The survey of 2,000 grandparents and parents exploring how toys and the way children play with them has changed, was commissioned by Busy Bees to celebrate the nursery group’s 40th anniversary.
It found that each adult has an average of 20 toys stashed away from the 19760,70s, 80s and 90s, with 65 per cent planning to pass their old toys to their children or grandchildren. Popular toys that respondents said they have kept include Fisher Price telephones, Slinkys, Rubik’s Cubes, Gameboys and Etch-a-Sketch.
Nearly six in 10 (57 per cent) said they have kept their treasured toys from their childhood because they hold special memories.
More than one in four (28 per cent) think they could be sitting on a 'goldmine', however 47 per cent said they love their toys so much they have no intention of selling them.
Comparing their favourite childhood toys to those available today, two-thirds don’t think they make toys like they used to, and 59 per cent wish the ones they ‘cherished’ were still being produced today.
Half of those surveyed believe their traditional toys encouraged them to be more active, while 45 per cent felt like they stimulated cognitive development.
'No matter how drastically toys may have changed in the past 40 years, it’s the values of play that remain the same.'
Marg Randles, co-founder of Busy Bees, said, ‘It is heart-warming to learn that so many people have saved their precious childhood toys in order to pass them down through the generations.
‘It really is a reminder that while toys may have changed over the years, the pleasure they provide and the important role they play in a child’s development remains the same.
‘Over the last 40 years, there have been huge changes in toys and the patterns of play – from the characters and materials used, to the introduction of technology.
‘To mark our 40th anniversary, we wanted to celebrate play and showcase just how important it is to a child’s formative years.’
She added, ‘No matter how drastically toys may have changed in the past 40 years, it’s the values of play that remain the same and that’s why so many parents and grandparents want to pass on the beloved toys from their childhood to share in their joy with future generations.’
As part of Busy Bees' Nostalgia campaign, children from the group's nurseries were given toys from the 1980s to play with.
Children from Busy Bees' nurseries playing with a Rubik's Cube
The Top 40 toys families have kept, according to the survey:
- Barbie
- LEGO
- Hot Wheels
- I. Joe
- Suzy Homemaker
- Fisher Price telephone
- Lite-Brite
- Slinky
- Rubik’s Cube
- Nerf Ball
- Fisher Price record player
- Sylvanian Family
- My Little Pony
- Etch A Sketch
- Fisher Price Little People
- Game Boy
- Weebles
- He-Man action figure
- Beanie Babies
- SEGA
- Troll Doll
- Potato Head
- Barbie’s Dream House
- Care Bear
- Tonka Truck
- Star Wars action figures
- Transformers
- Playmobil
- Simon
- Chatter Telephone
- Polly Pocket
- Cabbage Patch Kids
- Chatty Cathy
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures
- Easy-Bake Oven
- Flatsy Doll
- Teddy Ruxpin
- Speak & Spell
- See ‘n Say
- Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine