How do and did people live, have fun, entertain themselves without toys and gadgets?

These days and in the last 20 years or so many young people can't live without them. Toys, gadgets, video games, various flashy bits and pieces. Without them, they're bored. David Thewlis' character even mentions this in Mike Leigh's 1993 film "Naked" when he says "that's the trouble with everybody you're all so bored" and then states "no matter how tawdry or vacuous something is, as long as its new, as long as it bleeps and flashes in colours" etc (I wonder what he'll make of today's technology like smartphones and tablets and all that, not to mention drones and RC vehicles).

But then how do and how did people live a fine and even fun life without them by being young themselves and why are some parents reluctant, besides financial issues, to entertain their kids with all that stuff?

Also, back to that film and Thewlis' character. Firstly, who is and how does HE get to determine what constitutes "tawdry and vacuous" and if people enjoy various toys and gadgets and find them entertaining and not choose to study and become geniuses, why is that such a huge problem to him? Not to mention, it didn't prevent his from committing one particular terrible deed at the beginning of the film - I bet as he regretted it, maybe he wished he'd have fun by playing Nintendo or SEGA Mega Drive even as man in his nearly 30s?

And secondly, don't we ALL like to play with toys as kids and various more adult gadgets as teens and young and otherwise adults? Without them all, life would be kinda dull and empty and not everyone is in a constant mindset of only studying, working and doing the right thing or holidaying etc as part of fun.

Anyways, what do we think? Toys, gadgets, video games, smartphones and tablets, drones and other RC vehicles etc etc and having fun to fill life, thanks.