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Toys Were Much Simpler In The Past

Updated on May 03, 2023. Originally added on Dec 01, 2015 by Daniel Pinna

Toys were much simpler in the days before technology gave us video games, smart phones, and computers.

The most popular children's gifts were often made out of wood, metal and hair. In fact, before the billion dollar toy industry we have today, many toys were handmade at home by creative and crafty mothers and fathers.

In these photos you can tell the children were genuinely happy with their toys, and you might just find yourself longing for a small taste of this simpler life.

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Children & their Toys in History

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It’s Howdy Doody time!

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Natasha Medeiros
43 favorites
shared on 09/01/2011

Melinda proudly displaying her big-girl bike in 1959

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Jeremy Falcone
9 favorites
shared on 10/06/2013
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Engineers of today played with Erector Sets as kids

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I wouldn’t mess with him

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A very basic toy: a hoop and a stick

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Her first ball

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Woah that’s one big plane!

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Coonskin hats (aka Daniel Boone hats) were all the rage during the 1950s

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Baby tricyle in 1926

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Photo of Beth Chihak Beth Chihak
5 favorites
shared on 02/17/2015

Mickey Mouse and Christmas seem to go hand in hand (1956)

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Catherine Frankforter is proud of her toy collection

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Boys can have dolls too

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They look SO happy with their wagon! (1920s)

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Jeffery Hill
6 favorites
shared on 07/14/2013

Dashing through the snow

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Photo of Dayne Skolmen Dayne Skolmen
61 favorites
shared on 03/12/2014

Big sister pulling along little sister in a toy wagon

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Learning to ride

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Photo of Amber Rohlf Amber Rohlf
9 favorites
shared on 07/12/2013

Trained for work at a young age. Joseph Gabai with his own toy wheelbarrow in Paris around 1944

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A new bicycle - probably one of the longest running best gifts for the holidays

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Photo of Bikeboy Inspace Bikeboy Inspace
4 favorites
shared on 07/22/2013

A little red wagon with your very own goat

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Photo of JoAnne Yarborough JoAnne Yarborough
2 favorites
shared on 07/21/2013

Just try to catch me

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Photo of Steve Betz Steve Betz
26 favorites
shared on 05/15/2013

This isn't what he wanted for Christmas...

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An impressive two-track train set

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When you outgrow your stroller it makes for a great toy

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Bob Kenney
13 favorites
shared on 08/24/2014

How much is that toy in the window?

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A happy Christmas indeed

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A Jack-in-the-Box from 1951

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Three kids with three great gifts

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Photo of Bahar Hart Bahar Hart
36 favorites
shared on 08/29/2014
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