Being a Kid Again: Toy Memories

By Carolyn Campbell

From roller skates to paper dolls, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, Erector Sets, and Slinkys, toys are part of cherished childhood memories. Maybe because we only had a few, the toys we received seemed to be more special. Think of the excitement of Christmas morning. Remember the teddy bear that slept beside you, the doll you talked to when you felt lonely, the Monopoly game you played for hours? 

In past decades, life was less hectic. Pretending was something most children were expert at. Boys played with slingshots, trucks, plastic soldiers, and wooden guns. Girls played dress-up in their moms’ clothes and “played house” with dolls, carriages, and play kitchens. Children built forts by draping blankets over card tables and created miniature civilizations in a sandbox.

Toys enriched our imaginations, helped us have fun, and allowed us to try out new aspects of life. Memories of toys are reminders of innocence, endless energy, and freewheeling imagination. Reminiscences of toys bring back thoughts of long, carefree summer days and the precious moments of free time after school and before dinner. 

Toys from the past were simpler compared to what today’s market offers but gave more hours of make believe fun. We can look back on our childhood toys with feelings of joy as we reminisce. Take a walk down memory lane and enjoy the history of some favorite toys from years gone by. See if the toys described below help you recall special moments from your childhood. 

Tinkertoys

The Tinkertoy Construction Set was created in 1914—one year after the Erector Set. Charles J. Pajeau and Robert Pettit designed the toy after seeing children play with pencils and empty spools of thread. The two men set out to market a toy that would inspire children to use their imaginations. Tinkertoys have been used to create surprisingly complex machines such as a Tinkertoy “computer” that can play tic-tac-toe and a robot.

Slinky 

Naval engineer Richard James invented the Slinky in the early 1940s. He was developing springs that could support and stabilize sensitive instruments aboard ships in rough seas. He accidentally knocked a spring from a shelf and watched as it “stepped” to a stack of books, to a tabletop, and then to the floor where it recoiled itself and stood upright. After the Slinky was demonstrated at Gimbels department store in November 1945, it was an instant hit, selling its entire inventory of 400 units in 45 minutes. The Slinky was originally priced at $1.00 and has remained modestly priced throughout its history, due to the inventor’s wife’s concern that it be affordable to financially disadvantaged customers. “So many children can’t have expensive toys, and I feel a real obligation to them,” she said. In the last 60 years, 300 million Slinkys have been sold.

Lincoln Logs

Lincoln Logs were the name of a children’s toy consisting of notched miniature logs, used to build miniature forts and buildings. The logs measure ¾ of an inch in diameter and are notched at the end so that small model log buildings can be created. They were invented by John Lloyd Wright, son of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. They are still on the market and popular with many children today.

Board Games

Eleanor Abbot created the game Candy Land while she recovered from polio. It was published by Milton Bradley in 1949. The Candy Land game board represented a road in a kingdom, and the object of each player was to be the first to make it to the “finish line” in order to win the game. A similar game called Chutes and Ladders was published by Milton Bradley in 1943. It is based on a story line of children being rewarded for good deeds and suffering consequences for “bad” deeds. The object of the game of Chutes and Ladders is to advance to the end of the game without falling into a chute. If a player lands on one or more ladders, it can help him advance to the last square of the game faster. 

Mr. Potato Head

Hasbro introduced Mr. Potato Head in 1952. Mr. Potato Head was inspired by the idea that children like to play with their food. Originally, the toy included just parts—plastic eyes, ears, mouths, and noses—and kids were instructed to use them to dress up real potatoes. Eight years later, the modern version of the toy was born when Hasbro introduced a hard plastic potato.

Matchbox Cars

In 1954, Jack Odell created the first Matchbox car. Designed to look like a Road Roller, he put it in a matchbox so his daughter could bring it to school. Today, 100 million Matchbox cars are sold each year.

Yo-Yo

A yo-yo consists of two equally sized and weighted discs of plastic, wood, or metal, connected with an axle and a string tied around. This toy first became popular in the 1920s, lasting well into the 50s. It is still popular today.

Crayola Crayons 

Crayola brand crayons were the first kids’ crayons ever made. They were invented by cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith. The brand’s first box of eight Crayola crayons made its debut in 1903. The crayons sold for a nickel, and the colors were black, brown, blue, red, purple, orange, yellow, and green. The word Crayola was created by Edwin Binney’s wife, who took the French words for chalk (craie) and oily (oleaginous) and combined them. Today, there are over one hundred different types of crayons made by Crayola, including crayons that sparkle with glitter, glow in the dark, smell like flowers, change colors, and wash off walls.

Conclusion

Children love toys for similar reasons that adults love recreation. They love toys that encourage them to move because they feel great when they release their energy. This is why the ball has never gone out of style. 

Children also love to figure things out, master a puzzle, or solve a mystery. Challenging toys help them feel that they’re doing something important. When they pass the challenge, they feel accomplished and good. 

Of course, children also love toys that can comfort them and be with them during the quiet time at the end of a long day. For girls, this can be teddy bears or doll sets. Little boys may prefer a plastic car or squeezable object. No matter what kind of toy it is, if it makes a child laugh or keeps him happy, it’s a winning toy. Memories of our favorite toys and the happy feelings we experienced as a child can bring us similar comfort even today!