In recent years, a growing number of teenagers have been rediscovering the joy of childhood toys, embracing everything from stuffed animals to Lego sets and collectible dolls. This trend, once possibly seen by some people as immature, is now more widely recognized as a means of comfort, stress relief and self-expression.
Senior Ella Janssen recognizes society’s shift in its views of childhood toys and the roles they play in our lives.
“It has become more socially acceptable to have comfort objects,” Janssen said. “They [comfort objects] bring peace of mind when you have them close and easy to access.”

Stuffed animals, specifically Jellycats, have become all the rage. According to Fortune, “Consumer interest in Jellycat has skyrocketed by 171% over the past year.”
Gen Z is responsible for this boom in sales, sharing their favorites and which ones they like the best all over social media. Jellycat even has a social media presence with over 2.8 million followers across all platforms.
Jellycats come in all shapes and sizes and for any interests–there are foods, animals, objects, plants and more. People are able to find comfort through these plushies by “treating themselves” to a cute stuffed friend that aligns with their interests.
On a larger scale, stuffed animals as a whole have been studied for kids’ strong attachment to them. The world can be unpredictable, especially for children. Stuffed animals provide a sense of security, a constant in their lives. These plush toys become a consistent friend, always present to give comfort. For many adults, this security has carried over as they have grown up.
The mere feeling of cradling something soft and relaxing can soothe teenagers, as well as ebb anxiety and fear.
Janssen acknowledges that carrying a stuffed animal brings the same feelings as petting a cat or dog.

“Similar to petting a dog or a cat, having something cute that you can hold like a stuffed animal, brings a sense of calmness and many people like that,” Janssen said.
Junior Rebecca Hiles notes her love for Jellycats.
“I had a Jellycat exchange with my friends,” Hiles said. “It’s a nice reminder of friendship and a fun event to do with your friends.”
Aside from Jellycats, many students have stuffed animals from their childhoods.
Janssen’s childhood stuffed animal serves as a memory from her past.

“I had a surgery when I was younger to get my adenoids removed and I liked to bring my stuffed animal with me,” Janssen said. “I still like the sense of comfort that it continues to bring me.”
It is a very common practice for hospitals to give children and adults stuffed animals as a way to comfort them and can help the healthcare workers connect with kids. According to the website Random Acts, “For children and adults in hospitals, stuffed animals are often a multi-purpose coping tool for medical-related fears. Research shows that stuffed animals serve as a distraction from fears, as well as being a familiar face in an unfamiliar setting.”
Giving children in the hospital toys allows them to use their imaginations, too. They get to play like they do outside of the hospital.

Not all toys that provide comfort are stuffed animals. Legos never stopped being popular, but more “adult” sets have helped Lego reach new heights, especially after COVID. According to Reuters, in 2021, “Lego doubled its earnings in the first six months of the year as customers flocked to its reopened stores to buy Star Wars building sets, model Colosseums and flower bouquets made from its colorful plastic bricks.”
Flower bouquets and architecture sets appeal to adults, allowing for a fun decoration that they don’t have to take care of in their busy lives.
Lego even offers sets that go with certain seasons, like poinsettias for Christmas and roses for a special someone during Valentine’s Day.
Because Legos are so durable, they make great collectibles for both kids and adults. Legos can even be passed on if kept, making a child’s connection to them stronger through their parents.
Lego has an avid fanbase with millions of followers on social media. The hashtag #lego has over 25 million posts on Instagram alone.

This community is active and shares their original creations with others.
As an added Lego bonus, according to The Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, “Children develop problem-solving, spatial awareness and critical thinking skills as they experiment and build with different combinations of bricks. This also helps improve memory, focus and attention span as they plan and build different structures.”
Sophomore Taryn Carney expressed her love for floral Legos.
“Legos are super fun,” Carney said. “I especially like the flowers and how they’re starting to make more stuff that will fit into people’s rooms as decorations.”
Janssen shared some of her favorite Lego plants.
“I personally have a few sets of the Lego flowers like the bonsai tree,” Janssen said. “And I had a whole mini plant set that I got last year.”
Hiles explained why she thinks Legos are so appealing.
“Legos are a great way to relax and do something that is not school based, but also uses your mind to figure things out.”

The world is no stranger to collectibles. From Pokémon cards to Beanie Babies, collectibles have been around for a long time. Recently, Sonny Angel, a collectible minifigure who wears all kinds of different hats, has become popular.

Sonny Angels come in surprise boxes, meaning the buyer doesn’t know what they’ll get until they open it. When the buyer gets the Sonny Angel they want, they can get excited, and experience an almost childlike sense of joy. They then must buy more to get that feeling again, keeping them coming back. Other companies have been doing this for years, like Mini Brands and the classic Pokémon cards.
Sonny Angels make for cute decorations. Influencers post all over their feeds about their array of Sonny Angel displays.
Carney’s childhood collectibles gave her fond memories to look back on.
“I love the memories I have with my toys and how much fun I had with them,” Carney said. “I played with princess figurines and it was so fun.”
Freshman Ellie Brennan recalled her favorite collectibles as a kid.
“When I was younger, I collected Shopkins for a really long time,” Brennan said. “My cousins and I would always play with them and trade them whenever we saw each other.”
With the continuing rise of social media, it can be difficult to find other things to do besides scroll. Childhood toys can help to protect physical, emotional and mental health issues resulting from social media, and lead to a decrease in internet use.
Ironically, however, Janssen notices that the increase in teenagers having childhood toys may be a result of social media.
“Social media makes it hard for people to find other things to do because it gives you that immediate sense of dopamine that other things don’t necessary give you,” Janssen said. “Being able to build with your hands, especially Legos, helps spark more creativity in people.”
Similarly, social media also makes it easier to see the trends, including the trend of childhood toys resurfacing.
Hiles notes that social media also plays a role in the increasing sales of childhood toys.
“I think Jellycats received an increase of interest with a lot of people because they are honestly very cute and became a trend on social media,” Hiles said. “I’ve noticed with the Sonny Angels and other collectibles, people try and go buy the newest ones.”