Toys! at The Henry Ford

Big Bird, Pong, and Star Wars. Kids of the 1970s found a whole new world of toys that reflected changes in society and in technology. Licensed toys based on a new generation of television shows and movies appeared more and more on the toy shelves. The cool new electronic toys of the 1970s became icons for Generation X kids.

By the end of the decade, toy makers increasingly designed toys with kid's desires in mind-ignoring the protests of parents who wanted to help shape their children's play and imagination. Toys were less related to real life experiences, becoming rooted in fantasy and adventure.