Anyone remember this? I wonder if a version of this toy is still around?
The toy in the photos is commonly remembered as “Footsie” or “Footsee,” and it belongs to the same family of toys later known as Lemon Twist, Skip-It, ankle skip ball, or ankle skipper. The version shown here has a yellow plastic ankle hoop, a green cord, and a red bell-shaped plastic weight at the end. The package identifies it as “Footsie for Boys & Girls.”
How did it work?
The plastic hoop slipped loosely around one ankle. The child would swing the cord so the red plastic piece spun in a circle near the ground. Each time it came around, the player had to hop over the cord with the other foot. It was part coordination game, part exercise toy, and part playground challenge. Like a small hula hoop for the ankle, it was simple, inexpensive, and surprisingly addictive.
When did it become popular?
Toys of this type became playground favorites in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Similar ankle-spinning toys appeared under different names, including Footsee in 1968 and later Lemon Twist in the mid-1970s. The better-known Skip-It version became especially popular in the 1980s and 1990s, when Tiger Electronics sold a version with a counter that tracked spins.
What was its purpose?
The Footsie toy was mainly made for outdoor play, playground fun, coordination, balance, rhythm, and light exercise. Kids used it to see how many hops they could complete without missing. It helped develop timing because the player had to watch the spinning cord, predict its movement, and jump at exactly the right moment.
Why do people remember it so fondly?
Footsie was the kind of toy that did not need batteries, screens, or complicated rules. One child could play alone, but it also worked as a group challenge: friends would count hops, compete for the highest score, or try tricks. For many Americans who grew up in the 1960s, 1970s, or later with Skip-It, it represents a time when playground toys were simple but physically active.
Is a version of this toy still around today?
Yes. Modern versions are still sold, usually under names like “ankle skip ball,” “ankle skipper,” “skip ball,” or “Skip-It style toy.” Many newer versions use light-up wheels, digital counters, timers, or foldable designs, but the basic idea is still the same: loop it around one ankle, swing it in a circle, and jump over it as it comes around.
One important note: the exact Footsie package in the photo may not be the original U.S. playground version from the late 1960s. The package says “Made in China,” so it may be a later copy, reissue, or imported version of the same ankle-skipping concept. Still, the design clearly belongs to the same nostalgic toy family that many people remember from schoolyards and sidewalks.
In short, Footsie was a classic ankle-spinning jump toy: simple, cheap, active, and memorable. It may look basic today, but for kids of that era, it could turn a playground into a competition in seconds.