Research on Toys

Well, unlike many things we have now, it’s not clear when toys came about. Many believe toys are as old as civilization itself. In the article: “The Origin of Toys” by Karen L. Brooks, it states that “...many people believe that toys are as old as the first civilizations. There is actually proof of this since toys, in fact have been found in archaeological digs or excavation sites of ancient civilizations.” This shows that toys have been found in dig sites that contain the remains of ancient civilizations who used to have some sort of form of toys. It is also assumed in this article that: “The oldest toy made for the purpose of being a toy is a doll or a figurine. Often in the shape of an animal or in human form, these toys were carved or made from wood. Some other materials known for ancient doll making are sticks, terracota or wax.” It describes what the oldest toys looked like and what they were made out of. Obviously, this is a drastic change from what modern toys are like. Soon, toys began to evolve. We didn’t see wooden dolls or figures that often anymore. During the 1920s, we began to see the creation of the classic toys that are still around today. These toys included the “Raggedy Ann” doll, crayons and of course, the all popular Teddy Bear. “The first twenty years of the 20th century saw the introduction of the Teddy Bear, the Raggedy Ann Doll, and Crayola Crayons, merely advancements of existing popular toys, dolls and drawing materials. Parents who had grown up in the waning years of the 19th century still handed down handmade dolls and wood toys to their children, so companies merely thought of exciting new ways to present them.” (History of Children’s Games and Toys) Here, you can see that previously existing toys were passed down from parent to child and is probably the reason why dolls and action figures are still one of the most popular toys today. 

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