August 7 2017: The Fidget spinner, currently a rage, is the latest in a long list of handy toys that wowed earlier generations of school-goers (and yes, adults). (See our detailed story here)
Topping times: The 1950s saw kids play with wooden top and rope. Later models in plastic could be spun on the palm of one's hand. And parents too lazy to manage a rope could buy the metallic version with a plunger screw that you pumped up to entertain baby.
Go Yo-yo! In the early 1960s, the Yo-Yo was the in-thing for kids. Toy shops came out with dozens of colourful variants -- all below Rs 10. But Indians were playing with Yo-Yos even 200 years ago. The Brooklyn Museum ( US) holds a Rajasthani-style painting, dating to 1770, showing an royal lady playing in the palace.
Hula Hooping: Another sixties craze that found lakhs of Indians twisting their hips to keep a rubber tube spinning around their waists. It was embraced in Hawaii as a national pastime an remains a recommended tool for weight loss.
Rubik's Cube: Invented in 1974, the 3-D puzzle with 6 faces and 9 coloured sections on each face, remains the world's best-selling toy and is the subject of an annual world tournament.
Squishy ball: Post 2000, a yellow sponge ball has been a favourite give-away at tech events and expos. The theory is that all those brainy engineers need an outlet for their pent up stress -- and squeezing a ball is the way to go.