Toys you remember from your childhood Christmas

Christmas presents I remember a chalkboard a post office printing set a book about the world I loved books we didn’t have many in our house.
I wanted a Tressy doll (her hair grows) but never got one they were too expensive my mum told me.
We got one gift and a sock with a tangerine a penny and sweets in it and appreciated it.

I remember walking into our shed and seeing dad making something. He said it was a hen house. We didn't keep chickens. On Christmas day I recognised my dolls cradle as the thing he'd been making. I also got a doll wearing red dungarees. I knew the material was from my old outgrown trousers. Mum said I was right but Santa had made them!

Absolutely obligatory in our family now is a Terry’s Chocolate Orange. First received from my Aunt about early 50’s, of course they are nowhere near as solid these days.
I vividly remember pushing a (carriage built) dolls pram around the landing from my bedroom to my parents’ room and one year Bride doll.

Xylophone, and girls world dolls head. I washed her hair and it was ruined.

I have only read the first page and here..
am I the only elderly (labelled) person, during the war years. we had a stocking, with a satsuma at the bottom, can`t remember much else, we didn`t have toys,, didn`t do us any harm, in fact I think we were and are the better for it.

Up at 5 on Christmas morning to get my Bunty and Judy annuals, I loved them kept them for years. And my Sindy and Tressy dolls.

I loved my spirograph so much so that I have bought one for my 7 year old granddaughter this year, and my first cassette recorder with a Neil Diamond tape.

I have still got my favourite christmas gift, its a real adult sized bureau desk I had aged 10, almost 60 years ago. I really really wanted one and my parents said that if I had that, there would be nothing elese because it was such a big (as in expensive) gift. We went to a local furniture store to see what there was and I found the one that I wanted....parents said "we'll see" On christmas morning it was there! Its not wonderful quality, just plywood and deal but I love it still and still use it.

I used to get those knitting dollies too, I liked making the knitted snake but there was nothing you could use them for.
I remember having a big tricycle with a boot, I loved that. And later a little two-wheeler, second hand but hand-painted pale turquoise blue with little rose transfers on the front.
We were always given a tin of solid white glue which smelt of almonds, and a Cadbury's selection box.
The present I remember most was in the mid-50's, a gift box of beautifully scented toiletries, creams and bath foam. They were posted from one of my mother's friends who had emigrated to Canada after the war. I can still see and smell them now. Also a Bronnely (?spelling) rose geranium gift set of soap and hand cream, and a lemon soap.

GolferGrandma

Absolutely obligatory in our family now is a Terry’s Chocolate Orange. First received from my Aunt about early 50’s, of course they are nowhere near as solid these days.
I vividly remember pushing a (carriage built) dolls pram around the landing from my bedroom to my parents’ room and one year Bride doll.

Yes, we had the chocolate orange and a satsuma. I also had a carriage built pram and a doll in a wedding dress. My mother was a brilliant seamstress and made the lovely satin dress and veil.
My long-suffering cat used to be dressed up in the wedding dress and wheeled about in the pram.

Zoejory, my sister and I collected Britain’s Miniature Garden during our summer holidays visits to grandparents in Bournemouth. We spent ages in Beales toy department deciding on the next set to get. I still have it and my children and grandchildren have played with it. The plastic ‘plants’ are very brittle now.

My best remembered Christmas presents are a bride doll called Dorothy, a large doll that walked when you held her hand and tipped her sideways, on to each leg to make them go forward, John Bull printing set and a pile of books (must have been the year I learned to read).

Whitewavemark2

Anyone remember the magic painting books?

I remember them and I recently bought some for our grandson who loves them. They re still magical!

Whitewavemark2 I remember those magic books I loved them, they always fascinated me how it worked once you added water.
I also had the little red piano. I was very lucky my dear dad was a carpenter so he made me so many wooden toys.

Various dolls with hand-knitted and sewn clothes - I played with dolls until I was about 14.

A doll' s cooker with a full set of saucepans, frying pans, baking trays, grater, ladles - you name it. If you could use it in a kitchen it was there in minature.

Annuals from the comics we read as children.

Zoejory, I always wanted a Katie Kopycat but never had one. I was very lucky though. When I was six l had my Tiny Tears doll, Deborah, and my mum knitted her a lovely set of clothes. I had a Casdon cash register at that time too, probably from my grandparents. My mum kept packets and tins and I had a lot of fun playing shops. As I grew older l had a Lilliput typewriter, Sindy and Sindy bedroom furniture, Pippa and Britt dolls and when I was eleven l had a cassette recorder. I would always have books and at least one annual. Jack and Jill, Twinkle or Pippin when I was very small and Bunty and Judy when I was older. I had a post office set and, as a bookish child, used the stamper in my books to play libraries.

Spirograph

I had much of what has been mentioned here but an unwelcome present comes back to mind.

Whilst I was downstairs, mum put a small bedroom chair in my room and also replaced my beloved cuddly yellow candlewick bedspread with a new quilted slippy shiny one.

I tried not to show too much disappointment but after a few days mum asked if I wanted my old one back. I was over the moon.

The first Xmas present I remember was an earthenware doll - a big baby doll! I was bitterly disappointed. I had clearly asked Father Xmas for a small doll with lots of clothes, he obviously hadn't listened, this baby doll had one outfit - Boo-hoo!

Oooooooo, pretty peach, soap on a rope. Sugar mice, Milly, Molly Mandy books.
One Christmas morning when I woke up, at the end of my bed was a baby doll dressed in the most beautiful clothes with her own shawl. Mum used to knit for a magazine her baby shawls were so beautiful and intricate. Happy days.

Oh yes,Avon pretty peach,it was really lovely

I always had a Magic Drawing Board in my pillowcase along with a chocolate Smokers Set, I also remember Bendy Toys I think I had a Rupert Bear. A face filled with iron filings and a little stick with a magnet to give him a beard, eyebrows, hair. Cut out Dress a Dolly books.

When I was seven (1930) I was given a life size six month baby bisque headed baby doll, Billy Boy. I still have him.
Another time a little table and two chairs. My sister was at the same time given a Worcester dolls tea set so we had lots of tea parties. We always had one expensive present.

A dinosaur 'theatre' !! A big cardboard stage with cellophane covering the stage gap filled with plastic dinosaurs in scenarios with little cavemen! It delighted me so much ! I kept some of the dinosaurs and painted with oils from painting by numbers! A gay box that I broke trying to put together myself aged 5 and never got it replaced☹️ shiny red apple satsuma in pillowcase with presents and dates Brazil nuts to try and crack! Pretty peach set by Avon from my aunty, lovely. I was 12 so bit different from a full body tan HD brows Mani/pedi and waxing voucher sold at local spa for 12 yr olds!!

i don't remember having many toys. However, my great aunt used to make the most delicious fudge for us children. Each piece was individually wrapped and put in boxes she had carefully and beautifully covered with bright paper and ribbons. They were really special.
Another great aunt was good at embroidery. I treasured the things she made for me and keep them safe.

When I turned 13 I was in teen territory! And Aqua Manda was the must have fragrance! Still would love it , deep warm spicy mysterious.......bit like my sock drawer at the time....