Remember when a vintage slumber party brought noise, snacks & secrets to countless 80s living rooms?
A slumber party brought chaos, candy and confessions to countless American homes — the loudest and most legendary way to grow up.
children
Old playgrounds were risky, thrilling and full of sharp edges — see how kids from the past played hard and (mostly) survived.
If you were a mid-century suburban kid you likely had a tubular metal swing set like one of these! Check out this nostalgia trip back to the backyards of your childhood.
Here is a collection of 24 colorful vintage Easter cards from the early twentieth century!
How much did you love this Brach’s Easter candy from the 60s? Bunnies, chicks, chocolate eggs & more
Brach’s Easter candy from the ’60s included chocolate malt & chocolate creme eggs, marshmallow-filled chicks and rabbits, and tiny jelly bird eggs.
What did people think of autism in the 1960s? Here’s a look back at some of the attempts to understand In the 1960s, autism was
Do you remember Shrinky Dinks? They were DIY crafts that could be made by coloring on a plastic sheet, cutting out the various shapes, and then shrinking them down using heat.
Let Christmas stocking stuffers of yesteryear inform your Christmas list THIS year! We’ve rounded up over 30 vintage Christmas stocking stuffers we loved in days gone by.
We found a treasure trove of letters to Santa dating back to the 1930s (and they are adorable!). Come see what kids were asking for back in the day.
Try not to be too creeped out by this collection of vintage Halloween party ideas spanning over a century!
These cheap vintage Halloween masks & costumes proved that when you spent a couple bucks to get ready for trick-or-treating, you got what you paid for. But the kids? They loved it.
Remember having fun in vintage playhouses & forts like these? Take a look back at some of these retro play structures through the decades, from the ’50s through the ’80s!
While many of us recall Dean Stockwell most fondly for playing Al Calavicci on Quantum Leap, he actually started out as a child actor and appeared in several films alongside well-known stars through the decades. Here’s a look!
Vintage lunch boxes from the mid-century are a very specific, quirky slice of Americana. Featuring fanciful designs, lunch boxes back then featured everything from scenes
Somewhere in that golden haze after Sesame Street, there was a little TV show called New Zoo Revue. Take a look back to that oh-so-retro kids’ show here!
Remember how yummy baby aspirin tasted? Flashback to those fever dreams of yore with this collection of everything vintage baby aspirin.
From Carrie Fisher to Gene Kelly, explore a gallery of celebrity baby pictures and scenes from childhood that are sure to evoke a collective “Aww!”
Dive into the nostalgia of 80s toys! From Transformers to Strawberry Shortcake, explore the iconic playthings that made the 1980s a decade of fun.
Old toys collectively reflect the fun & creativity that drove playtime way back when, and we have collected dozens of photo examples for your nostalgic enjoyment!
These fun vintage mechanical rides – including the ubiquitous coin-operated horse – made millions of kids smile.
Explore the history and enduring appeal of Wonder Horses, the iconic ride-on spring rocking horse toys that galloped into the hearts of children from the 1950s to the 1980s!
3D covers with lenticular printing made these vintage Puppet Storybooks from the 60s & 70s super fun
With 3D lenticular printing on the covers and full-color stop-motion animation-like illustrations, these vintage Puppet Storybooks were irresistible to kids!
Young Ron Howard, the red-haired moppet of “The Andy Griffith Show,” is that rare child actor without guile and a Hollywood head.
The eighties had a unique flair, not just in music and movies, but also in footwear! As these dozens of 80s kids shoes show, the options back then were as diverse as the culture that influenced them.
When teddy bears hit the market, the craze for these soft, comforting companions was instant and universal. Here’s a look back at the remarkable history of the teddy bear, and see lots of adorable versions through the years.
See some long-forgotten photos of today’s celebrities before they were famous – young stars who paid the bills with modeling gigs until they hit the bigtime.
The Raggedy Ann doll, in her humble glory, has stood the test of time. Let’s take a look back at her history!
For decades, Cracker Jack has been more than a just a popcorn and peanut snack. Thanks to the famed Cracker Jack prizes, it’s also a treasure hunt in a box! Find out more about this peak Americana treat.
Released in 1985, The Goonies didn’t just entertain Generation Xers – the movie left an indelible imprint on pop culture, turning into a touchstone for many growing up in the era.
Making a splash in 1970, Avon Small World dolls weren’t your ordinary collectibles. See what made them so extra special!
Barbie wasn’t just a doll – she had an empire! Look back at vintage Barbie play sets, complete with friends and family, fabulous dollhouses, pools, pets… and lots and lots of fashionable vintage Barbie clothes.
Millions know ‘Say, Say, Oh Playmate’ – also known as ‘Playmate’ – but few today know much about the rhyming song & hand clapping game. Find out more here!
Despite a few years of controversy, Brooke Shields stayed a successful actress and fashion model – even adding author to her resume – and has continued to work in the entertainment industry as a remarkably well-grounded and former child star.
