1955: What did children want from Father Christmas? | Panorama | Voice of the People | BBC Archive

In the run-up to Christmas 1955, Panorama took a little break from tackling the weightiest current affairs issues of the day, to report on the most pressing matter for young children - what would they like from Father Christmas? The result is this charming festive feature; a fascinating glimpse into the minds of children in the 1950s.
BBC Archive contacted Father Christmas for comment, and he confirmed that all these adorable little tykes got their Christmas gifts on Christmas Day. May your Christmas wishes also come true!
Clip taken from Panorama, originally broadcast 5 December, 1955.
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[@stephenguppy7882]

Can you imagine any kid asking for a pencil sharpener these days? Bless him.

[@burntcrumpets5616]

Yeah but the greedy bugger wanted a "Rupert book" as well!!!😂

[@faithrewarded7486]

Yeah but I bet his grandparents in 1955 said "A pencil sharpener? What a waste of money, can't they use knives anymore? They don't know they're born these kids."

[@zakjuly6721]

I asked for a Rambo Knife and Porno mags and a crate of Beers , Santa said i was to young to drink !

[@janegallagher6162]

So lovely. The little girl who said she likes to make people laugh... gorgeous. A dolly, chocolate train, pencil sharpener, a princess...priceless.

[@marypridham3823]

Yes, little Gwen. Wasn’t she a sweetheart?

[@valtovey3676]

She was gorgeous!

[@yunsuuu]

@@marypridham3823 Already such a sweet kindness in her eyes!

[@annettemonkey1998]

I can't help but notice how well behaved, polite, well mannered and lovely those children were. They were obviously brought up well and with respect. Their parents did a great job.

[@marypridham3823]

There are a few weird comments here about the little boy who wanted a gun. Kids back then, and for a long time afterwards, loved to play cops and robbers and games like that. Boys in my neighbourhood would use a stick as a rifle or a sword and some had parents who would fashion a weapon out of a piece of wood. I’m sure none of them ended up being gun wielding maniacs when they grew up. It was innocent fun back then

[@northernlights8126]

Boys loved guns back then for cowboys and Indians.My brothers all had toy guns.Edit: cops and robbers too!

[@kristinesharp6286]

Their fathers and uncles fought in world war 2.

[@peterwalker6020]

As a young lad in the sixtys, we spent our school holidays playing English and German or cowboy and indians, a stick and some gun sound effects. I don't believe any of us became mass murderers or terrorist's. War films were regular weekend viewing. It's called having a childhood.

[@alanwilkinson9487]

Different era then,cowboy films and series on TV and as i remember ,Saturday morning cinema, all very innocent back then..

[@peterwalker6020]

@@alanwilkinson9487 I miss those days, if only I could turn the clock back. I think we had the best days for all the hardships. I don't like this modern era.

[@leonfairhurst7597]

I am in my 70s now, but I can remember what it was like then, and wish I was back there again

[@jean2740]

Me to ❤😊

[@philomenamagill700]

Me too

[@EvaBrockie]

I wish I could have experienced those times, I have only been around for such a little time

[@davids8449]

@@EvaBrockie I was born in the early 50s when life was simpler , dress was very important especially on a Sunday only best clothes were to be worn . Anyone wearing scruffy clothing was talk about. My first record player was from 1942 ..........I still ride around on an 1952 James Comet deluxe...with great care in today's traffic 🚦⛔

[@michelles2299]

I was born in 1964 but I remember my childhood with such affection 🙏

[@chrisstone8210]

Those lovely coats the children were wearing. Beautifully made. I had similar when a child.

[@annenunney9907]

We did to

[@lisaclark6134]

All of those children were dressed very smart, to go see Father Christmas.

[@katesmyth4839]

And me. And a little hat with furry bobbles over my ears and a muff..

[@cynthiacrumlish4683]

I remember those coat collars!

[@djdissi]

Me too

[@purplemandala]

Aww, little Gwen wanting to make people laugh. So sweet.

