Sometimes when I watch Jessica and Sophie playing, I realise just how much things have changed since I was a little girl. Jessica is already able to use a iPod, turn the TV on and off and change channels and operate the DVD player. When I was her age, I could probably operate the TV but that was because the buttons were on the front! We didn’t have iPods or mobile phones. If we were out playing then Mum had to go and find us or wait for us to come home! Now my sister phones my nieces to tell them it’s dinner time.
I thought it would be interesting to compare some points about childhood for my mum, myself and for Jessica.
My mum – growing up in the 1940s
Earliest childhood memory
Being in an air-raid shelter in the garden with the gas masks and sitting on a bunk bed.
Toys
My brothers had toy guns, whereas we girls had china tea-sets, a dolls’ house, cardboard dress up dolls and also tiny rubber dolls that we used to make clothes for.
Games
Snakes and ladders, ludo and tiddlywinks,football games with buttons on the table and card games like Old Maid.
TV/technology
No TV, but there were some children’s programmes on the radio – I used to love Dick Barton Special Agent.
Outdoor play
There was a grass area at the bottom of the road with a tree where we used to play. We also used to play marbles and rounders in the street. Back in those days you could play in the roads safely as there were hardly any cars. We did a lot of walking and would go out to the woods and pick handfuls of bluebells or try to catch tadpoles with a net in the stream. On Sundays we would go out with our parents in the afternoon after Sunday school and there would be a band playing in the bandstand at the park.
Days out
We occasionally went to the seaside, or to the circus if it was in town. My parents also took us to the zoo or we would have a day out at a fair.
Sweets
I remember having toffee that you used to break with a little hammer, barley sugars, jelly babies and lollipops.
Comics/magazines
The Beano and the Dandy plus the Rupert Bear annuals.
At home
I shared a bedroom with my three sisters – we shared a double bed and slept top and tail.
Me – growing up in the 1980s
Earliest childhood memory
I can remember standing by the orange toilet in the pub where we lived and playing with a ball which had knobbly bits sticking out of it.
Toys
We had lots of toys: dolls, Barbies, Sylvanian Families, Baby Talk, Teddy Ruxpin were the ones I can particularly remember. My favourite toy was a rag doll called Susie.
Games
Lots of classics like snakes and ladders and ludo but we also loved Kerplunk, Ghost Castle and Hungry Hippos.
TV/technology
There were a couple of hours of children’s TV on each day in the afternoons or at lunchtime. Favourite programmes were Bagpuss, Rainbow, Super Ted, Knightmare, Fraggle Rock and Teddy Ruxpin.
Outdoor play
We played tennis in front of the garages and kerbsies in a quiet side road. The park was great fun – there was a big climbing frame that we loved to climb (I can still remember the sense of achievement when I managed to get to the top!) and a big slide. It was all concrete back then – I can remember the council changing it all and making it much safer when I was about ten or so but when I was little it must have been quite dangerous. We also went wandering around the fields locally collecting frogspawn and swinging on tyre swings across the stream.
Days out
In the summer holidays, Mum and Dad would take us to Thorpe Park, Chessington, Marwell Zoo and the beach where we would play on the 2p machines or go to the funfair.
Sweets
Penny sweets were the best – and I can just about remember halfpenny sweets too when I was really little!
Comics/magazines
Twinkle and Care Bear comics were my favourites as a little girl and then later on The Beano and The Dandy.
At home
My twin sister and I shared a room and had bunk beds. One of my older sisters shared a room with us for a while before she moved out.
Jessica – growing up in the 2010s
Earliest childhood memory
Hopefully will be a good one!
Toys
Duplo, pram, baby dolls, Playmobil zoo and In the Night Garden figures are all favourites.
Games
Jessica is a little young for board games just yet but she loves jigsaws.
TV/technology
CBeebies is available from 6am to 7pm but I think some of the other kids TV channels might be available 24/7. I like the fact that CBeebies goes to bed! Jessica also loves using iPod to play games on.
Outdoor play
We have a play house in the garden (similar to the one I had as a little girl) and Jessica loves her trike and going to the park. Everything is much safer in the park than it was when I was Jessica’s age – less danger of her falling and hurting herself. It was quite a shock when we took her to a play area in France and she wanted to go on the slide which was about 5ft high with open sides at the top and gravel all around it!
Days out
Legoland, book bench hunting, treasure trails.
Sweets
Jessica doesn’t eat many sweets yet (has yet to discover most of the sweets that are out there!) but she does love chocolate buttons!
Comics/magazines
So many to choose from! Jessica loves the CBeebies comics, especially the In the Night Garden one and also likes Peppa Pig.
At home
At the moment Jessica has her own room but she will be sharing with Sophie once Sophie moves out of our room.
What are your childhood memories and how does your childhood compare to your child’s?
Linking in with Sara at mumturnedmom for this week’s Prompt: “The highlight of my childhood was making my brother laugh so hard that food came out of his nose.” (Garrison Keillor)
It’s interesting to read how much has changed in the last seventy years. Technology has advanced so much hasn’t it and kids now seem to have access to masses of toys and tv and child-friendly activities. In some ways it’s great but I do sometimes think today’s kids have lost some of their freedoms. I was also a child on the 80’s so all those references are very familiar. Knightmare was one of my favourite programmes! #theprompt
I think we had more freedom too. Some things haven’t changed that much – it’s still the simple things that are often the most fun. Knightmare was a brilliant programme – used to love it 🙂
Interesting comparisons! I grew up in the 70s/80s too and I remember going to the local post office with my sister to buy a bag of sweets with 10p each – we used to spend hours on end choosing what we have in our paper bag – up to as many as 20 sweets as some of them only cost half a p! those were the day! I think in some ways nothing really changes but technology has come on so fast since then… #ThePrompt
Ah the joys of being able to get lots of sweets for just 10p! Am shocked by how much pick n mix costs now x
OMG don’t remind me – recently spent £2.40 on a few meagre scoopfuls in a gift shop. Never again!!
Love how you’ve showed the changing times….really makes for an interesting post with a bit of history thrown in. Nice one! X
Absolutely love this, what a brilliant and interesting approach to this weeks prompt! It is incredible how much has changed, particularly in terms of technology. My 2yo is already able to use the iPad… I grew up in the 70s/80s and your mention of penny sweets brought back lovely memories of choosing our 10p mixes in the shop on the way to the bus stop after school on a Friday 🙂 Thanks so much for linking to #ThePrompt x
Thanks Sara – really enjoyed chatting to my mum about her childhood – was so interesting. Ah the days of getting lots of sweets for 10p… Lovely to join in with #ThePrompt again 🙂
Great comparison. You’re from the South Coast too! I grew up going between Thorpe Park, Marwell and Chessington.
Teddy Ruxspin freaks me out. Still can’t stand those things.
It’s all changed so much. X
Yes grew up just north of Portsmouth so all those places were great for day trips 🙂