Why stop with the walls when decorating your home when you can add color and flair up high? Here are some retro examples of ceiling wallpaper – and even some old tips on how to do it.
Whether you’re looking back to yesteryear to remember kids room decor of your childhood, or are thinking about recreating one of these looks today, we have a few dozen ideas for you!
Vintage Tonka trucks and construction vehicles: From bulldozers, diggers, dump trucks, trenchers and shovels — these toys have been produced since 1947.
Say, kids, what time is it? Kids: It’s Howdy Doody Time! First gracing the airwaves in 1947, marionette Howdy Doody was a pioneer of American TV programming.
Want to have a holiday get-together with a little retro charm? Check out these creative and colorful 1960s Christmas party decor ideas!
Before gummy vitamins existed, there were several other chewable supplements for kids – but none was more iconic than Flintstones vitamins.
While it’s not unusual today for a child’s growing up to be well-documented, a chronological series of vintage baby pictures like these were a rare advantage in the early 20th century!
Take a look back at 12 monthly Woman’s Day magazine covers from 1950, and marvel at how much daily life – not to mention magazine marketing and graphic design – have changed since then!
Candy Land, the vintage board game that made millions of kids dream of an ice cream & lollipop world
Here, take a look back at some of the game pieces, cards, and several game boards for the vintage Candy Land game. Which ones do you remember most?
Billions of 80s stickers were collected by millions of kids – and appeared on everything from binders to books, cassette tapes to sticker collection albums. Do you recognize any of these vintage stickers?
These idyllic scenes from old Atlantic City show the fancy hotels, beautiful boardwalk, busy beaches, and fashionable crowds – all part of why the city and the Jersey shore used to be one of the east coast’s top vacation destinations.
Over the years and across the miles, a tricycle has been a rite of pedaling passage for generations of toddlers and preschoolers. Check out our collection of vintage pictures of old trikes
How kids grow up in Hollywood: Despite all the glamour, singing actresses Judy Garland & Deanna Durbin lived home lives similar to millions of other teens. Here’s what they had to say back in the 1930s!
A bouncy new baby is wonderful – but quite a burden, too! In the early 20th century, baby window cages like these were promoted as making babies more fun since they were easier to care for.
Each bed in this cute and colorful retro children’s bedroom with 4 bunks had its own storage area, while still giving everyone their own space.
The official pictures of kids with Santa – once called ‘sitting on Santa’s lap’ – has been around for generations. Here’s a look back at this Christmas ritual!
When you were a kid, there was nothing else like the joy of old-fashioned treehouses or forts: a little getaway that you built (maybe with some help) that could be a clubhouse or castle or spaceship or simply a place for a little peace and quiet.
Follow us backward through time, and check out dozens of the old roller skates that were so well-loved in the heyday of roller skating!
Soaky was a popular brand of bubble bath in the ’60s that kids loved because the plastic bottles were shaped like cartoon characters. See some here!
Remember these classic Fisher-Price preschool toys, like the vintage corn popper, colorful xylophone, music box TV and chatter telephone?
Today’s toddlers ride in style in the sleek and racy, brightly-colored, low-slung plastic numbers like the vintage Big Wheel from Marx – that whiz, spin, skid, slide, race and even roar.
These tasty vintage pudding cups were supposedly made for kids… but we know that plenty of adults loved the taste and convenience of these to-go desserts. How many of the flavors do you remember?
Imagine, up above the clouds enjoying a cheeseburger from McDonald’s for lunch or dinner. McDonaldland cookies for dessert. That’s what United Airlines’ McDonald’s Friendly Skies Meals offered kids in the 1990s!
What did kids – and adults – eat in the mornings back in the fifties when eggs, bacon, toast and pancakes weren’t on the menu? Take a look back at these popular vintage 1950s breakfast cereals to get a glimpse into the options people had back then!
If you were a child or a parent in the seventies, or are looking to the past to style something new, you’ll love this sunny trip back down memory lane. We’ve tracked down some of the coolest, trendiest vintage kids’ bedroom makeovers from the 1970s. Take a look!
More than 100 years ago, see how antique baby carriages like these were styled with beautiful designs, made from wicker, metal and wood – sometimes embellished with wooden spindles and woven reeds.
Put together a half dozen pieces of this DIY fun furniture for kids, and your child will have endless play ideas. Made from just one simple box construction, the pieces are great for pretend games, the right size to use as table and chairs.
Hopefully, these vintage 1970s Playskool toys, dolls, ride-ons and more will bring back some happy memories! They may also remind you of a simpler time, when most toys were joyfully kid-powered.
Gen X kids got to prove that these 1980s fruit snacks – non-perishable packaged sweet and chewy treats – would be big sellers… and the forerunners of the dozens of similar snacks on the market today.
Take a look back at these adorable antique baby portraits from the 1800s, captured in these pictures on cabinet cards, cartes des visite, and other antique photographic prints from long ago.
