Gransnet forums

Chat

Toys We Yearned For.

(42 Posts)
Calendargirl Sun 19-Sept-21 16:34:59

Reading another thread about toys, how today’s children have too many, set me off thinking back to the toys we wanted but didn’t receive.

When I was about 6, sixty odd years ago, some shoes were advertised on tv, plastic ones with stiletto type heels, in a clear sort of colour. How I longed for these shoes from Santa! Needless to say, both Santa and my mum were in agreement, that such silly shoes would lead to a sprained ankle or worse.

Still think about them though. ?

Deedaa Sun 19-Sept-21 21:17:21

I'm not sure what I wanted, I certainly didn't like girlie toys. I know I wanted a bike for a long time but that was considered too dangerous (and probably too expensive) I never have been able to ride one so it would probably have been a waste of money. When I was old enough to read my aunt's Horse and Hound I became desperate for a Julip horse but I had to wait till I had a Saturday job and could buy my own.

Jaxjacky Sun 19-Sept-21 21:36:00

I wanted a bike too and got one, it was second hand and my Dad had done it all up, repainted in maroon, I loved it. I can remember wheeling it in from where it was hidden, very happy!

GagaJo Sun 19-Sept-21 21:40:15

I don't recall really wanting anything, other than a Tiny Tears. I did get a 2nd hand one, but one of the eyes had been pushed in and I hated it.

I'm still not very materialistic and I think I must have been like this as a child. Loved getting books and book tokens.

I actually got a Tressy AND a Cindy one year. My granny bought them for me. I liked them but wasn't a huge fan.

Redhead56 Sun 19-Sept-21 21:45:22

I wanted a Tressy doll but never got one my mum couldn't afford it.

Polarbear2 Sun 19-Sept-21 21:45:48

Amberone

^I had Tressy 'her hair grows', it did but was quite hard to style, and getting it back into the doll took ages.^

I think I said on another thread somewhere that I cut my Tressy's hair off. Don't know if I expected it to grow again, or what ?

I did that too ?. I was addicted to the Dolls hospital page in June and Schoolfriend magazine. I thought I could make all my dolls better like they did so I cut hair and drew biro spots on their faces. Mum was furious and I got a major telling off.

Polarbear2 Sun 19-Sept-21 21:47:19

I also wanted a Sindy doll - and got one! I ran round to my “friend” next door but one to show her. Only to find she had Sindy, Paul, the car and the little sister. I was devastated.

NotTooOld Sun 19-Sept-21 22:25:14

Well, I never knew the Pink Witch bike had a lipstick holder. That might have put me right off. I did get a bike in the end, by the way, and it was a nice one, albeit second hand and not a PW.
I also had some of the Woolworths roller skates, the ones with a nut and bolt in the middle that can be extended. I don't remember actually learning to skate on them.

JenniferEccles Sun 19-Sept-21 22:34:24

I went through a phase when I wanted a rocking horse, but I don’t think I conveyed the message enough as I never got one.
I did have a pogo stick one Christmas though which I loved!

TwiceAsNice Sun 19-Sept-21 22:45:40

I don’t remember wanting anything in particular when I was a child but DD2 still says she wishes I’d got her the Mr Frosty that made lurid coloured drinks. As she was allergic to red colouring she never got one! DD1 said the same about a Ra Ra skirt. I was obviously a terrible mother!!

Casdon Sun 19-Sept-21 22:49:43

A John Bull printing set. I wanted to be a journalist and thought this was the bees knees. My mum wasn’t keen as it had tiny little rubber letters and I had younger siblings who would spoil it or eat it.
I kept on about it after Christmas, and in the end my Nanna got it for my birthday but it had to stay at her house - I visited for the night regularly for ages after.

BrianStron Wed 22-Sept-21 07:55:28

I'm not sure if I can remember a certain toy that I wanted when I was a kid. But I remember that my family lived too far from any playground, and my mother had to walk with me to the next street to play with other kids. I believe that it was the reason why I bought my children their own wooden playground, so they could play there whenever they want, and since it's at home, I always know that they're safe. They always find some games to play there, and it's shocking to me that they can spend hours there.

annodomini Wed 22-Sept-21 08:37:49

In the 1940s there wasn't a wide choice of toys. We got what we were given and knew we were lucky as our family was more affluent than some. For some unknown reason, I yearned for a black doll, though I was never one to play with dolls. On Christmas morning there she was at the end of my bed, in a dress made of material I knew my mum had used for us too. My sister had a matching white doll, similarly dressed.

annsixty Wed 22-Sept-21 09:27:11

Born before WW2 toys were very scarce and of course no tv advertising made us very in materialistic.
We didn’t know what the latest toys were and I suspect not much manufacturing was on toys.
I always got books for Christmas and as I had a doll I must have had that given at some time.
I had a second hand home made dolls house but I hadn’t asked for it, however it was very treasured and played with by the hour.

annsixty Wed 22-Sept-21 09:28:09

Unmaterialistic!!

Shelbel Wed 22-Sept-21 09:36:08

I wanted one of those model heads that you could put make up on and do their hair. My mother proclaimed it cheap and nasty so not appropriate. I had action girl and her horse instead.

M0nica Wed 22-Sept-21 19:55:46

I wanted a scooter, the old-fashioned type propelled by one foot pushing it along. My mother said 'no'. I suspect scooters were too expensive. I remember praying that I could have a scooter when I got to heaven and also that I would still want one when I was old, so that I would enjoy having a scooter in heaven.

Actually, I do still fancy an old fashioned scooter!