Kids From Around the World Pose With Their Most Prized Possessions

As evidenced by this beautiful photo essay from photographer Gabriele Galimberti, kids from all over the planet love the same things — stuffed animals, Barbies, and toy cars. Unsurprisingly, the toys are mostly gendered, but there are some exceptions; I wonder if that’s about choice or necessity.

Galimberti found that all kids, no matter where they live, just want to play. That’s probably because playing is very fun, and kids aren’t stupid. However, he did note some differences:

But it’s how they play that seemed to differ from country to country. Galimberti found that children in richer countries were more possessive with their toys and that it took time before they allowed him to play with them (which is what he would do pre-shoot before arranging the toys), whereas in poorer countries he found it much easier to quickly interact, even if there were just two or three toys between them.

There were similarites too, especially in the functional and protective powers the toys represented for their proud owners. Across borders, the toys were reflective of the world each child was born into-economic status and daily life affecting the types of toys children found interest in. Toy Stories doesn’t just appeal in its cheerful demeanor, but it really becomes quite the anthropological study.

Shaira is the most after my own heart — I bet that girl throws a helluva slumber party. Shaira, girl, call me; let’s braid each other’s hair and play Taboo.

What would your childhood prized possessions photo looked like? Mine would’ve been a few Cabbage Patch Kids and a scratch-n-sniff sticker collection that smelled like ripened fruit garbage.