14 Things Kids Did in the ’90s That Would Shock Kids Now
Many everyday habits of kids in the 1990s would seem surprising or even strange to children growing up today.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
The 1990s were a unique decade filled with trends and routines that shaped childhood in ways very different from now. From how kids entertained themselves to how they interacted with technology, many practices reflect a world without smartphones or social media. Looking back highlights how much daily life has changed in just a few decades.
1. Waiting to use the family computer
Someone Not Awful on Wikimedia Commons
Most families only had one shared computer, and kids often had to wait their turn. Internet access was slow and tied up the phone line. Games and school projects were limited to short sessions. Today, kids are used to personal devices and fast, constant access.
2. Recording songs off the radio
Amitbalani on Wikimedia Commons
Children made mixtapes by waiting for their favorite songs to play on the radio and pressing record on a cassette. This often meant catching part of a DJ’s voice at the start. It was a slow process that required patience. Now, music can be streamed instantly in perfect quality.
3. Using payphones to call home
Mr. Payphone on Wikimedia Commons
When kids needed a ride, they found a payphone and called collect or with coins. Not everyone carried money, so memorizing phone numbers was important. Calls were often brief because of the cost. Today, almost every child has instant access to a mobile phone.
4. Renting movies at video stores
Tracy the astonishing on Wikimedia Commons
Watching a movie at home meant visiting a video rental store and picking from shelves of VHS tapes. Popular titles often ran out, forcing families to choose something else. Rewinding tapes before returning them was expected. Now, kids can stream nearly any movie in seconds.
5. Printing directions before leaving the house
Medea7 on Wikimedia Commons
Without GPS on phones, families used paper maps or printed directions from early websites. Getting lost meant pulling over and asking someone for help. Kids often acted as “navigators” in the car. Today, real-time navigation makes travel simple and automatic.
6. Playing outside for hours without supervision
Jason Zhang on Wikimedia Commons
Many kids spent entire afternoons outside with friends, riding bikes or exploring neighborhoods. Parents often expected them to return by dinner without constant check-ins. Safety concerns were less discussed than they are today. Now, many children spend more time indoors or under closer supervision.
7. Collecting physical photos
Воскресенский Петр on Wikimedia Commons
Photos were taken with film cameras and developed at a store, sometimes days later. Kids often waited eagerly to see how their pictures turned out. There was no option to delete or retake. Today, instant digital photos and social media sharing are the norm.
8. Blowing into video game cartridges
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
When a game would not load, kids believed blowing air into the cartridge would fix it. This ritual was part of playing systems like the Nintendo 64 or Game Boy. It was more myth than science, but it worked often enough to keep the habit alive. Modern games rarely have these issues because they are digital.
9. Carrying walkmans or discmans
Dillan Payne on Wikimedia Commons
Listening to music on the go required portable CD players or cassette players. Batteries ran out quickly, and CDs often skipped if bumped. Kids carried cases full of discs or tapes. Now, thousands of songs fit on a single device.
10. Using encyclopedias for homework
Dmitry Makeev on Wikimedia Commons
Before search engines, kids turned to printed encyclopedias for school projects. These heavy books often filled entire shelves. Information was limited to what the books contained, with no instant updates. Today, online research provides unlimited and current information.
11. Watching Saturday morning cartoons
Vika Glitter on Pexels
Cartoons were scheduled only on specific mornings, and kids planned their weekends around them. Missing an episode meant waiting months for a rerun. There were no on-demand streaming options. Now, kids can watch any show at any time.
12. Collecting phone numbers in notebooks
Alan Levine on Wikimedia Commons
Without smartphones, kids wrote down friends’ phone numbers and addresses by hand. Keeping a paper list was the only way to stay connected. If the list was lost, contacts could be gone too. Today, phones store everything automatically.
13. Sharing one television in the house
Julian Tysoe on Wikimedia Commons
Most families had a single TV in the living room, and kids had to negotiate with siblings or parents for what to watch. Remote controls sometimes caused arguments. Channels were limited, and choices were few. Now, streaming devices and personal screens give kids endless options.
14. Waiting for film to load online
Florida Memory on Wikimedia Commons
When browsing the early internet, images and websites loaded slowly, line by line. Downloading even a short video could take hours. Patience was part of the online experience. Today’s children are used to instant, high-quality streaming.