16 Random Items That Used to Come in Cereal Boxes
From toys to tools, cereal boxes once hid the most unexpected treasures.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
There was a time when opening a cereal box felt like unwrapping a present. These boxes often included quirky prizes that made breakfast extra exciting. Let’s look back at 16 of the most random and oddly delightful items you could find hiding inside.
1. Mini Comic Books
IzzyPokemon on DeviantArt
These tiny adventures featured superheroes, detectives, and space explorers. Printed on thin paper, they were folded neatly inside the box.
2. Toy Race Cars
Mike Mozart on Flickr
Often made of plastic and painted in flashy colors, these little speedsters sparked kitchen table races. Some even came with snap-together tracks.
3. Magic Decoder Rings
Sobebunny on Wikimedia Commons
These plastic rings claimed to unlock secret messages from the box or TV commercials. Kids would proudly wear them like spy gadgets. Whether they worked or not was debatable, but the mystery was the fun.
4. Miniature Board Games
Jason Liebig on Flickr
Some boxes contained foldable versions of classics like checkers or Snakes and Ladders. They weren’t fancy, but they passed the time during road trips or rainy days.
5. Stick-On Tattoos
monstersforsale on Flickr
Temporary tattoos with cartoon characters or cereal mascots were all the rage. You’d press them on with a wet towel and wear them like badges of honor.
6. Glow-in-the-Dark Alien Figures
Wizetux on Flickr
These creepy little creatures glowed at night and lived in the sock drawer or under your pillow. Their detail was surprisingly good for a cereal prize.
7. Mini License Plates
Jerry “Woody” on Flickr
Tiny metal or plastic plates printed with names or state abbreviations. Kids hoped to find their own name, though that rarely happened. Still, they were fun to collect and swap.
8. Puzzle Pieces (Collect-the-Set Style)
Mike Mozart on Flickr
These weren’t much alone, but collecting the whole set turned them into a fun, completed picture. It encouraged brand loyalty — you had to keep buying boxes.
9. Plastic Dinosaurs
Cup of Couple on Pexels
From T-Rex to Stegosaurus, these brightly colored dinosaurs fueled hours of imaginative play. Their simple molds and bold colors made them perfect sandbox companions.
10. Cereal Mascot Finger Puppets
Lisa Stevens on Flickr
Mini felt or fabric puppets shaped like Tony the Tiger or Cap’n Crunch added character to your cereal routine. Slide them on your fingers, and suddenly, breakfast became a stage show.
11. Mini Frisbees
Jonathan Schilling on Wikimedia Commons
Usually no bigger than a coaster, these pocket-sized flyers offered quick backyard fun. They didn’t fly far, but they worked well indoors. Perfect for annoying siblings or knocking over juice boxes.
12. 3D Glasses
xenmate on Flickr
Used for special cereal box artwork or TV events promoted by the brand. Red-and-blue lenses made images pop off the box. Kids kept them in pencil cases, hoping to reuse them on future shows.
13. Cardboard Periscopes
fo.ol on Flickr
Folded and slotted together, these DIY toys let you peek around corners. More clever than functional, they sparked a sense of sneaky fun. Great for playing spy with your siblings.
14. DIY Model Planes
Mike Mozart on Flickr
Made from punch-out plastic or foam, these little gliders were perfect for tossing in the backyard. They took some assembly, but that added to the appeal.
15. Lenticular Collector Cards
ESJBond007 on DeviantArt
These holographic cards shifted images when tilted, showing motion or dual pictures. Often themed around cartoons, superheroes, or movie promos.
16. Miniature Record Discs (Yes, Really)
Noah Scalin on Flickr
Some boxes included tiny vinyl records that played on real turntables. They featured songs, stories, or promotions from the cereal brand. Fragile but fun, they were a music lover’s dream.