A toy story for the ages : My Little Pony, Strawberry Shortcake hold up just fine

By Lesley Kennedy, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 17, 2008 at 3 p.m.

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Photo by Ellen Jaskol © The Rocky

Grace Olson, 3, plays with sister, Anna.

Photo by Ellen Jaskol © The Rocky

Anna Olson, 1 1/2, takes good care of Strawberry Shortcake baby doll Apricot.

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"Mom, can I play with your dolls?" Grace asks me every time we set foot inside my parents' house.

She may be only 3, but she already has the good sense to know that Strawberry Shortcake rules. Even though those dolls are - gulp - 28 years old.

My mother kept loving care of Strawberry and her pals (like Blueberry Muffin, Angel Cake, Orange Blossom and Huckleberry Pie), their pets (like Custard, Frappe Frog, Marmalade and Hopsalot Rabbit) and even their combs and shoes, all stored neatly in their original berry carrying case. If you take a little whiff, they still have that slight fruity scent all these years later.

And even though Grace counts the Strawberry Shortcake Baby Kisses doll (a bigger, modernized version), DVDs and books among her prized possessions, it's still those dolls from the '80s that captivate her for hours on end.

And don't get me started on My Little Pony. Both Grace and Anna, my 1-year-old, love to play with Pinkie Pie, a 15-inch-high singing, dancing and game-playing pony. Then there's the Ponyville Rollerskate Party Cake - a two- tier birthday-cake extravaganza complete with a spinning teacup ride and a miniature Pinky Pie on roller skates.

Anna squeals "puppies" about 200 times as we watch her favorite DVD, My Little Pony: Puppy Pony.

And I don't mind braiding Rarity's hair or reading The Runaway Rainbow for the 11th night in a row, because it brings me right back to 1983, when my sister and I spent many a night playing with our own little ponies.

When it's not Strawberry or ponies, it's Care Bears. Grace and Anna's version is a little more high-tech than mine was in '83. Take their Care Bear Cubs: Giggles and Wiggles Bedtime Bear. It, well, giggles and wiggles when you "tickle" its tummy. My Care-a-Lot cuties were simply stuffed animals named Cheer, Funshine and Tenderheart.

At Grandma's, they love to tear through other toys my mom saved: my brother's Transformers (yep, my girls have a few new versions of those at home, too) and He-Men (updates on store shelves now) and our favorite books (Madeline, Eloise, Corduroy - still popular today). I think the girls enjoy playing with my old Cabbage Patch Kid (Glory Melinda on her birth certificate) more than their new moveable versions of the once must-have dolls.

I just wish I still had all my Barbies - Western Barbie (she winked when you pressed her back!), the Malibu set (complete with tan lines!), Disco Ken (with dark plastic hair!). But I took a few too many liberties with my hairstyling fantasies (Kool-Aid makes a great hair dye, and my scissors should have been confiscated).

Grace and Anna have yet to chop off the long locks of Barbie Mariposa or Barbie Island Princess (though Grace has snipped off a chunk of Anna's hair and, yes, her scissors were confiscated), but their love of Barbie has already been established.

Soon I'll introduce my little girls to the Easy Bake Oven, now in its - brace yourself - 45th year. There was just something about that light- bulb oven that made mini, gooey chocolate cakes taste like heaven. Now, mixes for everything from Cinnabon cinnamon rolls to SpongeBob SquarePants Crabby Patties are available. There's even a Real Meal oven that'll cook up pasta with sauce, mac and cheese and soft pretzels.

But I think my girls will stick with a simple chocolate or yellow cake. Just like Mom used to make.

Century of play

The most popular toys by decade

1900-09: Crayola Crayons (1903)

* Also popular: Lionel trains (1900), Teddy Bears (1903), Model T Ford die-cast car (1906)

1910s: Raggedy Ann dolls (1915)

* Also popular: Erector Sets (1913), Tinkertoys (1913), Lincoln Logs (1916)

1920s: Madame Alexander collectible dolls (1929)

* Also popular: Yo-Yo (1929)

1930s: View-Master 3-D Viewer (1938)

* Also popular: Sorry (1934), Monopoly (1935), Betsey Wetsy doll (1937)

1940s: Candy Land (1949)

* Also popular: Tonka Trucks (1947), Magic 8 Ball (1947), Scrabble (1948), Slinky (1948), Clue (1949)

1950s: Mr. Potato Head (1952)

* Also popular: Silly Putty (1950), LEGO Building Sets (1953), Matchbox Cars (1954), Play-Doh (1956), Yahtzee (1956), Frisbee (1957), Hula Hoop (1958), Barbie (1959)

1960s: G.I. Joe (1964)

* Also popular: Etch-a-Sketch (1960), Game of Life (1960), Troll Dolls (1961), Easy Bake Oven (1963), Operation (1965), Twister (1966), Battleship (1967), Lite Brite (1967), Hot Wheels (1968)

1970s: Rubik's Cube (1978)

* Also popular: Nerf Balls (1970), Uno (1972), Dungeons and Dragons (1974), Playmobil (1974), Star Wars Action Figures (1977), Strawberry Shortcake (1979)

1980s: Cabbage Patch Kids (1983)

* Also popular: Trivial Pursuit (1982), Care Bears (1983), My Little Pony (1983), Transformers (1984), Koosh Ball (1987), Pictionary (1987), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1988), Super Soaker (1989)

1990s: Beanie Babies (1996)

* Also popular: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993), Lamaze Learning Products (1995), Tickle-Me Elmo (1996), Tamagotchi (1997), Furby (1998), Groovy Girls (1999)

2000s: Razor Scooter (2000)

* Also popular: Bob the Builder (2001), Bratz dolls (2002), IDog (2005), TMX Tickle Me Elmo (2006), Wii (2006)

Future keepers Three newer toys predicted to stand the test of time

Fancy Nancy

All budding fashionistas will venerate (that's a fancy word for love) this series of delightfully girly books, sure to bring out the joie de vivre in your daughter (and maybe yourself, as well). The best-selling books are a huge hit in my household. Now a new line of toys and dress-up clothes is available at Target stores - think tutus and purses, dolls, plush puppies and games. Movies, TV shows and video games can't be far behind.

Littlest Pet Shop

Debuting in the early '90s, this line of tiny pets and accessories is the top-selling girls' toy brand, according to Hasbro, and there are no signs of slowing down. I find the little puppies and bunnies all over the house - in my purse, in my slipper, in cupboards. And my 1-year-old likes to snuggle the bigger plush pets.

Baby Alive

Originally introduced in 1973 but reintro- duced in 2006, dolls from this award-winning line do everything from giggle and squirm to potty and burp. Kids who like to play Mommy and Daddy will spend hours with these babies. We hide the "food" because I change enough real diapers. I don't need to be changing doll diapers, too.

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