[@ishimarcela]

A person on tktk gave the idea of finding her today. How lovely would it be? 😭 she was so sweet

[@laurensmith8543]

Ahh wonder where Gwen is now 😊 would love to know if she got her puppet show 😊

[@edward6960]

Sounds weird I know, but this actually brought a tear to my eye. just something about the innocence of children at that age.

[@beorlingo]

Yes, children are the best of humans.

[@birdlynn417]

Of course it does. 😊

[@leevclarke]

It doesn't sound weird to me at all. Children are the most beautiful and idealistic examples of humanity the world over. They are who we used to be, before the weight of the world crushed our spirits. xx xx

[@joshuataylor3550]

They're mostly dead now

[@beamboy07]

​@@joshuataylor3550Nope, the majority of British people born from 1948-1953 are alive as of 2023

[@nigeldavey1043]

I did this job for 25 years for playgroups and infants/ junior schools. Did you notice the littlest one tended to shy away a bit. I discovered the first year I took up this honourable job that it's mainly the false beard that most wear.. so before the next Chrismas came round I had grown my own natural set of White whiskers. Big change in attitude and even those too young to articulate their wishes reach out to be picked up by Santa. I wish I was still fit enough to carry out the task to this day. It was the most joyous job I ever had. Never took a penny for it but asked that a sum be donated to the local children's charity at our County Hospital. Funny thing is these days they ask you how you'll get in because they don't have an open fireplace. You always have to have a story ready for the unexpected question. You'd be surprised how astute the average three and four year old are in the 21st century but they'll accept your Santa if you" keep it real" as they say these days. Have a Merry Christmas one and all. 🎅

[@yunsuuu]

Beautiful and heartwarming story. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I wish you good health and happiness :)

[@rachelcookie321]

Interesting. Do you know why the little kids don’t like the fake beard?

[@davewarwicker2512]

Lovely comment.

[@ibaisaic]

I’m getting to be very soft in my old age as I cried through most of this video watching these innocent kids. They must be knocking on for 70 now.

[@ilovemydressinggown9715]

Such polite little children, I hope they had all the presents they wanted and had a good, happy and healthy life. Xx

[@Clavinovaman]

I'm sure many are still with us.

[@ilovemydressinggown9715]

@@Clavinovaman hope so xxx

[@CamcorderSteve]

Being born in 1950, I am roughly the same age as these kids, so assuming that they haven't had a premature death, I would think they are all still with us - I think I am...just!!

[@KD400_]

That's because these kids had a mother and father in the household compared to today where most kids don't have fathers. That is why the uk is messed up. Kids had discipline and weren't being raised by one parent.

[@viv1tony2]

This was before our culture was “enhanced”.

[@missbedford]

How innocent were the children, and the one who said they wanted handkerchiefs for mam and dad. How times have changed.

[@northernlights8126]

A box of handkerchiefs.Very touching.

[@allangilchrist5938]

I do hope that life has treated all these little dears with kindness.

[@lucydawson1344]

I love how they all say yes so sweetly

[@roadrunnerx]

All these children are so sweet and so cute, I feel like giving them all a big hug. I'm 65 and most are probably older than me Lol! People really had the Christmas spirit in those days, now it doesn't feel the same...

[@btafe]

Lucky generation

[@redblade8160]

Anna Anna. This is from 1955 all those kids are older than you!

[@cathywilson3146]

Feel very blessed to have been young in the late 1950’s - a much more innocent and simple time, without question.

[@redblade8160]

@@cathywilson3146 You are looking at the world naively through "rose-tinted-spectacles" at your own domestic life. The 1950's were horrible times as well for many that had no money to even heat their home or buy food!

[@redblade8160]

@Bob I don't know why Santa asks the kids "what they want for Xmas"; he never gives them what they want!

[@CDash162]

5:17 Stephanie looks like an artist. I hope she's still doing her art work. Bless her.

[@lauraswann5543]

I thought the same thing! Stephanie really did look like an artist.

[@jow6845]

Yes - wasn’t that lovely she wanted to be an artist ❤

[@lellytalks4296]

She did! She looked like a small Penny Crayon!

