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What children’s toys do you like an adult?

(68 Posts)
CoolCoco Thu 14-Dec-23 07:02:20

With 6 GC we now have quite a collection of things I like - cute Sylvanians, a dolls house built by my DH and decorated ( i.e.played with) by me, I also have some Sasha dolls from the 80s which I always wanted to buy for my DD but were too expensive then. My OH has quite a toy car and boat collection which the GC can play with, but he likes to display. I know some people think men with train sets or women with dollys are a bit dotty, but surely it’s nice to be reminded of some things from childhood ( either our own or our DCs) ?

silverlining48 Mon 18-Dec-23 14:50:03

I kept my own 50 s toys and my children’s 70 s toys, which my gc played with until recently when they lost interest and just play games or talk to friends on their phones, they grow up so soon ( 11 and 14) .
My children will have to get rid of it all, I couldn't, having kept it all for so long, and you never know something could appear on antique road show one day.

VerbenaGirl Mon 18-Dec-23 09:01:03

I do love the wooden toys, particularly a wooden coffee machine I saw recently. But I'm also very driven by the toys that my children and now my grandchild spend the most time with and have grown to love them. Currently, the Tomy eggs are an absolute favourite for 8 month old and a Montessori silicone space ship with lots of strands that can be pulled and chewed.

Mojack26 Mon 18-Dec-23 00:38:53

Sorry ,not sure what all your abbreviations are?🤣Can work out some but confused by others. When I was teaching I had a Headteacher who literally spoke in abbreviations! Hated it. I know it's quicker but only if you know what it's short for...TIA

singingnutty Sun 17-Dec-23 23:36:45

Like a lot of other people, we have got a box of Lego from when our two were little. The two youngest GC always use it when they are at our house. Also we have kept a picnic basket with plastic plates, cups and cutlery, which has been useful for GC and any other visiting small children. A couple of years ago I bought a proper Meccano set for DH with a motor and instructions for making several models. He used to do Meccano when he was a boy. This was a toy just for him to use - the 4 boy GC have not been encouraged to use it -yet- but you never know!

Deedaa Sun 17-Dec-23 22:17:03

GS1 was obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine when he was little. He had a massive collection of trains and tracks. I loved the Thomas books (I was that kind of girl) so I was perfectly happy playing Thomas games with him. His brother loves Harry Potter Lego so I'm always buying new sets.

In the 60s I desperately wanted Julip horses, as advertised in Horse And Hound. They were expensive so I only had two and they eventually got lost in a house move. About 15 years ago I discovered they were still available (and still expensive) but I have now got the collection I'd always wanted.

Jess20 Sun 17-Dec-23 20:25:30

Lego! As adults we have recently acquired a jeep, two Knight Buses made recently, and some Star Wars bits and bionicles in pieces to be made up at some point. Good for the brain!

jocork Sun 17-Dec-23 19:58:17

I acquired a lovely doll's house from freegle recently. The plan is to make/collect furniture and accessories for when GD is old enough. She is only 8 months old so I have time to kit it out and repair some minor issues. I shall have fun doing it too.

winterwhite Sun 17-Dec-23 18:48:48

With 3 DD, yes, Sasha dolls and they all still have them. Their farmyard was the next most played with thing, and played with by me when they were at school. New animals made very good stocking fillers. They also had a Noah’s ark made by DH with attendant zoo animals but not as popular as the farm with its fences that wouldn’t stay up, rows of hens on one base ditto etc

Annma Sun 17-Dec-23 18:09:29

Lego is always great for all ages. I buy large boxes on Marketplace and in charity shops.Awhizz in the dishwasher on the top rack and itis as good as new.

