Little things that brought you absolute joy as a child

[DevilledEgg]

For me it was silver balls on cupcakes. Such a simple thing but we didn't have them very often, so whenever I saw some on a cake I'd bubble with excitement. I bought a cake today with some on and I swear, I was five years old again!

I begged and begged my parents for a gerbil and when I finally got one I was so excited

Rainbow drops, still love them now

Another for the free stuff in cereal boxes

Our old cassette player. I'd spend hours trying to record my favourite songs from the radio. Also used it to do fake talk shows with my friends!

Penny sweets from the corner shop. Jelly and ice cream at birthday parties. Climbing trees and pretending to be spies with my little friends. We had so much fun just making up games and roleplaying things from cartoons or movies we had seen. We had such great imaginations back then.

I love this thread so many memories here

A man walking down our road on Christmas morning dressed as Santa. He was obviously going to visit his grandchildren or something, but I was convinced I had seen the real Santa.

Sticking my whole face in Easter eggs and breathing in the smell!

Remote control cars

Space Lego that had flashing lights and little sirens you could add to a block with a battery in it

It was much better to be a kid back then.
No computers, and much more freedom.
Kids played outdoors a lot more.
Seemed to be less troubled behaviour
Knives and gangs were unheard of for teens.

Not every day, but fairly regularly, my Mum used to buy us a chocolate bar for after school. She would then ‘hide’ them in the tea-towel drawer in the kitchen. I loved going and checking if there was twix in there waiting for me.

Going to the toy shop to buy another model horse for my collection. I had about 200 - they all had names, back stories, factions.

Also spending my 15p pocket money on two tubes of POLOs (7p each) and a penny sweet.

Isn’t it interesting- no one has mentioned stuff that costs a lot of money!

A lesson for modern parents(?!) ( making memories- no one talked like that late last century)

Escalators! I used to love going up and down them while my mum was looking round the shop.

Free stuff in cereals...
and Kelloggs Corn Flakes used to a 3D model of an animal's head you could cut out from the box! We used to pester my Mum to be able to have the box before it was empty!

Oh joy, you can still.get them...!!!!

cerealoffers.com/Kelloggs/Cornflakes/1980s/Wild_Animal_Heads/wild_animal_heads.html

Ah yes! Seconding the Choose Your Own Adventure books.

A quarter of sherbert lemons from the shop, stuck to the white paper bag.

Ordering gemstones from Kernowcraft and making necklaces.

Clothkits clothes with the dolly included on the fabric.

Berol fine colouring pens. My mother would buy me some sometimes and my heart would soar. I still have a bit of a thing for felt tips and fountain pens.
Milly Molly Mandy stories
Ohh and the Robin Family. It was a tiny story for children in People's Friend magazine. When she was with me, my granny would always put me to bed, read the Robin Family and sing to me. I miss her terribly.

A pair of stilts.

I just googled the Robins. It was Woman's Weekly.

Vienetta for afters.
Leapfrog.
Being allowed to set the table for Sunday dinner.

Winning a fiver in the blue pouches in a pack of walkers crisps.

The shine of new black patent leather shoes.

The excitement of the mobile library van arriving.

Getting postcards from my Mother when I was ill in hospital.

My ‘Misty’ comic coming through the letterbox on Saturday morning- and trying to read it before my Dad did!
Also, shrinky dinks!

I remember my mum taking me into the town centre (which would have been a bit of a pita on a school day tbh and not within her plans I’m sure) to get me a small puma bag from Debenhams because other girls in my year had them and I HAD TO HAVE ONE. I was only about 10 or 11, but I remember seeing that bag and the lady packing it up at the till and my absolute elation that I had it. Bless My mum ❤️

Bendicks mints at christmas
magazines
scented stationary
Sodastream

Polly pocket and sylvalian families (especially tiny baby bottles in the nursery)

Little animals that went on the top of pencils

Pobs (I think they were called)

Mini cereal boxes (we were allowed these once a year on holiday)

Crisp packets in the oven

My Nana had tons of trinkets in a glass fronted cabinet and she would let me dust and organise them. She would put her white pinny on me and give me a little cloth and let me stand up on one of her dining room chairs. Always made me feel special and important.

Also bubblegum flavoured millions sweets.

Getting my Bunty comic every Friday morning. I would walk around getting ready reading it. If it ever didn't arrive (happened about twice) I'd be devastated.

Waiting for baby bunnies to be born. I'd have a little feel in the nest each day and the absolute magic when these little tiny creatures would have appeared overnight!

Those secret garden clarks shoes with the key under the heel. Wow.