[@cynthiacrumlish4683]

Love her little hat.

[@DazzleDust32]

What a lovely piece of film. Children back then seemed so polite, articulate, humble and appreciative. If a child is like that nowadays, it's unusual and a cause for comment. Parents actually had conversations with their children as opposed to plonking them in front of a screen and then sticking their own snout into a phone for hours on end. And yes, I am generalising but have seen the effects of this first hand.

[@vickythefist7062]

I see it every day on the bus .wish parents would realise what they are missing out on and the time is so precious because it fly's by. And before they know it the kids will be grown up and have their own lives and be too busy to spend time with their parents. QUALITY TIME IS THE MOST PRECIOUS THING YOU CAN GIVE YOU CHILDREN

[@KD400_]

They had both parents looking after them compared to today where most kids don't have fathers

[@peterd788]

My children were born in the 1990s when there were no smartphones around. They were as sweet as these children.

[@Shirdamom]

Kids are equally as sweet today and what’s more they are taught to express themselves, stand up for what is right and wrong and know that they’re contributions are valued and worthy of recognition. It’s lovely to see these precious kids from the 50s, today’s are just as precious.

[@KD400_]

@@Shirdamom where do u live. In the uk. If so ur comment is full of ignorance. How many kids r being locked up today for petty crimes

[@MrDaiseymay]

Such innocence, from a age of hope .

[@thomasreed49]

Born in 1954 so sad that these Times disappeared.

[@joshuataylor3550]

@@thomasreed49 All times disappear. Lots of these children are dead now.

[@richardhumphreys8662]

These beautiful children are my generation. I always wanted a Pelham puppet and a Rupert Annual and some Meccano.

[@sandragray3951]

I wanted a kangaroo. I was so disappointed when it arrived. A plastic one about two inches high. I wanted a real one!🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@valtovey3676]

The golden days before everyone’s head was immersed in electronic devices! This is the year I was born, loved my Post Office set, fuzzy felts and kiddies record player.

[@tamielizabethallaway2413]

They're all so beautifully dressed, grown up, and polite! 💖💖💖 When I was little I had a smart red double breasted wool winter coat, shiny new black patent leather shoes with a bow on the front, white wooly patterned tights, a white fur muffler hanging round my neck for my hands, and a matching furry bonnet style hat. 😁 I still love children dressed that way. ☺️☺️☺️

[@katewells7670]

There weren't tights until the 60s and they were for adults

[@Char10tti3]

@@katewells7670 You're probably thinking of nylon tights, woolen ones have existed for ages

[@viv1tony2]

⁠@@katewells7670 Sorry but you are wrong. Silk, wool and Lyle tights. Did you know men wore velvet tights in the 11th century. Nylon appeared in the 40’s. The history of tights is quite interesting. Personally, I first saw them on figure skaters.

[@jow6845]

The dear little things - in their best clothes and Mummy waiting behind them 😂💖

[@smadaf]

"A dolly that wees itself and a nurse's outfit"! 😄

[@jeffrey44]

That deaf Father Christmas thought she wanted a doll that "wheezes" instead of "wees itself". Smoking was. more common then so they probably did make dolls that had a smokers cough, just like Mummy's.

[@kaydee5352]

No santa not wheeze.. wees🙄 I had one too.. Tiny tears loved her to bits she cried as well.

[@jeffrey44]

@@kaydee5352 Almost 70 years later and toy scientists still haven't yet made a doll that goes number two. Why did progress in this field stop?

[@user-hb7ps1gv9x]

I loved my nurses outfit, tried to go to bed in it on Christmas night but Mum wouldn't let me.

[@michaelleacy]

Girls wanted to be mothers. Feminists of course are trying to destroy that

[@ritacobb3063]

When I was three. Father Christmas visited my aunt and uncles house….he was the real Father Christmas……Mum had to tell me the one in the department store was one of his helpers. A wonderful memory. And I noticed my uncle was missing

[@dawnfinch8232]

Aww 💘☃️🎄

[@MaxWinner]

This is wonderful ✨

[@annasutton8078]

It could have been me. Every Christmas I would be taken to see Father Christmas at a local department store.We wore our best clothes and were on our best behaviour. Isnt it sad that children have so much these days.

