Toys and Christmas are inseparable. Well, since the early nineteenth century England. That would have been the industrial revolution. Toys didn't exist as they do today - a small object such as a hairpin, a fancy snuff box or a bauble was something given to children as a gift. It was in the 1800s that toys came about - toys that we would recognize - chemistry sets, kaleidoscopes, toy theatres.
In U.S. Colonial times, children received books, fruit and nuts. These are described as "small tokens of affection as parents showed children that they were remembered during the season." That's from this site HERE.
Things got better for children as time went on. Christmas evolved into a family event compared to earlier rowdy times. Toy(s) were given as gifts. Mostly, singular, a toy was given.
After WW2 there was a period of prosperity and Christmas became lavish. This is when things really happened for children at Christmas. The top toys by decade since the 1950s tell the story:
1950s – Barbie makes her debut.
1960s – G.I Joe, Play Cookers and Etch a Sketch.
1970s – Star Wars is released.
1980s – The Rubik Cube craze hits!
1990s – Furby, Game Boy and Power Rangers.
2000s – Nintendo Wii and Bratz Dolls.
2010s – Playstation and Xbox.
What are the toys this year? You have to decide a category and age, But Barbie and her dream house is back, LEGO is still here and Hot Wheels probably never left.
Here's the miniature village at the Museum last year, it has gone to another location to raise money for charity.
"Over the last few months, bulbous and brightly colored plush toys have sparked a Beanie Babies-style craze among children, teenagers and adults alike.
Squishmallows, a line of soft, huggable toys created in 2017, have exploded in popularity during the pandemic, thanks to social media and in particular TikTok (or “SquishTok,” as fans call it). Collectors say the stuffed animals have given them comfort in a painful year, and that hunting for them has fostered a much-needed sense of community during an extended period of isolation. That's 73 million towns sold by March 2021.
Ilana Wiles, 46, a mother and Instagram influencer in New York City, said that she and her husband often take their 11-year-old daughter, Mazzy, on Squishmallow scavenger hunts around the city and on Long Island.
“It’s a fun activity, and they’re not that expensive if you’re buying them at a retail store,” Ms. Wiles said. “It’s a very big reward for not a lot of money.” Most of the toys are priced between $10 and $40, depending on their size." The picture shows an 18 year-ld with 70 squishmallows covering her bed and walls. Is she one of the "teenagers and adults alike?"
I understand the attraction of a retail scavenger hunt. I don't know what to make of "the hoarding collector". It doesn't seem attractive like yesterday's whimsy of four leaf clover collecting.
One of the benefit of an online New York Times subscription is seeing the popular headlines: "Who owns the space behind your airplane seat?"
