20 Cereal Box Prizes That Were Worth Waking Up Early For
Cereal box prizes were the ultimate breakfast treasure—tiny surprises that turned every bowl into an adventure, making kids race to the kitchen before anyone else could claim them.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Cereal prize boxes were more than a giveaway—they were tiny treasures that turned breakfast into something special, eating a bowl of cereal a daily adventure. From glow-in-the-dark decals to tiny video game watches, these surprises instilled imagination, promoted collecting, and even educated children about popular culture icons. Whether it was a secret message decoder ring or a spoon that changed colors, these prizes made memories that lasted a lifetime and provided children with a reason to dig to the bottom of the box before someone else.
1. Cap’n Crunch Treasure Hunt Map (1980s)
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This prize transformed breakfast into a quest. It included a fold-out treasure map with secrets. Children could use a decoder to reveal secrets and even participate in sweepstakes for actual prizes. Every morning became a pirate’s search for buried gold.
2. Wheaties Michael Jordan Mini Wheaties Box (1990s)
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A small replica of Michael Jordan’s legendary Wheaties box became a hot collector’s item. Everyone rushed to grab one, making it a staple among sports fans. The miniature boxes were meticulous and great for display.
3. Frosted Flakes Tony the Tiger Reflector Badge (1970s)
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This glow-in-the-dark pin made children feel like they were members of Tony’s exclusive club. It might be attached to a backpack or bike for an awesome nighttime look. It was a teeny but powerful way to flaunt Frosted Flakes enthusiasm.
4. Honeycomb Bike License Plates (1960s-1970s)
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These metal plates, with cool designs and state names, were ideal for decking out a child’s bike. They were a playground status symbol, with children bartering to own all 50 states. The plates made bicycling around the block seem official.
5. Kellogg’s Star Trek Badges (1992)
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These plastic communicator badges allowed children (and adults) to imagine they belonged to the Star Trek world. The badges came in traditional Starfleet designs and gave any look a touch of sci-fi cool. They even had a pin-back, making them easy to wear and super popular.
6. Rice Krispies Color-Changing Spoons (1990s-2000s)
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Soaking these spoons in cold milk turned them around before your eyes. It was a harmless yet captivating trick that made breakfast a bit more interesting. Many children stored these spoons years after the cereal had disappeared.
7. Froot Loops Wacky Wall Walkers (1980s)
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These sticky, octopus-shaped toys would “walk” down walls in a slow, wiggly manner. Children enjoyed flinging them at windows and watching them make their way down. They became dirty quickly, but a quick washing brought them back to life.
8. Trix Rabbit Disguise Kit (1980s)
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This kit contained oversized rabbit ears, a nose, and whiskers so children could become the Trix Rabbit themselves. It was a comedic means of getting into character and attempting (unsuccessfully) to steal some Trix. The disguise provided amusing dress-up moments and silly photos.
9. Cheerios Secret Agent Decoder Ring (1950s-1960s)
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This prize allowed kids to send and decipher secret messages like actual spies. The rings were cool and hip, so they were not just a fad. Children spent hours crafting top-secret codes to send to their friends.
10. Cocoa Puffs Pedometer (2000s)
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A surprisingly handy prize, this pedometer counted steps and motivated children to be active. It sported Sonny the Cuckoo Bird and attached to a belt or shoe. Some moms even found it convenient for their own walks!
11. Frosted Flakes Jungle Book Finger Puppets (1967)
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These small plastic puppets, featuring characters such as Baloo and Mowgli, were directly from Disney’s The Jungle Book. They were perfect for storytelling and imaginative play at the breakfast table. Having all of them was like finishing a jungle quest.
12. Corn Pops CD-ROM Games (1990s-2000s)
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Some of the boxes included CD-ROM games with popular brands such as X-Men or Batman. The games were not throwaways but rather good-looking and enjoyable ones. Getting a free game with your cereal was like winning the lottery.
13. Lucky Charms Glow-in-the-Dark Stickers (1990s)
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These stickers, which contained Lucky the Leprechaun and his enchanting charms, glowed at night. Children covered their bedroom walls, school folders, and even ceilings with those stickers. They brought a wee bit of magic to bedtime.
14. Honey Smacks Crazy Straws (1980s-1990s)
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These twisty, colorful straws made drinking milk (or anything else) way more fun. Some had the Honey Smacks frog, Dig’Em, molded into the design. They were the kind of prize you’d actually use for years.
15. Kix NASA Space Glider (1990s)
Image from NASA
A lightweight foam glider developed by NASA, this prize really did work! It was based on actual aerodynamics, so it flew a long way and smoothly. It inspired interest in space and aviation in many young cereal consumers.
16. Alpha-Bits Magnetic Words (1970s)
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These little word magnets encouraged children to create goofy sentences on the refrigerator. They reinforced spelling and imagination in a fun way that didn’t feel like schoolwork. Parents enjoyed them since they were both entertaining and instructive.
17. Golden Crisp Transformers Stickers (1980s)
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These contained cool artwork of Autobots and Decepticons fighting. Children covered them over notebooks, lunchboxes, and bedroom walls. If you were an aspiring Transformers fan, you just had to have them.
18. Cinnamon Toast Crunch Mini Skateboards (2000s)
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Small fingerboards with actual grip tape and functional wheels provided hours of fun. You could perform miniature kickflips and ollies on the breakfast table. They were more awesome than most mass-produced fingerboards.
19. Reese’s Puffs Reese’s Cup Shaped Bowl (2010s)
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This prize was an actual cereal bowl in the shape of a giant Reese’s peanut butter cup. It was just the right size for breakfast, making eating Reese’s Puffs even more special. It was a seldom-seen but never-forgotten prize.
20. Super Golden Crisp Video Game Watches (1990s)
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These electronic watches served also as small video games, with simple but engrossing challenges. They were not as sophisticated as Game Boys, but they were astounding for a giveaway cereal prize. If you had one, you were the coolest kid in school by default.