If you’ve ever watched a child’s face light up over a new toy, you already know this: toys are not “extra.” They’re pure joy, comfort, imagination, and learning—all wrapped in plastic, fabric, and cardboard. 

That’s why our team at ServiceOne is so passionate about our Toys for Tots drive. We work on air conditioners and plumbing all day, but at heart, we’re big kids who still remember the thrill of unwrapping a favorite toy. So, in this final week of our Toys for Tots campaign, we’re taking a playful stroll through the history of American toys, today’s booming toy industry, and the very real reasons that toys matter so deeply in a child’s development. 

From Hand-Carved Horses to Hot Wheels: A Quick History of American Toys 

In America’s early years, toys were simple, sturdy, and often handmade. Children played with carved wooden horses, rag dolls, hoops, and spinning tops—objects created by parents or local craftsmen. Industrialization changed that dramatically. By the late 1800s, toy factories were humming, producing tin fire engines, board games, and colorful puzzles for a growing middle class. Companies like McLoughlin Brothers set the tone with vibrant lithographed games and puzzles, making “store-bought” toys an exciting novelty. 

The real boom came after World War II. With the arrival of the Baby Boom and the rise of suburban living, the toy industry skyrocketed—from about $84 million in annual sales in 1940 to nearly $900 million by 1953. Mattel introduced Barbie in 1959, Hasbro introduced G.I. Joe in 1964, and Hot Wheels raced onto the scene in 1968. Kids suddenly had franchises, characters, accessories, and worlds to build. And adults—well, we’ve spent the last 60 years stepping barefoot on the LEGO bricks that came with them. 

Even though many manufacturers shifted production overseas in the 1980s to reduce costs, American companies kept designing and dreaming from their headquarters here at home. That blend of creativity and nostalgia still shapes the toy aisle today. 

The Multi-Billion-Dollar Business of Fun 

Here’s something that might surprise you: toys are one of America’s most resilient industries. In 2024, U.S. retail toy sales reached roughly $28.3 billion, representing about 71% of the market, and when projected to full-market scale, the number comes in closer to $42 billion. Prices have risen, kids’ tastes have evolved, and tech toys have joined the mix—but overall spending remains strong. Even with a flat year in 2024, toy purchases were still more than 25% higher than before the pandemic. And as of 2025, the industry is growing again, with sales up between 6–7% in the first half of the year. 

So yes—Americans spend a lot on toys. Yet many children right here in Central Florida will only get a toy this season because someone like you cared enough to donate. That’s the heart of Toys for Tots: transforming a big national industry into a personal, local act of love. 

Who Makes All This Fun? 

The toy aisle may feel endless, but a handful of companies anchor the industry. LEGO continues to dominate worldwide, building everything from fantasy castles to robotic engineering kits. Mattel holds a huge slice of the American market with Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, and UNO. Hasbro brings us Nerf, Transformers, board games like Monopoly, and countless movie and TV tie-ins. 

Just behind these giants are well-known favorites like Spin Master (Paw Patrol, Kinetic Sand), Bandai Namco (anime figures and gaming collectibles), Funko, Moose Toys, JAKKS Pacific, TOMY, and Melissa & Doug. Whether the toy you donate is a blockbuster brand or a smaller specialty gem, it will find its way into hands that need it. 

What Are the “Hot Toys” This Year? 

Every retailer publishes their “it” list of the season, but the real story is in the patterns. Building toys continue to dominate, with LEGO Star Wars and LEGO City sets popping up on nearly every national hot list. Classic brands like Barbie, Hot Wheels, Nerf, and Beyblade are having another strong year—proving that timeless play never goes out of style. Pretend-play toys and screen-free storytelling gadgets are trending too, as more parents appreciate toys that spark imagination without requiring a login screen. 

STEM toys have earned their place near the top as well. Robot-building kits, engineering sets, and marble-run systems are showing up everywhere from school gift catalogs to “best toy of the year” awards. 

What about Florida kids? 

While Florida-specific data isn’t published annually, patterns remain surprisingly consistent. The Sunshine State tends to mirror national trends, with Barbie dolls, LEGO kits, Nerf balls, Hot Wheels track sets, and character-themed toys topping many Florida gift guides. If you’re choosing a toy for Toys for Tots, you can feel confident picking something from any of those categories—they’re reliably loved, easy to distribute across age groups, and guaranteed to bring joy. 

Why Kids Need Toys (and Why Your Donation Matters) 

Beyond the fun, toys play a transformative role in a child’s development. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes play as “essential,” not optional, because it shapes how children think, communicate, and build emotional resilience. 

Play helps form the structure of the developing brain, strengthening neural pathways tied to creativity, memory, and adaptability. As children make up stories with dolls or action figures, they practice language and emotional expression. As they negotiate the rules of a board game or share building blocks, they learn cooperation, patience, and problem-solving. Even simple pretend-play helps children process stress and gain a sense of control over their world. 

A toy car might look like just a car—but to a child, it becomes a rescue mission, a race, or an adventure. A building set becomes a physics experiment. A doll becomes a lesson in empathy. Toys are tools for learning, healing, and growing. 

That’s why your Toys for Tots donation is more than a present. It’s an opportunity. It’s comfort. It’s compassion.  

How Your Gift Touches a Life 

Every toy dropped into a Toys for Tots collection box begins a journey. It will be sorted, matched, wrapped, and delivered to a child whose family may not have been able to buy gifts this year. Parents breathe easier. Children feel seen and valued. And whole communities feel just a little more connected. 

Here at ServiceOne, we spend our days keeping homes comfortable—fixing the AC, installing water heaters, solving plumbing headaches—but during the holidays, we also get to help bring comfort of a different kind. And that’s a privilege we don’t take lightly. 

Join Us in Filling the Boxes 

There is still time to make this our biggest and brightest Toys for Tots season yet. Pick up a new, unwrapped toy—maybe a LEGO set,  a Barbie, a classic board game, or a creative kit—and drop it off at any of our designated collection spots. 

One toy won’t solve every problem, but it will light up one child’s world. 

And that is everything.