How many of these cool vintage scratch-n-sniff stickers do you remember seeing? Can you vividly recall their scents, too? Here’s a look back at a collection of more than 50 of the decals.
With styles ranging from glamorous to groovy, these vintage 1970s watches helped Americans of all ages keep good time throughout the seventies and beyond.
Check out these old school toys: vintage ’80s Playskool play sets, which kids could use to imagine and build their own mini worlds.
As long as there have been kids, there have been _bored_ kids. For parents in the ’60s, one magazine offered these great old-fashioned ways to have fun.
These vintage play tunnels were mini passageways that kids could crawl through, play in, or even sleep inside. Here’s a look back at a few!
See some of the vintage baby gear from the 1950s that parents used when raising our parents and grandparents – including a lot that wouldn’t be considered safe today.
Through vintage interviews, meet Theodor Geisel – aka Dr Seuss – the man behind The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, Green Eggs and Ham and many more classic books for children.
Here, take a look back at this collection of gorgeous designs and styles of vintage canopy beds that were popular the seventies. Some are some classic and elegant, others modern and breezy, and many fabulously frilly.
Do you remember the old metal hoop with a handle fastened to it? The small wooden hoops were usually rolled by the girls, using a small paddle to roll them along.
The first ‘children’s liberation’ album, ‘Free To Be… You And Me’ – featuring stars like Marlo Thomas, Mel Brooks, Harry Belafonte, Alan Alda, Diana Ross and Shirley Jones – was catchy, upbeat, and like nothing else, and by 1976, had sold half a million copies.
Have a look at 126 of the most popular toys from the ’40s that millions of kids found under their Christmas trees back in 1948, courtesy of Santa… or from mom and dad.
Christmas goes to the dogs! Here are 8 adorable antique Christmas postcards with dogs, plus a tale of how some boys got together and gave their pups their own holiday party.
If you’d like to celebrate an proper Edwardian-style Christmas, here are lots of ideas for you! Get inspired by these recipes, decor tips, vintage images and lots more.
We asked some very blunt questions – and got 350,000 equally candid replies – and a good deal of hope for the American family. Here’s what people had to say.
For nearly 30 years, Captain Kangaroo said good morning to kids across the country. Here, meet Bob Keeshan, the man behind the beloved character!
Why so much excitement? Because the teacher brings a basket brimming with weepuls — doughnut-hole-sized bits of brightly colored fur with shaky eyes and sticky feet.
Take a look at the top 50 old-fashioned baby names for girls from 1900 for a few names that don’t even rank in the top 1000 today.
This TV movie debuted in 1973, and played occasionally in reruns at least until the 1980s. The Incredible, Indelible, Magical, Physical, Mystery Trip: Musical fantasy
39 years before the classic movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’ was released, see what people had to say about ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ book back in 1900!
Every year, hundreds of children were stricken with polio. Before testing iron lung machines on humans, two dozen cats had to die under anesthetic.
Mickey Rooney, an actor at the age of 11 months, veteran trooper at 10, and screen star at 16, writes his autobiography.
When I was a kid, we had the same desire to loot and pillage and rape as these kids today, we were as savage as kids always are, but at the same time, we knew that our parents and all other grownups were unalterably opposed to it, and we didn’t do it.
This jolly marshmallow bunny birthday cake is adorable, especially light for children, and so easy to make!
These ads showing child star Shirley Temple as a fashionable Hollywood screen siren, were a humorous way to introduce the 6-year-old girl’s film, ‘Baby Take a Bow.’
True autism is defined by specific characteristics — characteristics guaranteed to have any mother, babysitter, and even many doctors climbing the wall.
Surrounded by a flood of music as the boat glides along, one scene merges into another as the children of the Disneyland ride ‘It’s a Small World’ sing and dance to the show’s lilting title tune.
The short story by Lucy Maud Montgomery, ‘Christmas at Red Butte,’ was published after her best-known work, ‘Anne of Green Gables,’ first delighted readers. Read it for free here!
Here are vintage Victorian directions for a Marie Antoinette dress sewing pattern for a little girl, trimmed with bias ruffles, and headed with a bais band of satin.
Readers worldwide were delighted to learn of a book discovery in 2015: What Pet Should I Get? by the famous children’s author Dr Seuss.
How to give a preschooler something fun to do. And something fun to learn. (1966) The Mattel-O-Phone talks, teaches, and works like real. The voice
Romper Room: Television classroom for preschoolers (1971) From The Leaf-Chronicle (Clarksville, Tennessee) May 26, 1971 The world’s largest kindergarten is not located in India or
At least 5 million youngsters in this country have tried marijuana. They’re not delinquents or from urban slums. They’re kids you know. Maybe your own.
What happened to Shirley Temple when her movie star career waned? In 1946, Temple made an effort to recapture that Hollywood magic once again.