[@___Anakin.Skywalker]

Yes thanks to America ushering globalization and then leading the world to great prosperity

[@Fox_in_Thoughts]

Did one of them say traffic lights??? It was so nice that Santa just took everything they said without questioning too much. He knows the mind of a child and knows to respect their answers :)

[@belladonnasbat5816]

Shut up. Cringe

[@Fox_in_Thoughts]

Too sweet for you?

[@Char10tti3]

@@Fox_in_Thoughts Um... you replied to yourself 😂

[@Fox_in_Thoughts]

@@Char10tti3 Huh, weird. Someone said "Shut up. Cringe". I guess they deleted their comment.

[@missmerrily4830]

All so sweet, but Gwen was too adorable, and made me cry! I really remember those knitted Fair Isle berets too. We all seemed to have one!

[@goldengold8568]

Very polite kids standing with hands behind their back. Father Christmas with his soothing voice and calm demeanor. Now these kids would be grandfathers and grandmothers.

[@grahamfrear9270]

Just listen to how polite those children were in the 50s and so immaculately dressed. People add values in those days.

[@KNic0lson]

Santa is very posh! Sounds like a BBC radio presenter ♡

[@liberalbias4462]

Well he needs to be. You know how much money he spends?

[@krashd]

@@angh18 True, but the person on the street would still have a regional accent and so this 'Santa' would not have had an accent like the one in the video, proving that it really was a BBC presenter in disguise as Kate thought.

[@MaureenSmith-zl4sw]

David Dimbleby is Santa here I'm pretty certain.

[@aliciagabriel8408]

I'm sure it was one

[@philskype101]

@@MaureenSmith-zl4sw It was actually Father Christmas himself, fact!

[@anipindivedam1857]

Good old days. A nephew of mine in 2022 demands an iPad or he refuses to go to school. He's so glued to the screen all the time. God save the kids in this generation.

[@NachaBeez]

Sounds like a problem with the parents.

[@ryanOGab]

He sounds like he could do with a good slap of manners.

[@asavannah7439]

How can they all be so adorable. And their little coats and hats are too cute 🥰

[@nancycoomer4301]

The good old days. Lovely little children. Pure and innocent. What spoiled kid of today would want a pencil sharpener. This was when life was worth living.

[@joshuataylor3550]

Well a lot of those kids will be dead now.

[@tobleramone]

I'm sure spoilt kids back then didn't want one either.

[@ArianneAvalon]

I dont think kids today would know what to do with a pencil sharpener.

[@PerfectCocoa2]

I hope you don't think most of the children of today are spoiled 😅 A majority can be very polite too 😁 But I really would like to travel back in time to these wonderful times! It would be so amazing :0

[@shaunwild8797]

How polite children were back then.❤❤

[@kathleengordon5623]

All down to proper parenting

[@dawnfinch8232]

We were brought up to learn good manners we had a much stricter upbringing and schools were stricter too it made us what we are today

[@shaunwild8797]

@@dawnfinch8232 Shame it all changed.

[@katperson7332]

@@kathleengordon5623 so right! They all spoke so well even with their cute mispronunciation as in “the smoke comes out of the chimsy.” I love it! None of them muttered either. They were all clear and precise and spoke in sentences.

[@KoshVader]

I'm sure black kids would disagree. This video is cute, but let's not forget that 1955 was far from perfect. It was better in some ways, but we've improved in many ways.

[@heresjohnny602]

"How truly wonderful the mind of a child is." Master yoda

[@Seminal_Ideas]

The past really is a different country. A better one.

[@flossypark3169]

Such lovely, grateful children, unspoiled by marketing and greedy toy makers!

[@oldguy2976]

These kids had a proper childhood that lasted years …. And were not greedy at all . I was born in 1960 and me and my brothers were happy with what we got … we never made demands and never gave our mum and dad lists of tons of stuff. I feel sorry for kids today who don’t have a childhood … it’s the fault of parents who want to show off

[@kellyvargas6986]

I don't think it is about being rich or poor that makes a happy childhood it is more about how kind and loving your family were and money can't buy those qualities.

