Here at Laughology, we love being a little bit playful and so during a recent workshop ice-breaker, we asked delegates about their favourite childhood toys. It led to a very excitable discussion! Keen not to miss out on the fun, we decided to pose a similar question to our team of Laughologists and asked them to share their favourite childhood Christmas presents. Here are the results…
Head of Happiness – Stephanie Davies
Screwball scramble was a maze where you needed to guide the screwball (a metal ball) through a crazy obstacle course in a race against the clock. Using the push button guides, the idea was to take the ball across the tilting walkway, swing the magnetic crane to catch your screwball and wobble across the table maze.
My sister and I spent hours racing against each other and quite often the cat would join In too. Although it all went a bit too far when I put the small metal ball up my nose once to hide it from my sister… A trip to A&E and two hours later, I lost that game as I was out of time.
Head of People, Programmes and Playfulness – Sarah Brown
My favourite Christmas pressie was a go-kart my Grandma made. I wish I had a photo – it was amazing!
So there are 2 reasons I loved it. Number 1 is the fact that in the ’70s, my Grandma made a go-kart. Okay, the chain used to fall off quite a bit and my mum had shares in Daz to get the oil off my clothing, but that made it even more fun.
And secondly, I think this was my inspiration to drive any car like a go-kart and the start of me being an adrenaline junky.
Remembering this has just made me smile ?
Lead Happiness Consultant – Dave Keeling
The ZX Spectrum 48K with fleshy keys – fleshy keys were a very important selling point and were mentioned every time I told someone about this present.
It was actually a joint pressie for me and my older brother Mark in the early ’80s and led to some epic computer game battles/arguments/laughs – be it playing tennis or shooting a black square that moved quickly about the screen. The graphics were shit but to me, it was the future personified!
Lead Education Consultant – Sarah Creegan
Although I wasn’t really a girly girl, I did love my Sindy dolls and, for one Christmas, asked for a Sindy dolls’ house.
Back then, and now, these were REALLY expensive. Out of interest, a vintage one is currently on sale on eBay for £589! So, my lovely (and very talented) dad decided to make me one instead. On Christmas morning, I came downstairs to find the most beautiful dolls’ house decorated just like our house, with off-cuts of carpet and wallpaper, fully furnished with tables, chairs and beds made out of pegs.
Sadly, I can’t find a photo of it, but that doesn’t matter because I can still remember every detail of it and how much fun I had playing with it.
Lead Happiness Consultant – Kerry Leigh
I remember I literally walked past a new bike to look at wrapped presents under the tree, as my mum and brother looked at me with incredulity! How did I miss that?
It was beautiful jade green and my first ‘grown up’ bike. I think I was around 10 or 11 years old. We lived in Australia then and it gave me the freedom to cycle to the beach and local swimming pool with my friends – a feeling I still enjoy when I hop on my bike now.
We hope our favourite toy memories have inspired you to think about your favourite Christmas presents as a child!
