Stories of Childhood

Kids Today!

We are very grateful to children from Burton Road Primary School for taking part in our Contemporary Collecting Project. The group visited The Entertainer shop in the Alhambra Centre and each pupil chose a toy or game they liked for the Museum collection and which they wanted to be remembered in the future. They also learnt about museum collecting and objects from different time periods which represent people’s lives in the borough.

Robert the Squishmallow, 2024

A teal frog-shaped plush toy with large, round eyes and a small smile. Its belly is decorated with a floral pattern featuring colorful daisies. The background is a plain, light gray surface.

Chosen by Esme Bryan age 10. Esme likes Robert as he ‘is very big and cuddly and I like the flower pattern it has on its tummy’

Gooey Louie, 2024

Board game box for "Gooey Louie." It features a cartoon character with a large nose and a surprised expression. There's green slime and the text "Pick a Winner!" Two children on the side react with excitement. Suitable for ages 4+.

Chosen by Jude Britton, age 9. ‘It looks really funny and is a crazy game as he has snot coming out of his nose and his brain flies out.’

Bakugan Set, 2024

Chosen by Jude Britton, age 9. Jude liked this as it is ‘cool and exciting’. Bakugan is a battle game and according to the makers you can play or ‘brawl’ with figures in over 20,000 combinations.

Classic Lego Set, 2024

LEGO Classic box labeled "11027" featuring assorted colorful bricks in yellow, pink, orange, blue, and black. The box shows potential creations like a car, an alien, a yellow cylinder character, and a creature with sunglasses. Suitable for ages 5+.

Chosen by George Shakespeare, age 9. ‘I really like Lego because you can do anything you want with it and build
loads of different stuff.’

Experimake Creations, 2024

Front view of an "Experimake" science kit box for kids aged 5 and up. The colorful packaging features cartoon illustrations of aquatic creatures in a fishbowl, promoting educational activities with STEM benefits. Branding and age suitability are visible.

Chosen by Milosz Kowalski, age 10.‘I like science and experiments and when I grow up I would like to be a doctor so it is good to learn science. I can help people as a doctor.’

Hot Wheels Skate Pack, 2024

A display case featuring small toy skateboards on stands, each with different designs and miniature shoes. There are signs describing the "Hot Wheels Skate Pack, 2024." A small purple bowl with a pink stuffed animal sits in the background.

Chosen by Kaiden Hunter, age 9.‘I really like skateboarding, I’ve got a real skateboard too. I like all the different artwork on these Hot Wheels skateboards and how you can play and collect them.’

Hot Wheels Model Kit, 2024

Packaging for a Hot Wheels build and customise metal kit featuring a red race car model with flames. Includes visual of the assembled car, stickers for customization, and highlights easy construction for ages 8+.

Chosen by Theo Jensen, age 10.‘I like Hot Wheels models as you can customise them yourself and I like to spend time building them.

Teen Titans Go!, 2024

Packaging of the Teen Titans Go! "Kitchen Chaos" playset. Features cartoon characters, food accessories like fries and hot dogs, and transforming elements. Includes vibrant imagery and playset details with age recommendation.

Chosen by Theo Jensen, age 10. Theo watches and enjoys the Teen Titans cartoon and this is why he chose this toy in particular to represent toys in 2024.

Zuru Pets Alive Corgi, 2024

Toy packaging with a plastic corgi figure inside. The box is labeled "Zuru Pets Alive" and advertises actions like walking and shaking. Text on the box includes multiple languages, indicating it's suitable for ages 2 and up.

Chosen by Ava Hawksworth, age 9. Ava really likes dogs and she has a real dog she loves called ‘Rosie’. Ava
also knows that Queen Elizabeth II owned lots of Corgis

Squish-a-longs and Suprizamals, 2024

A small purple toy shaped like a bird with a crown, a pink toy resembling a round animal, and a yellow circular piece resembling a ring. They're placed on a white surface.

Chosen by Ava Hawksworth, age 9. Both toys are small and collectible, Ava thinks the Sqish-a-longs are funny and the Surprizamals have the element of…surprise!

Friendship Bracelets, 2024

Box of Galt Friendship Bracelets showing several colorful braided and beaded bracelets on wrists. The packaging highlights "braid cute bracelets with beads & stickers!" and includes a circular sticker set and threading materials.

Chosen by Aitana Wigfield, age 10. Aitana really likes making bracelets to wear as you can customise them however you like and use your favourite colours.

Asha Doll, 2024

A doll in a purple outfit is displayed inside a box. The box features a decorative design and includes the name "Asha" on it. A small illustration of the character holding a star is on the box's lower left corner.

Chosen by Aitana Wigfield, age 10.‘One of my favourite movies is Wish so I chose Asha from the film to go to the museum.’

Return to the virtual exhibition or explore more of the objects from the exhibition below.

Explore, Reminisce, Play!

Discover over one hundred years of growing up in Barnsley through toys, games, pictures and treasured memories. You’ll recognise some items on display, but others may be less familiar… We hope you enjoy exploring and we’d love it if you had some fun too!