As a child, I was very fond of all my toys that I had to play with and struggled to throw them away or give them up as I got older. I was the little girl who loved all her dolls and had everything from American Girl dolls to Polly Pockets to Barbie Dolls. I also loved to play with dollhouses and the plastic families that went with these idyllic, albeit pink houses.
When I wanted to play outside, I would spend my time blowing giant bubbles with special big wands, or swinging on the swings in my backyard. I would pretend I was riding the fastest and tallest roller coaster in the world and back then, I was small enough for my dad to give me an “underdog” or a big push that would send me swinging as high as I could.
Indoors, I would set up tea parties of sugar water and graham crackers for my American Girl dolls and dress them in their little outfits, some of which were made by my grandmother, and read them the books that came with the dolls. I would fill the bathroom sink with water and have a pool party with my Polly Pockets one day and the next day have each one dressed up for a fancy party. However, my Barbie dolls were my favorite and to this day, I will still walk down the hot pink aisle at Target just to see the dolls and how much they have changed since I was little.
Some of my fondest memories include playing Barbies with my grandma where we would set up either “Barbie Prom” and dress up the dolls and do their hair in the fanciest hairdos my five-year-old fingers could handle or “Barbie Mall” where we would set up blocks and create little stores filled with clothes, shoes, and accessories and then have my dolls shop at the stores. I would give my dolls makeovers with markers and debate whether I wanted to give my dolls a haircut, knowing it would not grow back (I learned that one the hard way with a Kelly doll at age 3). The craziest memories included taking a jump rope, tying it around my dolls waist or feet and having them “bungee jump” off the banister.
Although it may have taken me longer to let go of my childhood toys than some kids, those toys were a part of who I was. The times I spent with my toys, especially my dolls allowed my imagination run wild and live the dreams and adventures that I secretly wanted to have. I hope that one day, my kids will have toys that they treasure as much as I treasured my childhood toys.
Today, toys leave little to the imagination and more to the split second blinks on a computer screen. Technology is an important part of our future, but the classic toys like dolls and outdoor activities, like blowing bubbles and playing on a swing set, should always be around to show kids where their own imagination can take them.
