Kids' playtime lunchboxes

Bought 2 lunchboxes today at the flea market. They were sold originally with mashmallows but the owner didn't want to keep the boxes after the mashmallows were gone ! They are absolutely adorable and had different patterns of child's play on both sides. Kids need to play with other kids just like the old days but somehow, I don't seem to see enough of that these days. School work, tuition and new gadgets seem to be holding back the new generation. Glad I was born at a time when neighbourhood kids would gather naturally and improvise games along the way. We would fight and quarrel sometimes but that was part of the fun and it taught us social skills along the way. All these before angry birds, bejewelled and candy crush had everyone fixated from a very young age. 

Metal Lunchboxes

I had my first metal lunchbox when I was in primary school and it had Charlie's Angels on it. Didn't use it much eventually as I got tired of sandwiches and would rather eat the "nice" fried food at the school canteen.

Metal lunchboxes were popular in the late 70's but soon the fad lost its appeal in Singapore. When I visited a toy store on a trip to New Orleans in the early 2000's, I was happy to find 2M metal lunchboxes - Maisy and Madeline, 2 favourite characters of my daughters , Lisa and Chloe. They loved playing doctor and would keep their toy stethoscope, thermometer and other medical equipment in the Maisy box while little stickers and knick-knacks would go into the Madeline box.

Recently, I came across these metal lunchboxes again while browsing through thelittlehappyshop website. It brought back those happy memories and I went to dig up Lisa and Chloe's metal boxes. The Maisy and Madeline lunchboxes were still there, a little worn but none the worse. Best of all, their little doctor's things were still in there. These boxes will always be my little keepsake to remind myself of those precious growing up memories of my two girls.

I have 2 other metal lunchboxes which were movie premiums given to me. Being all silver, they were beautiful in a more adult way. I am now tempted to get some new ones at thelittle happyshop website. They have a really colourful one featuring the elephant Elmer and one featuring the Little Prince. They will make beautiful birthday presents for children.... and myself.