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Nostalgia is in right now, and I am here for it. I recently spent a few days with my nieces playing with Legos, making friendship bracelets and watching ’90s television shows that I had no idea were revamped for a new generation. I was in heaven. So imagine my surprise (and glee) when I saw that my most beloved childhood toy recently dropped new products—for adults.
Like the adult coloring book frenzy from a few years ago, and the continuing obsession grown-ups have for 1,000-piece Lego sets of the Millennium Falcon and other childhood icons, another toy company has been busy upping that “recommended ages” range to include full-grown people like you and me.
Read on to discover which childhood toy for adults you can buy right now, then kick back and spend a glorious afternoon reconnecting with this old fave.
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What nostalgic childhood toy is being released for adults?
It’s Play-Doh. Yes, colorful, moldable, wonderful Play-Doh is in stores now with new products aimed specifically at adults. Hasbro just launched Blooms by Play-Doh, a series of crafting kits for grown-ups that allow you to create intricate and colorful bouquets of flowers that you can display in your home, office or wherever you need a little forget-me-not.
“The Play-Doh brand has always been about the limitless possibilities of imagination. That feeling doesn’t fade as you grow up, it evolves,” Brian Baker, Hasbro’s senior vice president of Play-Doh (a real job), said in a press release. He added that Blooms by Play-Doh offers a “more elevated, hands-on way to slow down, get lost in the process and create something beautiful you can enjoy long after you’ve made it.”
The toys, er, kits, each come with multiple colors of Play-Doh, tools and accessories, a vase and step-by-step instructions. Which is good, because these flowers are detailed. Stems, petals, leaves, greenery—all in vibrant colors (or pastels, if that’s what you prefer)—that look shockingly real. When you’re done, you can lock in the design with a “finishing spray,” which is also included.
Meadow Flower Bouquet Kit
Why do we love Play-Doh so much?
One major reason, besides the nostalgia trip we take thinking about our old Play-Doh Spaghetti Factory, is the smell. You remember it, don’t you? The company describes it as a “sweet, slightly musky, vanilla-like fragrance, with slight overtones of cherry, and the natural smell of a salted, wheat-based dough.” I guess I can get all that, but to me it just smells like childhood. (Back in 2018, Hasbro actually trademarked the Play-Doh scent.)
Play-Doh is fun to play with, too, like an old-school equivalent of stress balls and fidget spinners. It just feels great to zone out and put your too-busy mind on an engaging, non-essential task that still requires some low-stakes concentration. No emails, no bosses, no phone (come on, you can do it) … just you and the Play-Doh. Like a squishy adult coloring book, if you will. Doesn’t that sound relaxing?
What items can you get?
The Blooms by Play-Doh series currently has six floral bouquet options, from $25 to $40, and Hasbro also sells refill packs if you run out of Play-Doh. The kits are available at Target, Amazon and Walmart, though not every item is at every store. Here are your options.
- Blush Bouquet Flower Kit: Large, bright pink blooms are the main draw here. Available at Amazon.
- Garden Flower Bouquet Kit: This pretty bouquet offers a range of flower sizes and colors. Available at Target and Walmart.
- Meadow Flower Bouquet Kit: Similar to the Garden Flower kit, but with a pastel vibe. Available at Amazon, Walmart and Target.
- Wildflower Petite Flower Kit: The petite kits are smaller and have more delicate blooms. This one has a wildflower motif. Available at Walmart and Target.
- Bluebell Petite Flower Kit: Bluebells bring a Texas vibe to your home or office with three bright blue blooms set against lavender and white flowers. Available at Walmart.
- Rosy Petite Flower Kit: This one is just what it sounds like: a small bouquet of roses in various colors. Available at Target and Walmart.
Sources:
- Hasbro: “Hasbro Introduces Blooms by Play-Doh, A New Creative Experience Designed for Adults”
- Hasbro: “Hasbro Trademarks a Favorite Smell from Childhood: The PLAY-DOH Scent”
- Wall Street Journal: “Hasbro’s ‘Aging Up’ Strategy Continues with a Reattempt at Adult Play-Doh”
- NBC News: “Play-Doh for grown-ups just launched with floral kits that start at just $25”
- YouTube: “Blooms by Play-Doh”
