17 Things Boomers Grew Up With That Gen Z Will Never Know
Boomers grew up with everyday experiences and items that feel completely foreign to Gen Z.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 5 min read
Technology, culture, and daily life have changed so much that many parts of the Boomer childhood are nearly unrecognizable today. Gen Z has grown up in a digital world, while Boomers remember a time of rotary phones, handwritten letters, and playing outside until dark. These 17 things offer a glimpse into a way of life that’s now almost gone.
1. Waiting for the Radio to Play Your Favorite Song
Nothing Ahead on Pexels
Before music streaming, people had to listen to the radio and hope their favorite song would come on. You couldn’t skip tracks or build playlists. If you missed it, you waited again or bought the record. It made music feel more special but also more frustrating.
2. Using a Rotary Phone
Pixabay on Pexels
Making a call meant spinning a dial with your finger, one number at a time. If you messed up, you had to start over. There was no caller ID or texting — just a landline shared by everyone in the house. Calls were more intentional and often short.
3. Watching TV with Only a Few Channels
MART PRODUCTION on Pexels
TV meant a handful of stations and whatever was on at the time. There were no streaming platforms, pause buttons, or on-demand options. If you missed a show, you missed it completely. Prime time really meant something back then.
4. Playing Outside All Day Without Supervision
PNW Production on Pexels
Boomers often spent hours riding bikes, climbing trees, and roaming neighborhoods. Parents didn’t track their location with apps or phones. You came home when the streetlights turned on or someone yelled your name. It was a very different kind of freedom.
5. Developing Film to See Your Photos
Jean-Pol GRANDMONT on Wikimedia Commons
Taking pictures meant using a roll of film that could only hold a limited number of shots. You dropped it off at a photo lab and waited days to see the results. Sometimes, the pictures were blurry or badly lit, but that was part of the surprise. Instant editing didn’t exist.
6. Writing Letters by Hand
Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels
Keeping in touch meant writing on paper, sealing an envelope, and sending it through the mail. There was no emailing, texting, or DMing. Long-distance communication took time and effort. Receiving a letter felt meaningful because of the time it took to create.
7. Listening to Vinyl or Cassette Tapes
Anton H on Pexels
Music wasn’t stored in your pocket — it lived on shelves. You had to flip tapes or records halfway through. Cassette players often ate the tape, and rewinding meant holding down a button or using a pencil. Music was more physical and less convenient.
8. Using Encyclopedias for Homework
Pixabay on Pexels
Before search engines, kids used thick encyclopedia volumes to research. You had to flip through pages, read carefully, and hope the information was up to date. Families often owned full sets that took up entire bookshelves. Wikipedia didn’t exist yet.
9. Calling the Operator for Help
Pavel Danilyuk on Pexels
If you didn’t know a number, you called the operator. They helped connect your call or looked up listings. It was a human-powered version of Google. Operators were part of daily life.
10. Going to the Library for Information
Pixabay on Pexels
Libraries weren’t just for books — they were the main source of research. Card catalogs and microfilm machines helped people find what they needed. School reports were done by hand with the help of a librarian. Everything took longer and felt more formal.
11. Watching Saturday Morning Cartoons
Vika Glitter on Pexels
Cartoons only aired at certain times, mostly Saturday mornings. Kids would wake up early just to watch their favorite shows. If you missed it, there were no reruns or replays. It was an event, not a background activity.
12. Using Payphones in Public
Jc Siller on Pexels
Making a call away from home meant finding a payphone and carrying coins. You waited in line, made your call quickly, and hoped it wasn’t raining. Payphones were on street corners, in gas stations, and outside grocery stores. Now, most are gone.
13. Hearing the News from a Newspaper or TV
Hasan Albari on Pexels
The news didn’t come from Twitter or TikTok. You got it from the nightly broadcast or the morning paper. Breaking stories didn’t spread in seconds — they unfolded over days. There was no scrolling through headlines before breakfast.
14. Getting Up to Change the TV Channel
Anete Lusina on Pexels
Remote controls weren’t standard. You had to walk to the TV, turn a dial, and hope it stopped on the right channel. Volume and brightness were adjusted by hand. Watching TV was slightly more active.
15. Wearing Hand-Me-Downs or Home-Sewn Clothes
Gustavo Fring on Pexels
Buying brand-name clothes wasn’t always an option. Many kids wore hand-me-downs or outfits sewn by parents or grandparents. It saved money and made each piece personal. Fast fashion wasn’t a thing yet.
16. Using Typewriters for Schoolwork
Min An on Pexels
Typed reports meant sitting at a loud, mechanical machine with no delete key. Mistakes had to be corrected with white-out or retyped completely. Typing took time and accuracy. Computers were not in every home.
17. Getting Picked Up in a Wood-Paneled Station Wagon
Guy Kawasaki on Pexels
Before minivans and SUVs, families piled into long station wagons with fake wood siding. There were no seatbelts in the back row, and facing backward was part of the fun. These cars were everywhere in suburban neighborhoods. Now they’re mostly in vintage car shows.