25 Things Only ’70s Kids Will Remember
A nostalgic blast from the past, these 25 iconic memories will transport '70s kids back to a time of banana seat bikes, Saturday morning cartoons, and the unmistakable thrill of Pong!
- Alyana Aguja
- 7 min read
The 1970s were a magical period for children, marked by indelible trends, playthings, and pop culture events that defined an entire generation. From the rush of speeding Big Wheels down the sidewalk to the thrill of opening Star Wars action figures from their packages, childhood in the ’70s was a combination of imagination, escapade, and sheer entertainment. Whether it was dancing to disco, trading Wacky Packages stickers, or learning about grammar from Schoolhouse Rock! on Saturday mornings, these memories are still held dear by those who experienced them.
1. Saturday Morning Cartoons
Hanna Barbera, Warner Bros. Animation from Wikimedia Commons
Every Saturday morning, children would run to the television wearing their pajamas for hours of cartoon enjoyment. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, Super Friends, and The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Show were the favorites. This was pre-streaming, so if you missed an episode, you would have to wait a whole week to catch it again!
2. Schoolhouse Rock!
Image from Wikipedia
Before YouTube and catchy TikTok songs, kids learned grammar, math, and history through Schoolhouse Rock! on ABC. Songs like Conjunction Junction and I’m Just a Bill made learning fun and unforgettable. Decades later, many adults can still sing those tunes by heart.
3. Banana Seat Bicycles
Image from Wikipedia
If you owned a cool bike back in the ’70s, it most likely sported a banana seat with a high-rise handlebar. The bikes came in vibrant colors and had sparkly seats to boot, and children thought that they were gliding along like a chopper. A few of them even boasted sissy bars in the rear, giving them the cool car of the block.
4. The Sears Wish Book
Image from Internet Archive
Before the internet, children looked forward to the Sears Christmas catalog, also called the “Wish Book.” It was full of pages of the newest toys, from Evel Knievel stunt bikes to Barbie’s Dream House. Most children would take out a pen and circle all they wished Santa to bring.
5. Mood Rings
Image from Wikipedia
A must-have ’70s fashion trend, mood rings were supposed to change color based on emotions. They worked using liquid crystals that reacted to body heat, but kids swore they could reveal their deepest feelings. Whether or not they were accurate, they were an essential accessory for groovy self-expression.
6. Pet Rocks
Image from ABC News - The Walt Disney Company
In 1975, a marketing mastermind, Gary Dahl, marketed plain rocks in a box with holes for breathing and a how-to manual. The Pet Rock was a huge craze, with millions of children purchasing one for fun. They were the simplest pets to care for—no walking, no feeding, just sitting around!
7. Big Wheels
Image from Ubuy Philippines
This low-riding, plastic tricycle was a childhood favorite, particularly for those sidewalk racing forays. The large front wheel provided an easy way to do legendary skids and spin-outs. Some children wore out their wheels so quickly that they required a new Big Wheel annually!
8. Pong by Atari
Image from Wikipedia
In 1972, Pong was the first home video game to be commercially successful. It brought the fun of the arcade into the living room. Although it was a basic game—two paddles and a bouncing dot—it launched the home gaming craze. Children who owned an Atari 2600 in the late ’70s were the coolest kids on the block.
9. Wacky Packages Stickers
Image from eBay PH
Before Garbage Pail Kids, Wacky Packages were laugh-out-loud parody stickers of well-known consumer items. Children collected and swapped them, giggling at parodied brands such as “Crust” toothpaste rather than “Crest.” They were the ideal means of pulling pranks on adults who were too serious about grocery shopping.
10. The Watergate Scandal on TV
Image from AP News
Even children who weren’t interested in politics understood that something important was happening with Nixon during the early ’70s. The Watergate hearings were on television for months, preempting regular programming. Some children resented their cartoons being preempted, while others learned their first serious lesson about government corruption.
11. CB Radios and the “Breaker 1-9” Fad
Image from Right Channel Radios
In the ’70s, CBs weren’t exclusive to truckers but a neat way for families to stay in touch on road trips. Children enjoyed creating their own “handles” (aliases) and using the catchphrase, “Breaker 1-9, got your ears on?” Some even memorized CB jargon such as “10-4, good buddy” for inclusion in the club.
