When I instagrammed this picture a couple weeks ago I received lots of comments about the vintage Fisher Price Little People camper set. Which, to be honest, was sorta the point. Yes, notice my cute kid first, but please don’t let her cool toy go unnoticed. Lamp got this camper set for Christmas and it may have had everything to do with the fact that I had that same camper when I was a kid and I loved it. As much as I used to despise the idea of loud, battery operated push button toys, with blinking whirly-bops and loud doodle-snaps, I have been super grateful to have toys like that for Lamp. Having some limited fine motor skills those toys are really great for her. But that’s another reason I love vintage Little People. There are no tiny plastic dresses to take on or off, the guys fit in little notches so they stay in place and there are movable parts that aren’t too small or tricky for her to maneuver. That and the fact that they’re just cool + vintage means I’m sold. These are toys that actually get played with. (We have a farm set too).
Since I did so much trolling for vintage Little People sets before Christmas I was pretty well versed in the different sets, what they cost, etc. Well last week on Etsy I came across the Little People holy grail.
Behold, the Amusement Park.
Merry-go-round, spinning swings, single swing, cars, boats, a bridge, and a train. Not to mention 7 wooden figurines.
You guys. This is a complete set. And while the bridge is broken (we’ll glue it) and one other piece has a small break, everything else is in great condition. On ebay a complete amusement park set was priced anywhere from $300-500! Um, I didn’t pay that much. Also, the seller informed me that this was from her neighbors house, originally purchased circa 1962 and I’m only the second owner ever. I love knowing little details like that. And the girls really love playing with it. They get that it’s special and not like their other toys. And they get that mama will go ballistic if they don’t play nicely with it.
First Susan, now this? Thank you vintage toy gods… thank you.
Do you too find yourself rather invested in the toys your kids play with? My kids have plenty of random, mismatched toys but I also like having sets of certain brands that I think are quality. Especially toys that actually encourage creative, interactive play. In addition to Little People I’m also a fan of Playmobile–another set my girls love that are often on sale at Toys R Us. Do you collect toys for your kids? Am I the only one that can get as excited by certain toys as my kids are?
I love love both of those sets! My mom has kept all our old little people and she has Sesame Street playhouse and the house with all accessories. It's seriously been all of my kids favorite thing to play with. They just don't make them as good as they used to
So fun! Seriously, these toys are the best. And I agree…the modern ones just aren't as cool.
We had the camper set too at our house! and the sesame street playhouse. they are the raddest toys ever. ever. so happy the vintage toy gods are with you!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ha! I love that you had the camper set too. So cool.
oh my gosh, yes! I had that Little People amusement park set when I was a child and I didn't even remember it at all until I saw your picture. nostalgia flashback! and we LOVE Playmobil at our house. we love it so much that we have a room in our house we call the "playmobil room".
No way! I can't believe you had this set…glad I could be a flashback for you. And that's so funny that you too love playmobile…I love that they're still childish, if that makese sense…it seems that so many toys aimed at younger children have a certain grown-up appeal (Barbies and those horrible Bratz). And I sorta love/hate all the teeny-tiny playmobile parts…they make it so cool, but so easy to lose too. Can't have it all…
My Mum kept all our Fisher Price from the 70s and my son plays with it now. Luff that sort of continuity. Your little girl is very cute.x
Faux Fuchia–Thanks! We think she's pretty cute too.
Isn't it the best to have these old toys around?
we love little people here. My girls are 9 & 7 and still play w/them. In different ways now (they add the people to their barbies and baby doll "families" but nevertheless, Little People still rule here at our house.
Keri–Yes! That's what I love about these little sets. I know people think Waldorf style toys make for the best make believe since they don't already tell a story, but I know my kids mix them all up and use them with other toys too…so I think they're still plenty imaginative. Glad to know your older girls still love them.
STOP IT!!!!!!!
I CAN'T!
I saved my kids' Fisher Price zoo and airport from the 80's. My grandkids LOVE playing with them. My daughter can't believe that I still have every piece, down to the steaks for the lions. She was able to score a vintage zoo just like mine STILL IN THE BOX (!) from Craigslist for next to nothing. Made Santa's work very easy this year.
that was a fun trip down memory lane!i loved those toys when i was little. i am a huge playmobil fan and now that all my kids are way too big, i've been known to get a few sets for "myself!" I'll have grandkids someday right?!
Wow! I never saw this complet set. Thank you for sharing your photos. I never had those toys when I was kid. But I remember my cousins had some (it was the only reason I wanted to go to their house). I bought a few for my kids end all three (2 girls and a boy, from 5 years old to 11) them love them. Also thank you so much for your blog. My boy was born with some physic abnormalities and he had some sever delays in is development. Now he is 5 and after al lot of therapy he's doing great (he's started regular kindergarden) and his physical differences are not as obvious (thanks to the operation for his ptosis). But they're still some hurtful stares, comments and questions (fortunately, less and less). Your blog and the moms' testimonials are a great confort. Merci. (sorry for my poor English).
My boys play with Automoblox- wooden cars that snap together with interchangeable parts. Wooden, they roll well, with bright colored tires and windshields. I love them!
omg. that amusement park set?! i've lived my 34 years on earth and NEVER saw it until now. and the original wooden little people. w00t! you've hit the jackpot and my heart smiles that 50 years later your little ones get to enjoy the awesomeness.