Retro toys are no longer a thing of the past, they have sustained a new lifeline with today’s generation and, most likely, will be around for the next. The reason for their staying power is simple: good quality entertainment, low-tech and easy to use, and they afford a creative outlet for kids to burn off their excess energy.

1. Hoola-Hoop.

The Hoola-Hoop was the life of the party, set to your favorite tunes and artists for competitions with the girl next door or solitary enjoyment. Toys that engage children in physical activity never go out of style, and they are a great way to release the endorphins and keep everybody happy.

2. Easy Bake Oven.

Often imitated, but never surpassed, the Easy Bake Oven is still on the market today. Who can forget that classic 50′s style oven in pop-art pink and purple with the ready made pan baking up your favorite flavored cake? The Easy Bake Oven is a snap to operate and can be mastered by young chefs under 10. Cake mix refills and frosting kits will keep your little ones busy with decorating, serving and eating.

3. Twister.

Released in 1966, the Twister game has never missed a beat when friends got together to test their balance and agility skills. The game consists of a plastic mat with a series of dots in color codes and line formation. When the leader spins the wheel, he or she calls:”right foot yellow” or “left hand green”, and the players must scramble to place themselves on the right color without tumbling over. Twister takes some practice, but its one of those all-time classics that will last another century.

4. Etch-A-Sketch.

The Etch-A-Sketch art pad is a great way for kids to pass the time in a car, plane or train. The two knobs control a series of lead pencil-like lines that can be pulled in all directions to form a picture. Your child can draw a work of art without the use of crayons, paint or anything that could make a mess and its a clever tool to stimulate your child’s creative energy. The Etch-A-Sketch retro toy remains a value for the money and its durable design resists cracking, scratching and part separation through breakage.

5. Hot Wheels.

The Hot Wheels collection of cars and trucks was one of the biggest sensations from Mattel in the 1970′s and is still drawing a big fan base today. The cars have all been updated for the here and now, but the excitement of getting your next dream machine for your collection hasn’t waned a bit over the last 40 years. These classic retro toys are still sold nationwide and even have their own online connection at HotWheels.com.

Every year parents spend hundreds of dollars on toys for their children. They buy the toys that they know their children will love and be excited about. But the excitement usually doesn’t last for long. After a few weeks or maybe even a few days, the child has lost interest in the toy and you find it abandoned in the corner or under the bed, and your child is looking for their next new toy. So what can you do to keep your child’s interest in their old toys? Listed below are four things that can help parents with this dilemma.

Don’t buy too many toys at one time. You should resist the urge to overwhelm the child with too many new toys at one time, especially at Christmas time. It is ok to wait and buy some toys at a later date. Remember, if you give a child a lot of new toys at the same time, a few weeks later, they will all be old toys.

Rotate the toys. When you see that your child has lost interest in a toy, put it away out of view and out of reach of the child for a while. Bring it back out when the child asks for it or when you think he or she might be interested in it again.

Make an old toy new. You will be surprised at how adding an accessory or an extra part to an old toy can renew a child’s interest in that toy. For example: Buy a new dress or outfit for a doll or add a few more blocks of different colors or shapes to their Lego set.

Play with your children. Taking time to play with kids is one of the best ways to regain interest in old toys. Just pick up an old toy and invite your child to play with you. This doesn’t have to take a long time, sometimes 10- 15 minutes is enough to stir up interest in an old toy that they seem to have forgotten about.

We all know that children have very short attention spans, even when it comes to their favorite things. But with some of the price tags on toys today, it can be very disappointing to see a toy that you bought with your hard earned money abandoned in the corner. To avoid feeling like you wasted your money, use the ideas above to keep your child interested in their “old” toys.