12. Stretch Armstrong
Image from Ubuy Philippines
This muscle-bound action figure would stretch, pull, and twist beyond recognition. Inside it was a mysterious gel that enabled it to snap back to its former shape. Naturally, some inquisitive youngsters slit the figure open just to find out what was inside!
13. Wood Paneling Everywhere
Image from Walston Architectural Products
If you were raised in the ’70s, it’s a good guess that your home had at least one room covered in fake wood paneling. This brown décor covered basements and living rooms like a cabin in the woods. Even station wagons and TV sets were clad in the same faux-wood appearance!
14. The Gong Show
Image from IMDb
A wacky and outrageous talent show, The Gong Show featured performers performing bizarre stunts. If a stunt was performed too horribly, a star judge would sound a large gong to terminate it. Host Chuck Barris made the program even stranger with his weird humor and goofy pranks.
15. Clackers
Image from Wikipedia
These plastic balls resembled glass and came strung together. Children used to swing these up and down so that they “clacked” against one another. The quicker you traveled, the greater (and hazardous) they got. They even became prohibited in certain areas due to the likelihood of breaking and causing cuts.
16. Jaws Mania
Image from Wikipedia
In 1975, Jaws made children reconsider venturing into the ocean (or even the swimming pool!). The film’s chilling shark attack scenes and ominous music became a pop culture phenomenon. Children would hum the theme song to frighten their friends before they jumped into the water.
17. Smiley Face Stickers and “Have a Nice Day”
Image from Ubuy Philippines
The original yellow smiley face is the quintessential symbol of the ’70s. Combined with the words “Have a Nice Day,” it was plastered on everything from T-shirts to buttons. It was a basic, upbeat greeting during social and political upheaval.
18. The Muppet Show
Image from Wikipedia
Premiered in 1976, The Muppet Show introduced Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Fozzie Bear to prime-time TV. Unlike cartoons, it contained a blend of humor acceptable to both children and adults. With its offbeat variety of acts and celebrity guest stars, it was a weekly must-have.
19. Star Wars Toys Take Over
Image from Vulture
When Star Wars first came out in 1977, children went wild. The action figures, such as Luke, Han, and Darth Vader, by Kenner were the most popular toys of the period. Because it was so much in demand that Christmas season, some children even received a box with the promise to send them figures afterward!
20. Earth Shoes
Image from Ebay.ph
These bizarrely shaped shoes sported a “negative heel” style, wherein the heel sat below the toe’s level. Children whose parents were on the cutting edge of health crazes may have been bullied into wearing them to school. They were purportedly beneficial to the posture but only made one appear dorky.
21. View-Master 3D Reels
Image from Basic Fun!
Children could slide into a circular reel and peer through the View-Master to view fantastic 3D pictures of cartoons, vacation spots, or films. Disney movies and national parks were among the most popular reels. It was virtual reality before VR!
22. Disco Fever
Image from Göteborgs Symfoniker
The late ’70s were taken over by disco music, with children dancing to songs from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Disco Inferno and Stayin’ Alive were played at all parties and roller rinks. Even if you didn’t like it, you couldn’t avoid the disco craze!
23. Shrinky Dinks
Image from Jennifer Maker
These plastic sheets allowed children to color designs, cut them out, and bake them in the oven. To see them shrink and become tiny charms was like magic. They were an inexpensive but enjoyable craft that many ’70s children recall fondly.
24. Tang – The Astronaut’s Drink
Image from Pinterest
Tang, the powdered orange drink, was advertised as the drink of NASA astronauts. It was incredibly sugary, but children enjoyed mixing it up and pretending to be in space. Whether or not it tasted good is debatable!
25. Lite-Brite
Image from Wikipedia
This imaginative toy allowed children to punch small colored pegs into a lighted-up board to create glowing images. The templates were usually pre-made and contained animals, cartoons, or basic patterns. It was a blast to make art—until you misplaced half the pegs under the couch!