[@dawnfinch8232]

Old guy I was born in 1960 too Christmas was indeed more about the true meaning of it and I remember my mother throwing my letter to father Christmas up the chimney to this day I don't know how she did it because we were told he used to sit on top of the chimney listening to make sure we were being good 🎄☃️😊😊

[@serendpity3478]

@Pete Testube Teenagers definitely existed in 1955, There was that whole rock and roll thing, remember? They wore bobby sox and full circle skirts. Boys with long slicked back cowlicks, ducktails, riding motorcycles and driving cars. They were the first teenagers.

[@serendpity3478]

@Pete Testube You said: " Lasted years? I'd say that back then you stopped being a kid and went to adult a lot sooner. There was a time when the teenager did not exist." The construction of that passage, with the first sentence outlining your hypothesis then the second leading straight on from it with a related claim and no qualifiers indicates a direct link between the first an second points. Now, had you said "Earlier in history the teenager did not exist." it would have been clear. But surely it's your place to make your point clear and not mine?

[@edwardbernthal160]

@Pete Testube how old are you, I was born in 46 and I dont remember a time when teenagers didn't exist.

[@silverdragon710]

These BBC archived footage are priceless

[@hazelold2882]

How adorable- I hope they all got what they wanted 😊

[@eleanoraquitaine2966]

I was 10 that year and I wanted a little bake set so I could make little cakes.

[@spritzpistol]

It was the highlight of the year to go and see Father Christmas (as called him), we would all queue up, stayed polite as if not Mum or Dad wouldn’t be so kind with our gifts. We always got dressed up and looked out best in our school uniforms, or Sunday best. Our lists were honoured by the big fella, and we played for hours, days and weeks with a handful of toys, and thought we were kings and queens when we received a bike. How things have changed, but I have very fond and joyful memories of these times, especially grabbing hold of my brother’s cap gun and using a whole reel of caps…..whilst he drowned my tiny tears in the sink😂

[@twpsy634]

❤❤😅.Your comment made me laugh so much. I am in my 70s and have such clear memories of my brother's cap gun and getting hold of the rolls of paper and making them "bang" by hitting them with a stone. Poor "Tiny Tears" being tortured like that!! 😅 I can see my brother so clearly...short trousers, fairisle pullover and his NHS spectacles. ,always seemed to have pockets full of "treasures" he had picked up from somewhere.He was the same as an old man...never threw anything away "as it might come in handy .Sadly gone now and so missed .❤😢Those years have just flown .Thank you so much! Your comment seemed to open up a portal to my youth and bring back vivid memories.Best Wishes to you!

[@thecyborgrhino]

I beg someone to find out where Gwen is now. Such a kind little soul

[@tonycritcher3419]

Hmm, she said she didn't make people cry.... She did me! Bless her

[@matthewfarmer6830]

The kids were cute back then, thanks for sharing.👍👍🙂

[@asbisi]

Lovely children with reasonable wishes. I LOVE their clothes! So well dressed in quality fabrics.

[@lellytalks4296]

When children were allowed to just be children ❤️

[@jean2740]

And inocent and where not forced into learning about sex and forced at school to look at the adult sex organs as they are today, and where not asked what sex they are if you where a boy your male, if a girl your female ,it's a sick sorded world today children born today don't have a chance to be I ocent, it's forced upon them ?

[@Weeflowerofscotland]

These children are so polite and sweet ❤️❤️

[@vickiemayfield3197]

How absolutely enchanting. I watched mesmerized at their requests and responses. Precious!!!

[@tango6nf477]

There are many comments here about how polite, cute and well behaved these children are almost as if it is something unusual. The fact is that children were brought up to be polite and well behaved more back then and (more) parents took responsibility for their growing up straight. Sadly, that is not always the case today is it?

