A "girlhood box" for a 1970s girlhood.

In My Humble Opinion
21

I was a tomboy, so though I was born in 1971 I don’t have much to add (though I loved Breyer horses). But you are awesome friends!

22

Toys: Chinese Jacks (if they’re a thing that even exists anymore), Fashion Plates

Books: Sweet Valley High, Flowers in the Attic

Clothes: Jelly things (shoes, bracelets), banana clips, Bonne Bell Lip Smackers (which isn’t exactly makeup - it’s makeup adjacent), fingerless lace gloves

I agree with Dendarii Dame about the horse crap… either horse books or horse toys or horse themed something (not My Little Pony, she would have been too old for that).

In a way, though, there were a lot fewer gender specific things than there are today. We were the era whose parents bought us “Free to Be You and Me” and went all in on gender neutral toys (whether or not they really meant it).

23

What about Mr. Men books? They were popular in the 70s and 80s. I know for sure you can get reprints today.

24

Rollerskates. Friendship pins.

25

Leg warmers.

Movie “Fame” or TV Show of the same name. Or Flashdance.

Back issues of Seventeen magazine.

StG

26

Did boys really not play four-square? They play it at my kids’ school right now in the 21st century!

A nice set of bobbles should go in the box.

27

A pink Princess phone
A diary (preferably pink with sparkles)

You must paint fingernails at the party, and you must play Dream Date Barbie.

28

I don’t have anything to add, I just wanted to add that this seems to be a totally awesome idea.

And, as a girl in the '70’s, I was totally into the Judy Blume books.

29

I think this is an awesome idea too. She’s lucky to have such great friends!

How about a set of jacks and a rubber ball? I’m a little earlier than 1972 and was a tomboy, but I loved playing jacks with the girls during recess.

30

OP, I have a bunch of my Girl Scout badges I can send you if you’ll PM me info to do so. This is a very sweet thing you’re doing for your friend!

31

No, I am from 71 and do not agree at all. I had one of the first cabbage patch kids. Also very much wanted Strawberry Shortcake dolls (“too expensive”). Most of the things on your list were not of my generation (pet rocks???) or for boys. The Simon was cool, though.

Here’s a list:

  1. I want my MTV: Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna. Maybe a poster to pin up?
  2. The Outsiders movie/book
  3. Molly Ringwald.
  4. Sassy magazine
  5. Lisa Frank
  6. Wonder Woman underoos
  7. Hair crimper
  8. Can of aquanet
  9. Lipgloss with a rollerball
  10. Hello kitty
32

I half agree. I was born in '71. Strawberry Shortcake was a thing for me (also Holly Hobbie), but by the time Cabbage Patch dolls and Care Bears came out, I thought they were for little kids. I wanted jelly shoes, but wasn’t allowed them.

Trixie Belden as well as Nancy Drew.

We always played ‘Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board’ at slumber parties.

33

Having had a sister of the right age, I’d recommend a DVD of the movie Annie (the original one, with the redhead, not the more recent remake in which she’s African-American), which was a favorite of hers. The movie came out in 1982, but it’s a pretty faithful representation of the Broadway musical, which came out in the 70’s.

34

For the full experience, you have to re-create the sixth-grade girls-only health class presentation on impending puberty, complete with audiovisual aids.

35

We called them “Fortune Tellers”:

36

Hello Kitty anything

37

Ooooh! Born in 1970, class of '88 here!

Chinese Jacks, for sure were HUGE in mid-late elementary school.
Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board, Bloody Mary, and random prank calls were the highlights of our slumber parties.
Slam books! Or was that just my junior high?
Madonna and/or Cyndi Lauper, Culture Club, Duran Duran.
Movies: Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, Ferris Beuller, the whole John Hughes ouvre.
This sounds like so much fun!

38

Caller ID has really taken the fun out of prank phone calls. :p:p:p

39

You’re right, but I do want to point out that most landline telephone providers at least have an option to block your Caller ID with some sort of code that you dial before the number. A lot of people wouldn’t answer an anonymous call these days, but not everyone.

I’m not necessarily recommending it, but just pointing out that there is still a way.

40

Y’all are wonderful friends <3

There’s lots of great suggestions here. For food, maybe pizza and American-style Chinese food? I seem to recall those were about the only takeout options around my place in the 80s.

Late in the evening, you could bring out a Ouija board and have a seance :slight_smile: