To ask what makes you nostalgic about childhood? (Also a request about an item)

[quarkinstockcubes]

My children are all but one in secondary school, frankly quite boring independent and want to do their own thing. I find myself almost grieving for their childhoods, looking back through photos and remembering the good times etc.

To get to the point I have become very nostalgic about my own childhood and I am searching up some of my old toys on ebay As they are now considered vintage they are prohibitively expensive.

Some of the things I have lovely memories attached to are:

Lights Alive
Keypers
Sweet Secrets
Diary Milk dispenser thingys at Christmas
Gloworm

Just yesterday I got this sudden flashback to a swimming bag I had in primary school, it was transparent PVC, from Primark and had a beach scene on the front with liquid for the sea (you could squish the liquid IYKWIM) and a plastic beach ball. At the time it was so amazing and I loved it so much that I even stapled the seams together when they split Does anyone know what this type of bag is called (with the liquid inside) I spent ages googling but haven't been able to find it.

My nostalgia is mostly related to items, but what are your items/experiences that make you nostalgic about your own childhood?

Aside from Keypers (WHY don't they still make them?!!!), I also have very fond memories of my Bluebird a la carte kitchen. We knew how to have toys in the 80s. Mr Frosty also.

And chocolate sticks that were made to look like fags. Good times.

Did you ever make your parent Swiss roll and baked beans saucyjack for breakfast in bed?

I had a mermaid squishy liquid bag like that! I've just tried to describe it so many ways to google but I can't find it

I remember getting the A la Carte kitchen and being disappointed that the swiss roll a la beans was not included!

Nancy I feel your pain [DM sadface] I was actually reminded of it yesterday as I saw a phone cover with the liquid inside it. They are called liquid glitter covers so I have spent too muchsome time googling liquid glitter bags but no joy yet. My bag was gorgeous, it had legs on it as if someone had just dived into the sea.

I bloody loved keypers I was talking about these the other day with my mum. I also had a la carts kitchen and used to love my mini mouse roller boots. I also had one of those dolls where if you raised the arm it's hair grew ! The toys were so much better in the 80s/90s

Scouse I am suddenly getting a vague memory of those dolls! I didn't have one but a neighbour did. I wanted a Teddy Ruxpin.

@quarkinstockcubes was it like one of these bags

I follow a group on Facebook called Back to the Past and they regularly post clips of 90s tv programmes or adverts. They take me right back to such a happy time in my life, I just feel sad that I was too young at the time (early teens) to know it

My Sasha doll that my mother gave away . But I made up for it in later life , it's now quite a "hobby" . yes one of those things that some MNetters don't have

Oh and Watching Blue Peter eating my tea.

Polly Pocket. Could spend hours playing with that! Wonder if they still make it?

2bee you have just reminded me of the bliss that was a dinner of chick sticks/Findus crispy pancakes in front of the tv. Those were the days..... What hobby have you got relating to the doll?

Moogle it is like like one! But that seems to be a modern one, I'm after a vintage one.

Keypers! and Gloworm! Aahhh memories...

Not forgetting the Wuzzles cartoon, Sylvanian Families and jelly shoes. In the mid/late 90s I had tacky PVC inflatable sofa/chair and cushion which I 'decorated' with gold and silver marker pens. I thought I was the bees knees.

Collecting them , making clothes for them , photographing them Oh and a very large doll house.i suspect a psychologist would suggest it's a Backlash from having doll given away. Mum thinks I am mad but I don't care!

Yeeesss to the doll whose hair grew as you raised the arm

I remember my mum being on a driving lesson and me being a very young girl having to sit in the back seat of the instructors car. That was my toy of choice to keep me entertained.

Anyone remember scented cupcake dolls that you could turn the dress inside out and put the hat on as the icing?

Lucky bags.

I love my old childhood toys! I also follow a page on facebook called Too Old To Grow Up (totgu) and it always posts stuff from the 80s. I loved:

-my post office toy with stamps
-Polly Pockets
-Having Findus crispy pancakes with hungry joe's potato hash things whilst watching Byker Grover/Grange Hill/Heartbreak High
-trying to tape songs from the Top 40 without getting the voiceovers!
-Sonic the Hedgehog games
-eating crumpets and playing cards at my Grandma and Grandad's house
-watching Laurel and Hardy on video at G&G's house
-Lilt!
-Flymo (I think it was called that) - that neon playdough stuff
-I had a bright pink plastic egg that contained bright pink putty that I'd take everywhere
-Forever Friends
-My Filofax organiser! A kids' one, not a real one
-Top of the Pops, Shout and Sugar magazine
-baking cakes with my Mum

Aww I feel all warm and fuzzy inside now...I'm definitely glad I grew up when I did. I feel so sorry for kids these days!

And the freedom of being able to go out and play in the woods for the whole day. Packed lunch and off we went.
Whilst we were there, Climbing probably the tallest tree and looking out over the canopy and not thinking about breaking my bloody neck if the branches had snapped

• Clarks shoes with the key in the sole
• Yoyos and tamagotchis
• Um Bongo
• Those juice drinks in a clear plastic bottle with a little plastic nib at the top that you twisted
• Monster Munch and Tangy Toms
• The drinks cartons with the plastic lid that you ripped off
• Mr Freeze pops

The 90s version of the Grange Hill theme tune

• Round the Twist

2Bee I collect vintage dolls houses and my pride and joy is a Lundby like the one I felt obliged to give away when I was too old to play with it. Spent years hunting down the exact one (they changed the decorations each year so not a quick find) and finally got it for my birthday this year. And now my son has left home, I have a dolls house room. Yes, it's a... HOBBY!

Pre digital age there were less photos of things, I am sad I don't have more photos of every day life from childhood, only holidays, I like now kids can look back at so many photos from places from their childhood.

I love nostalgia, it will be great being in a care home watching old episodes of the demon headmaster and gladiators.

Snoopy No more Polly Pocket- I suspect on H&S grounds... They did make a larger version for a while but it wasn't popular- like mini barbies really.

Tiny tears
Teeny tiny tears
Teeny weeny tiny tears
Looked like proper dolls not the creepy baby bjorn things!!

I'm pretty sure I had that swimming bag too.