Before smartphones, gaming consoles and expensive toys became common, Nigerian children had their own creative ways of having fun. We did not always need toys from a shop to keep ourselves entertained. With a little imagination, everyday items around the house or neighbourhood could become something exciting.
Looking back, some of these improvised toys gave us some of our happiest childhood memories.
1. Old car tyres
An old tyre was more than just something discarded. We could roll it along the street, race with it or push it with a stick. Some children also climbed into large tyres or used them in different outdoor games.
2. Bottle tops
Bottle tops were another childhood favourite. We used them as counters for games, miniature cars, pretend money and even pieces for competitive games. The more bottle tops you had, the more creative you could get.
3. Empty cartons
A large carton could become almost anything. It could be a car, television, house, shop or even an aeroplane. Once the carton was available, imagination took over.
4. Sticks
A simple stick could become a gun, sword, fishing rod, horse or walking stick, depending on the game we were playing. Children could spend hours creating stories around them.
5. Stones
Stones were useful for all sorts of games. They could serve as markers, counters or boundaries. Some children also used carefully selected stones in traditional games.
6. Empty plastic bottles
Empty plastic bottles could become pretend dolls, bowling pins, footballs or containers for imaginary shops. With a little creativity, a plastic bottle was never simply rubbish.
7. Rubber bands
Several rubber bands joined together could become a long jumping rope. Children created different patterns and challenges, and everyone wanted to prove they could complete the game without making a mistake.
The beauty of these improvised toys was that they taught us to make something out of almost nothing. We learnt to be creative, resourceful and imaginative. More importantly, we learnt that fun did not always have to come with a price tag.
Which of these did you play with as a child, and what other improvised toys would you add to the list?