I don't know why Silly Putty was so much fun to play with, but myself, my brother and my sister used to love pressing it into the Sunday funnies.
I think if you rolled it up in a ball, it bounced like crazy too.
I had a Mrs. Beasley, and a Crissy, but preferred my Raggedy Ann doll.
I was never really into Barbie at all.
The Slinky was fun, and could also be dangerous LOL