Psychologists agree: keeping your childhood memories and toys is a sign of resilience in adulthood
According to a recent study, keeping hold of significant childhood objects can strengthen emotional regulation and the ability to cope with adversity.
For years, holding on to toys, stuffed animals, or childhood keepsakes has often been viewed as a sign of immaturity or excessive nostalgia. However, contemporary psychology is beginning to suggest the exact opposite: keeping these objects may actually be an indicator of emotional strength and a greater ability to cope with the challenges of adult life.
Emotional anchors
An academic study titled “Exploring the Relationship Between Transitional Object Attachment and Emotion Regulation in College Students,” published in PubMed Central, examined this connection among young adults. The findings suggest that those who retained meaningful objects from their childhood demonstrated stronger emotional regulation skills and were better equipped to adapt to adverse situations. In other words, they showed greater resilience.
Resilience is defined as a person’s ability to confront difficult experiences, overcome them, and, in some cases, emerge stronger without suffering lasting psychological harm. It does not mean the absence of pain or hardship. Rather, it reflects the capacity to endure those experiences, make sense of them, and reorganize internally. In this context, childhood mementos and toys can serve as emotional anchors that help facilitate that process.
Positive vibes
One of the main reasons is their connection to positive memories. These objects evoke periods of life associated with care, protection, and affection, allowing adults to reconnect with feelings of inner security during times of stress. In addition, keeping such items contributes to a sense of personal continuity. Maintaining a link between childhood and adulthood reinforces a person’s identity. That feeling of life-long coherence is essential in helping people avoid feeling fragmented when facing adversity.
Developmental psychology has emphasized for decades the importance of attachment objects during childhood. Favorite stuffed animals, blankets, and dolls help children navigate new situations, cope with temporary separations, and manage intense emotions. It is hardly surprising, then, that their influence extends beyond childhood. Keeping these objects into adulthood does not necessarily reflect an inability to grow or move forward. In many cases, it suggests the exact opposite: that a person has successfully integrated their emotional history without feeling the need to deny or erase it.
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