[@jean2740]

Kids today Brought up I use the term brought up lightly, dragged up with zero respect and the few children who are brought up and taught to respect everyone get bullied by the nasty kids of today can't win

[@me124]

I was terrified of sitting on Santas knee. The innocents of children here compared to now is just lovely and more exciting bc it was a time without all the self loving fb and drugs on every corner. I miss the quiet village I lived at in the early 1988. The snow was so deep and no horrid comments on social media. People were just friendlier and more caring.

[@belladonnasbat5816]

The early 1988 lmfao.

[@benjaminclasper9355]

What you say about children today about self loving and drugs on every corner you do know it’s not like that everywhere all the time you know today I mean you say it like it’s common everywhere now I could agree with just some areas but not everywhere like drugs in every corner as well I mean smoking is common but not drugs literally everywhere on every corner and with self loving do think that children don’t care for their families or friends anymore well I know still that they do care about their friends and people around them like they do notice people you know and with social media I get it with comments and things with the hateful comments but you’re commenting yourself and t you’re not being rude but still you’ve commented and it’s social media in that form as well.

[@andrewthornhill7042]

Angela was just so sweet..."a motor car!"

[@Clavinovaman]

I counted at least 10 well behaved children in one room, many able to string a whole sentence. How times have changed. 7:17: Notice the little chap is getting bored, but still pleasant and interacting.

[@geekygalaxy4307]

Because this was filmed for TV they edited out the moments with stroppy children

[@kimbwf629]

I disagree. My children are in their mid twenties and were polite and well behaved. Still are lovely people. .

[@kahyui2486]

Okay boomer. Shame u couldn't teach ur kids to be literate. I mean the kids of today are your children. Times haven't changed much, you just suffer from nostalgia and think everything was better back then when, it wasn't.

[@jean2740]

But no one is saying the whole race of chilren are bad , just a hell of a lot are bad its the fat of parents if the got no manners so your a good parent , and your chilren are well mannered good for you

[@jean2740]

​@@geekygalaxy4307you must have been there ??

[@MaxWinner]

I wanted a gun for Xmas as well...I had a star wars blaster, cowboy revolver that was a cap gun, space ray gun, and several plastic rifles, shotguns, pistols, and an epic metal spud gun....aaah, the memories

[@aro4491]

Imagine opening the curtains on Christmas Day and finding Santa has installed a working set of traffic lights in the front garden. ...

[@samabrahams7687]

how polite and beutiful all the children were ... now days its wouldnt be the same is sad really .

[@ljchandler4876]

what a lovely piece of feel good journalism - there should be more like it

[@blacksunshine7485]

Glass of wine and a mince pie?! That's better than I got!

[@judyhorstmann6332]

I couldn't believe it! Father Christmas wouldn't have made the trip across the UK, let alone around the world if he had that set out for him at each house! LOL!

[@sandragray3951]

And don't forget the carrot for Rudolph!🤣

[@snowdog9954]

My heart's just melted! Lovely

[@HelloImNik]

'a dolly that wheezes' hahah she wanted a dolly that wees itself ahahaha

[@jillosler9353]

And Christmas would have been the ONLY time they would have been bought toys. Birthday presents were mostly what they NEEDED with maybe a comic as well.

[@firesidefairytale]

That is true. I was born in 1952. We had chicken at birthdays because that was a treat. Christmas stockings were tartan socks - a new toothbrush, toothpaste and a tangerine in the toe. My mother made dolls clothes for me. We had beautiful coats with velvet peter pan collars.

[@jean2740]

Yes that is true very true😊

[@magzb2642]

Poor Santa trying to decipher what's being said. He's terribly well spoken himself. 🤣 That's my generation but I never got to meet Santa.

[@antman5474]

A dolly that wee's itself and a nurses outfit probably isn't on most kids wish lists today.

[@fidelisfaber4961]

That might explain the staffing crisis in the NHS.

[@KoshVader]

Actually my little sister got a nurse uniform and a nursing kit for Christmas and she and my brother loved playing with it. The reasons for the staffing crisis in the NHS are low pay, poor working conditions, too many managers, underfunding, staff from abroad often don't want to stay here because they have to contribute towards the NHS which is hard to do if you're living in an expensive area, the nursing courses aren't accessible for disabled students which is going to be a bigger issue after COVID, bullying, racism. I'm sure there are others but these are just ones I've seen.

[@MoonTreeisonline]

As a 13 year old, when I was 5 I actually asked for almost the exact same things lol

[@lauraswann5543]

It is so strange to think that those children would be about 70 now. Some of the children asked for quite expensive gifts, for example a bike, which is surprising considering the fact it was the quite austere 1950s in England.

[@scottthefunk]

Angels pure angels

[@kellymarie6031]

"A glass of wine & some mince pie!!!"..... KEEP SABTA HAPPY!

[@denisescutt1865]

I loved those days. Life was hard but simple .

[@dawnfinch8232]

Life was much simpler in those days I was a 60s child I remember getting a doll usually tiny tears a pencil case compendium of games and I loved spirograph wonderful Christmases 🎄☃️

[@realrhodes]

Indeed Dawn I asked for the same and Christmas was so wonderful then it is so true. I think I still have my Spirograph somewhere...we were grateful for anything that we were given in those days. Thank you for your comment.

[@dawnfinch8232]

@@realrhodesI wish I'd kept some of my. toys and yes wonderful Christmases 🎄☃️

[@andrewthornhill7042]

@@realrhodes My Spirograph was given away... 😥

[@CDash162]

My sister got Compendium of games such fun we had with that. I miss board games. They were great fun.

[@dawnfinch8232]

@@CDash162 good fun weren't they 😄

[@juliejeanable]

Their speech is wonderful, todays kids can barely talk by the time they start school.

[@SA-de4lc]

The impact of smartphones at an early age?

[@lauriestockbridge-leather2216]

@@SA-de4lc I don't think that's the case, I don't think there are any kids using smartphones before they can talk 😂

[@SA-de4lc]

@@lauriestockbridge-leather2216 🤣 I understand your sarcasm lol well modern mothers are also glued with the smartphones & that makes kids to learn to talk late. Don't you think so? It's used to say "Mother language" because kids learned to talk from mothers. I think it's time to replace the term sadly.

[@sylishiel]

Reading books, singing songs, playing board games like scrabble or just normal communication with their children seems a thing from the past. Sadly a lot of parents nowadays just plop their children in front of tv, iPads or smartphones and hope for the best... 🤦‍♀️

[@garryleeks4848]

I still can’t 🙄🙄

[@JustinTimeForParties]

These children are in their 60’s now.

[@maryrosed8475]

I was born in 1954 and I am 68 so some of these children are in their early 70's. I also remember when Christmas was so special. Parents saved a few bob every week for Christmas. Now every day is Christmas!

[@stevegordon5689]

@@maryrosed8475 Every generation the work ethic is getting weaker with the google culture.Dont really like the women but i can see where Truss is coming from!

[@Besilia]

@@stevegordon5689 people said that about the last generation it’s just a repeating cycle

[@Mel-hl1bb]

This is so lovely ☺️

[@JEUndisputed]

It would be thrilling to see what these people are like now if they're still alive, I wonder if Stephanie ever became an artist and if Gwen got her puppet show and still makes people laugh

[@virumzzgaming]

This actually happened in real time and space. Its just so hard to comprehend watching in 2024 from my phone. The world's are completely different. We've lost simple values. Christmas is a stark reminder of this. How technology changes us and not always for the better.

[@smadaf]

How curious. The boy at 7:00, who wants a conductor's set, pronounces "Yes" as "Less".

[@untissify]

Less he does.

[@lillyl.777.]

So cute.

[@djdissi]

Glad it wasnt just me who noticed. He was soooo cute... stole my heart❤💕

[@Michelle-qd9gm]

So polite

[@birdlynn417]

The British children make me smile! 😃❤

[@jean2740]

Yes the British keeper of England gone

[@birdlynn417]

This is the sweetest thing. 💗

[@SimonandJojo]

Joyce Grenfell was so observant of human life, the boy here who wants a gun reminds me of Sidney in her 'Nursery School' sketches... "no Sidney, he didn't have a gun, and he wasn't a burglar either".

[@alisonlyons4691]

Oh yes that was so funny

[@tashaax1993xanimalloverx]

Bless 🥰 crazy to think my dad was born a year later!

[@hensonlaura]

Before a child's gift was expected to be a vastly expensive show stopper.

[@peterwalker6020]

Imagine the children of today asking for and being pleased with a pencil sharpener

[@kristinesharp6286]

It’s a common stocking stuffer. It was very exciting to have your own as they used to just cut with a knife according to my grandparents.

[@dawnfinch8232]

I used to love getting a new pencil case for Christmas and a Timex watch ☃️☃️

[@lauraswann5543]

He ALSO asked for a bike and a Rupert book, though. Bicycles were quite expensive in every decade, even in 1955.

[@kristinesharp6286]

@@lauraswann5543 it’s not the price it’s the number of things people noticed. He asked for something cheap/useful and something expensive. It evens out. I hope he got it. Also back then one kid got a bike and the entire family used it. That is how it was with my dad in the 50’s. But me and my sister in the 70’s had our own at the same time, after the trike of course. But even that went on to other kids. Made to last multiple kids. A very surprising story in a comment on my dads obit page was the woman he passed our trike to when we both had our big girl bikes, that 5 more kids were able to have their turn with the old trike. It was such a great thing to read about. Before Facebook marketplace and dedicated thrift stores it was how items made their way around.

[@qtrust]

Different generation. If the kids in the video lived today, they wouldn’t want pencil sharpeners.

[@brose9701]

Such sweet kids they are so polite

[@billow9721]

"What would you like for Christmas 1955, a pencil sharpener, a new bike, and a Rupert book" "What would you like for Christmas 2022" "A new Apple iPad, A new state of the art phone, and a new mortgage for mommy and daddy to buy it all"

[@josimpson7999]

😂🤣😂

[@sophitsa79]

One of them wanted traffic lights!

[@Flying_Acehole]

This is probably due to the fact that there was nothing more than tin toys and dolls back then. If the kids back then could have had an Ipad, they would have wished for it. Where is the Problem? You are just old and jealous

[@mathonamoore123]

43 4

[@annenunney9907]

Spot on Paul

[@annenunney9907]

I remember those days Father Christmas at kennards in Croydon

[@victoriar4637]

Wow that's sweet. I know that toys and childhood overall was much simpler then.

[@TheFen2009]

Just adorable 🥰

[@djdissi]

That last little boy with his little woolen hat ❤😭😭💕

[@barbarah9917]

This was great ty.

[@IngenerateIngenue]

The little girl who wanted a car 🥰 Santa questioned this with her mother as he obviously thought it weird that little girls wanted toy cars! Thank goodness times have moved on. I played with lots of Dinky cars when I was a little girl in the late 60’s/early 70’s.

[@patriciathewisher2315]

They’re all delightful

[@teresamalinowska7110]

How lovely ❤️

[@kap6369]

Aww this is so cute. ❤️

[@catherine59226]

So sweet! ❤️👍🏻

[@kimbwf629]

How sweet ❤️

[@BaronVonGreenback1882]

He's the poshest father Christmas I ever heard.

[@nickandmikec]

Loved the kid who said when asked what he wanted for Christmas replied "I want a gun." We laughed heartily...it's near the end of the broadcast and so worth waiting for it.

[@Mr-Al.Zheimer]

Some of these kiddies are terrified by this man with the huge beard.AW, bless🙏

[@shirleyellis9708]

Great video.

[@MarcoNegrisEye]

This reminds me of the Christmas episode of Russel Brands Ponderland. Highly recommend 😂

[@blurds]

Naughty Norbert cleaver hook!!

[@IngenerateIngenue]

Aaah the little girl wanting boxes of handkerchiefs for her mummy & daddy 🥹

[@debrarufini6906]

"A dolly that wheezes?" No no no, Santa - she doesn't want an asthmatic doll!