Most kids grow up with normal childhood fears, such as monsters under their beds or being alone in the dark. However, one thing that kids don’t expect to keep them up at night is the toys they play with. Yet throughout the years, a surprising number of playthings have earned a reputation for being more freaky than fun, leaving generations of children equal parts fascinated and terrified.
Monkeys with musical instruments, clowns hiding in colorful boxes, and puppets with a penchant for violence made playtime a bit more edgy and possibly created more anxiety than fun. Here, we look back at some of the most frightening childhood toys and games and how they came to be.