a car that transforms into a robot? Go from driving to fighting in seconds.

Pogs - the milk cap game that turned into a world-wide competition in the mid-1990s. You collected the milk caps and each had a different picture or character on the underside that you could then trade or use to play games with others.

Buzz Lightyear - in 1995 the manufacturers of the Buzz Lightyear doll didn’t think he would sell very well and so massively under manufactured. The company were there left eating their own words as the doll sold out and the demand persisted.

Tickle Me Elmo - Sesame Street’s furry red friend was released in 1996 and caused so much shopping anger. At one point 300 people were trampled trying to get their hands on the wriggling, giggling toy.

Tamagotchi - this electronic pet allowed you to look after something, without stressing your parents out with an actual cat or dog. Feed it, help it, let it sleep. It was definitely a commitment. It was launched in 1997 quickly becoming one of the biggest toy fads of the 1990s and early 2000s.

Tellytubbies - in 1997 Tellytubbies were the most popular selling toy. But who was your favourite? Po was more popular than any other Tellytubby but was this the same for you?

Furby - did you know that 40 million Furbies were sold in the first three years of the original production in 1998? The robotic, bird-like creature spoke to you and needed feeding so you had to make sure it was looked after.

Spice Girls dolls - with over 11 million dolls sold in the mid-90s, these are the best-selling celebrity dolls ever. The Spice Girls were obviously huge world-wide and the sales of this doll show that. So, who was your favourite?

Tracy Island - in 2000 the BBC re-launched Thunderbirds, which prompted Tracy Island to sell out all over the place. The outrage was real and parents frantically searched around to get that infamous island for their children.

Have we missed any Christmas must-have toys off our list? Please tell us what they are in the comments below on our Facebook page.