4allweknow Sun 17-Dec-23 17:44:27

Oops, bit ofa wobble - Scalextric

4allweknow Sun 17-Dec-23 17:40:26

Playmobil and Scalectrix

Romola Sun 17-Dec-23 17:37:36

Our daughter had Sacha dolls too. They are still beautiful.
Not a toy - but I bought a new (to me) bicycle recently, and fell in love with it because it reminded me of my first "real" bike, a lovely green Hercules which I had for my 8th Christmas exactly 70 years ago.
This is rather a lovely thread. I know many of us can't help indulging in a bit of nostalgia at this time of year.

CoolCoco Sun 17-Dec-23 15:35:12

fernhillnana I’m not sure if Sasha Morgenthaler was Swiss or German, but the dolls were manufactured at the Trendon factory in Stockport and in Germany at the Gotz factory. They ceased production in England in the 80s, and in Germany in the 90s. You can still buy them on eBay and other selling sites.

undines Sun 17-Dec-23 15:31:38

TEDDIES!

Fernhillnana Sun 17-Dec-23 15:28:16

Sasha and Gregor were, I think, Swiss dolls. No longer made sadly, otherwise I’d buy them. My sister in law was Swiss so I have a (real) Sasha and Gregor niece and nephew!

Fernhillnana Sun 17-Dec-23 15:25:12

Still have boxes of Star Wars in the attic awaiting grandsons’ interest. I just sent some mini Christmas decs from the dolls house for the grandkids to make use of in theirs. Apparently they are putting out food on the (one centimetre) plates for the Christmas fairy tonight. I can’t part with my own teddy let alone my sons. I have daughter’s baby born who is accruing a whole new wardrobe. There will always be children’s toys in my home…

CoolCoco Sun 17-Dec-23 14:46:56

Sashas are vinyl but their hair is rooted and their faces were hand painted, so good quality, hence why they were expensive at the time. They can still fetch £100+ on eBay.

ileea Sun 17-Dec-23 14:45:46

I have kept my children's lego and continue to buy new (to me) bits of it. As a family we also attend Brickcan, a most awesome convention of lego builders.
I also like my in the night garden collection of toys and books, which I started in 2008 just before the first grandchild was born. I discovered ING while on holiday in England that year.
Etch a sketch is also still fun to play with. My 15 year-old GD requested one for Christmas this year.
I also have a couple of trunks of the wood Thomas the train pieces that I enjoy setting up for the little ones.
(I have a 4 year-old GS that lives with me and I look after my 2 year-old GD Mon-fri) so lots of opportunity to play with my toys 🧸 🔫 😉.

CoolCoco Sun 17-Dec-23 14:44:36

Sasha dolls were certainly not American. they were designed by a German artist who lived through WW2 as a child and wanted them to have a neutral expression to reflect the emotions of children at that time. They were made in England and Germany from the late 60s to,the 90s. I guess their expressions make some people think they are a bit Midwitch cuckoos but I think they are very attractive

Daisydaisydaisy Sun 17-Dec-23 14:34:43

My partner had a train set as a child and only in the last few years he has started adding to it and it really is a lovely model Railway …We will be showing My 2year old Grandchild soon as it’s up in the loft 😁

Diplomat Sun 17-Dec-23 14:33:29

Wish they still did the Tiny Tears doll. We have a Silver Cross dolls pram which our granddaughters can nearly reach! I still have a teddy bear from my childhood, 60+ years old, maybe it will be a family heirloom.

Sooze58 Sun 17-Dec-23 14:28:35

Two grandchildren here and I’ve held on to a lot of my children’s classic toys. Lego, Duplo, Brio trains, activity table, walker etc. only one of my children has produced offspring so still have potential from the other 4 and will be hanging on to these toys for them!

henetha Sun 17-Dec-23 14:10:07

My sons loved Lego and Meccano and I enjoyed helping them. I think I'd quite like a Lego set now..grin

Norah Sun 17-Dec-23 13:59:36

Our daughters wooden blocks, Legos, and books.

Nicolenet Sun 17-Dec-23 13:35:27

Dolls houses and furniture. Football table game. Badminton rackets. Board games ...