Kids today have action figures, video games, and endless LEGO bricks. Kids 5,000 years ago? Tiny toy chariots, terracotta whistles, dolls with wardrobes, and balls made from whatever they could get their hands on.
This video takes us on a trip through the history of toys and games across thousands of years of human civilization. From miniature carriages in ancient Anatolia and terracotta whistles in the Indus Valley to Roman dolls with interchangeable outfits and ball games played in Egypt, Greece, and Mesoamerica, children have always found creative ways to play.
You’ll also discover ancient board games like the Royal Game of Ur, Senet, and Go, along with surprising insights into how different cultures viewed childhood, learning, and play. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Kids are still inventing stories, making up games, and sending toy cars racing across the floor just like their ancestors did thousands of years ago.