Updated on Feb 27, 2025 at 3:14 PM
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There was something magical about growing up in the early 2000s. Be it the fashion trends, the iconic movies, or just the simpler times we got to enjoy as kids (read: no social media taking over our lives), the early aughts were a great time to be a kid. Riding Razor scooters around the cul-de-sac with your friends after school, playing with Bratz dolls at every sleepover, and showing your competitive side during a tennis match courtesy of your cool friend who had the brand-new Nintendo Wii were just some of the highlights of our childhoods. If you, too, were raised on all the best toys out there, this list will bring back waves of nostalgia you never saw coming. Keep reading to see the best toys you most definitely had or desperately wanted if you were a kid in the early 2000s, all of which you can still buy today.
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Slinky
Slinky ($4)
We know we're not the only ones who thought that watching a slinky glide down the stairs was peak entertainment.
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Mad Libs
Mad Libs ($5)
Mad Libs was a sleepover staple that never failed to end in uncontrollable laughter.
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Rubber Wristbands
Blue Panda Silicoen Rubber Bracelets ($8, originally $12)
Remember when trading rubber bracelets was the thing to do? Stacking them up your entire forearm wasn't just normal; it was practically a status symbol.
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Candy Land Board Game
Candy Land ($13)
You knew it was a good day when you got to play the Candy Land board game. If you got Queen Frostine's card early on, you were riding high.
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Polly Pocket
Barbie Polly Pocket Dreamhouse Compact ($14, originally $20)
Tiny and adorable, you could never go wrong with a Polly Pocket set. These days, the classic toy comes in countless versions, but this Barbie Dreamhouse collab is easily one of our favorites.
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Bratz Doll
Bratz Alwayz Sasha Fashion Doll ($15, originally $25)
If you had a Bratz doll, you were automatically in the cool crowd. From their tiny accessories to their over-the-top glam, they set themselves apart from every other doll on the market.
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Bop It!
Bop It! ($16, originally $17)
The Bop It! could occupy us for hours on end, and given the fact that it has over 10,000 five-star ratings, it's clear that it's still a hit today.
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YoYa Toys Liquipen
YoYa Toys Liquipen ($18, originally $20)
Doodling was 100 times more fun with these mesmerizing pens, which were kind of like the writing utensil version of a lava lamp.
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Twister
Twister ($20, originally $25)
If you didn't play Twister at family game night, was it even family game night? Something about seeing that box come out always sparked pure excitement.
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Webkinz
Webkinz ($20)
The virtual world of Webkinz was all the rage, prompting us to own so many of these small animals. It's been a hot minute since we logged on, but you can still order your favorite and jump back in.
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Razor A-Kick Scooter
Razor A-Kick Scooters ($30, originally $40)
Let's be real, Razor A-Kick Scooters are still the best mode of transportation, and we bet the kids in your life would back us up on that.
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Tamagotchi
Tamagotchi ($39)
The responsibility of owning a Tamagotchi was real but super satisfying (and slightly addicting).
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My Scene Dolls
My Scene Madison Doll ($100)
If you had a My Scene doll, you were so fetch. We're obsessed with how Madison's outfit still fits today's trends.
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Lauren Harano (she/her) is a contributor for PS and was formerly an editor for PS Living, Beauty, and Shop. She's a Southern-California-native-turned-New-Yorker with a passion for skin care, murder mysteries, and online shopping. She gets equally excited about good books and coconut popsicles and will never (ever) say no to buying more beauty products she doesn't need. Aside from PS, her work can be found in the pages of Cosmopolitan and Seventeen as well as online at InStyle, Esquire, NBC, and various food and travel sites. Reach her at [email protected] for all editorial-related inquiries.