Typing up Santa letters got me thinking just how different Christmas wish lists are now than when I was growing up.
Thirty years ago, toys required imagination and occasionally a double-A battery or two, if you were fortunate enough to get one of the cool innovative products of the time, ones that seem pedestrian now.
Mostly, boys asked for things like micro machines, Hot Wheels, Masters of the Universe action figures, Wrestling Buddies, baseball cards and Nerf footballs.
Girls wanted items like Cabbage Patch Dolls, Care Bears, Polly Pocket and Rainbow Brite.
Today, most letters to Santa ask for one of the latest gizmos that seem to mesmerize little ones.
Really, it's interesting to see the evolution of how kids entertain themselves.
Back in 1993, some of the favorites among Santa letter writers were Skull Mountain, remote-controlled trucks, Barbie dolls, Sega Genesis game system and Sonic the Hedgehog games, Super Nintendo and bicycles.
Some even asked for VCRs and cassette players, which have become obsolete in today's world of Blue Ray players, Netflix and MP3 players like the iPod.
One national list had the top toys of 1993 as Hide Inside, Discovery Toys, Double Fun Wagon, Rocking Rider Horse, Air Pogo, Jewels in the Attic, Quarto!, The Castle and Northern Light Enterprises, among others.
Beanie Babies were popular around that time too, if memory serves.
Tickle Me Elmo came out a few years later and became the must-have gift of 1996.
Those seem awfully simplistic by today's standards.
Fast forward to 2003, a few favorites among letter writers were skateboards, PlayStation 2, X-Box, Barbie dolls, Game Boys and bicycles.
One national list had the top 2003 toys as Barbie, Care Bears, Hokey Pokey Elmo and My Little Pony.
That may have been the last year traditional toys were the most sought after by little ones from Santa.
I read somewhere that since 2003, the most coveted toys have been tech related.
This year, that's certainly true.
Tablets and gadgets are popular items among kindergarteners, first- and second-graders from Blytheville, Gosnell and Armorel, apparently. Like all other generations, today's little ones seek the in vogue items, but their letters are as candid and cute. For example, here are a few the excerpts from the letters to Santa that will appear in print next week (typed as written by the children).
-- "I have been a little good and a little naughty all year long."
-- "I have been so nice to my sister and brothers. They fill my heart with joy."
-- "I hope you don't get cold when you are dropping of the presents!"
-- "I want an ipod because I see Colton playing his ipod it make me so mad that I want one."
-- "I want an iPad so I can make funny faces."
-- "Santa I will leave some milk and cholate chip cookies and also some vegtables for the raindeer. I hope you have a good flight."
Full disclosure, the first one was from my son Parker and made it way around Facebook last week.
All the letters are enjoyable to read, misspellings and all, and guaranteed to provide a few chuckles.
They also show just how much "toys" have changed over the years.
mbrasfield@blythevillecourier.com