Ah! The 2010s, looking back, they really do seem like a simpler time. Cable TV, cat ears, fidget spinners, YouTuber mansions, and endless ice bucket challengesâseriously, what a time to be alive. I, like many, had the privilege of growing up during this time, and amongst everything the 2010s had to offer, there’s one aspect I especially appreciatedâthe toys!
Nostalgia can be bittersweet, but sometimes, it’s good to indulge a little bit. So, here are some of my personal favorite girlsâ toys from the 2010s. Hopefully I can take you on a little walk down memory lane.Â
SHOPKINS
This is just one of the many collectible toys popularized during this time! These little guys could be miniature variations of any kind of food or product you can imagine! Seriously, anything from fruits and cupcakes to lip gloss, topped with a cute faceâwho wouldn’t be obsessed?
There was nothing like getting a Shopkins blind bag and the anticipation of which one youâd be adding to your collection! (If you were lucky, maybe you’d pull the limited edition!). Honestly, these might have been one of the pioneers for the popularization of blind boxes today. For some of us, even as you grow older, that excitement of mystery boxes never goes away.
RAINBOW LOOM
All you need is the Rainbow Loom board and an assortment of colorful rubber bands. The creativity Iâve seen with these knows no bounds; there were bracelets (of all kinds), charms, and some of the most intricate designs you wouldn’t even believe are possible with just using rubber bands.
Rainbow Loom was the pinnacle of âpatience is a virtueâ, because making even the simplest of bracelets could take a decent amount of time and focus to complete. I remember almost losing my mind attempting to follow an ice cream cone charm tutorial.
However, the time and effort it took were totally worth it because these were the definition of fashion for tween girls back then; there was nothing more stylish than rocking nine Rainbow Loom bracelets on each arm, a Rainbow Loom choker necklace, all finished with the cutest charm on your backpack.
Monster high
These fantastically freaky dolls took the toy industry by storm when launched by Mattel in 2010. Accompanied by the TV show, I remember when they would fly off the shelves.Â
Monster Highâs concept was super coolâadorably creepy characters who are descendants of popular ghouls and creatures everyone knew and loved. For instance, Draculaura, daughter of the infamous Dracula Personally, as a kid, I was a little scared of Monster High, but regardless, even I owned a doll of Clawdeen Wolf.
At the time of writing, Halloween is right around the corner and coincidentally enough, a costume idea I keep seeing is Monster High! With their fashionable outfits, ghoul-y appearance, and vibe, this toy line makes the perfect (and very recognizable) Halloween costume even nearly two decades after release!
I know this line recently got a reboot, but the original Monster High dolls will hold a special place in the hearts of many.
Littlest Pet Shop
This one hit super close to home for me; LPS were my absolute favorites growing up! At their core, Littlest Pet Shop were small, collectible, cartoon, bobble-head animal figurines.
LPS went through a rollercoaster in the 2010s. Early in the decade, the âgeneration twoâ pets were massively popular and retained that popularity even as the revamped generations three through six came out. So much so that, due to the popular demand for the generation two designs, Hasbro ended up bringing the designs back pretty recently.
A huge point with LPS outside of the toys themselves is definitely the âLPStubeâ phenomenon on YouTube. These toys sprouted an entire community of people dedicated to creating music videos, mini-movies, and series starring their LPS! One of the most notable series is âLPS Popularâ by SophieGTV; I was all over this as a kid!
Even today, sometimes at Target, if my friend and I come across an LPS blind bag, we can’t help but buy it for old times’ sake; they’re still so much fun to collect!
These are just a few special picks of some toys from the âgood olâ timesâ; there are so many that could definitely make this list, from Lalaloopsy to the well-known My Little Pony. Being in college now, itâs always fun to enjoy some of the things that made us so happy way back then. So, if you’re like me, don’t feel ashamed to buy an LPS blind box now and again!
