18 Toys That Were Clearly Designed By People Without Kids
These 18 toys were so strange or confusing that it is hard to believe anyone who made them ever talked to a real kid.
- Daisy Montero
- 5 min read
Some toys are fun, some are creative, and some just leave you scratching your head. Some were too weird, some were hard to use, and some were even a little creepy. You might remember a few from your childhood — and still wonder how they ever got made.
1. Octopus-stick wobblers
Kaethe17 on Wikimedia Commons
These sticky wall-crawling toys were shaped like little octopuses. Kids would throw them at the wall and watch them tumble down, flipping and flopping as they went. After a while, they picked up dust and dirt and stopped working, but they were still fun while they lasted.
2. Clackers (latto-latto)
Santishek on Wikimedia Commons
These were two hard plastic balls on a string that kids would swing until they smacked together loudly. They were noisy, hard to control, and sometimes painful when they hit your arm. They were banned in many places because they could actually break and hurt someone.
3. Glow-in-the-dark screaming monsters
ServiceComDigne on Wikiemdia Commkn
These stretchy rubber monsters made loud screaming sounds when squeezed. Some even had goo or eyeballs pop out when you squished them. Kids loved them at first, but parents were not too happy about the mess or the noise.
4. Magnetic face scribblers
Jiuguang Wang on Wikimedia Commons
This toy came with a bald cartoon face and a magnetic wand. Kids used it to move metal shavings around and draw silly hair and beards. It was fun for a while, but the idea got boring quickly once you made a few goofy faces.
5. Devil sticks without purpose
Finlay McWalter at en.wikipedia on Wikimedia Commons
This toy had one long stick that you tried to balance and flip using two other sticks. It took a lot of practice, and even then, it was not that exciting. Many kids gave up after a few tries and moved on to something easier.
6. Snap-on pain bracelets
Ser Amantio di Nicolao on Wikimedia Commons
Snap bracelets were covered in fun colors and made a sharp snapping sound when wrapped around your wrist. But sometimes they snapped too hard and hurt. They were banned in some schools because the metal inside could poke through the fabric.
7. Dental pinhead toy
Alutal on Wikimedia Commons
This toy had hundreds of little metal pins that you could press your hand or face into to make a 3D imprint. It was more fun to look at than to actually play with. If you pushed too hard, it felt sharp and uncomfortable.
8. Useless slinky flop
Roger McLassus on Wikimedia Commons
The slinky looked fun when it walked down stairs in commercials. In real life, it often got tangled or stopped after a few steps. Most kids spent more time trying to untwist it than actually playing with it.
9. Musical broomstick wand
Magicstore on Wikimedia Commons
This toy looked like a wizard’s broomstick and made buzzing sounds when moved. It did not do much else and confused a lot of kids. It felt more like a leftover prop than something made for real play.
10. Fake airport scanner
U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Wikimedia Commons
Some toy sets came with a pretend airport scanner that beeped at random. It had buttons and lights, but nothing actually worked. Kids lost interest quickly because there was no real interaction.
11. Talking-teeth nostalgia
emirkhan bal on Pexels
This toy looked like a pair of chattering teeth that made silly sounds. It was more of a joke gift than something you would play with for hours. Kids liked it at first, but the novelty wore off fast.
12. Labubu collectible craze
Gurumark on Wikimedia Commons
Labubu figures were weird-looking toys that were sold in mystery boxes. They were more popular with adults than kids. Some people online even joked they were cursed, which only added to the mystery.
13. Pop-its for ADHD… and fun?
RuslanABOBA on Wikimedia Commons
Pop-its were soft plastic toys with bubbles that you could press over and over. They were meant to help with focus and stress, not just play. Kids liked them for a while, but many lost interest quickly.
14. Endless magnetic fiddles
Xenia Baknina on Wikimedia Commons
Magnet toys could be shaped and clicked together in lots of ways, but they were tricky to use and sometimes stuck to things they should not. They were more interesting as a desk toy than a child’s game.
15. Etch A Sketch frustration
Ieatflower on Wikimedia Commons
The Etch A Sketch let you draw by turning two knobs to move a line across the screen. It was hard to control and took forever to make anything decent. One wrong move could ruin your whole picture, which made it more frustrating than fun.
16. Yodeling Pickle Toy
Netherzone on Wikimedia Commons
This plastic pickle randomly played yodeling sounds at the press of a button. It did not do anything else and left many kids confused. Most people ended up using it as a gag gift instead of a real toy.
17. Baby Dolls That Eat and Poop
Sissel Bjørstad Skille (doll artist) on Wikimedia Commons
These dolls were made to mimic feeding and going to the bathroom. They came with pretend food that would pass through and come out the other end. It sounded fun at first, but cleaning up quickly became a chore.
18. Face-Changing Robot Masks
Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France on Wikimedia Commons
These robot toys came with flip-down masks that changed faces with a loud click. The idea sounded cool, but the faces never stayed in place and often jammed. Kids spent more time fixing them than actually pretending to be a robot.