14/04/2020
The Creek Community Park And Museum has lots of beautiful children's toys including prams, rocking horses, baby clothes and bottles and cradles. Well worth a visit if you are ever in South Gippsland.
“Treasures from the Coal Creek collection”
668 Doll.
Children’s toys.
Around the time of Australia’s Federation, children’s toys were often made at home with recycled materials, especially in communities who lived far from cities who had toy shops. Toys were usually educational, so kids could learn about life while they play. Along with children’s books, which had lessons about good behaviour and important beliefs, kids’ games and toys were a way to share ideas about who we are and what is important to us.
Girls and boys usually played with very different toys, to teach them about the different roles and responsibilities they would be expected to have as adults. Toys were often smaller versions of adult tools. For girls, making dolls and dolls clothes would teach the sewing skills a woman would be expected to have to make clothes for her children and do basic household repairs. Girls could also buy kits which came with patterns for making dolls at home. Sometimes these had faces and hands printed on them and sometimes provided the material with shapes pre-cut.
What do your toys teach you about becoming an adult?
Do you make your own toys?
Are your toys for girls or boys or can anyone play with them?
