20 Things that Were Popular as a Kid and Unheard of Now: A Journey Down Memory Lane

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When we are kids, we are always looking to grow up. We want to have all the money, drive a car, get a job, and live independently. But, lord, oh lord, when we actually do grow up. We realize we were completely wrong about everything! We would totally become little kids again if we could!

Recently a Redditor in the r/Ask Reddit thread asked other Redditors to take a trip down memory lane with the question, “What’s something that was popular when you were a kid that’s basically unheard of nowadays?”

We remember so many of these!

Trips to the Movie Store

Trips to the movie store on Friday night, crystal Pepsi, gum that made your mouth different colors! If you’re a fan of nostalgia and re-living the days of your youth, this is Reddit post is for you!

Here is a list of 10+ things Redditors say they wished was still a thing from their childhood!

Old School Toys

One Redditor brought this bit of nostalgia back, “Skip-It aka ankle shatterers.”

A user really hit the nostalgia jackpot with “POGs. Was big back in the day. Tons of fun!”

One Redditor mentioned, “Slap bracelets.”

Playing Outside

A user treated many of us with this memory, “ Leaving the house at sunup and returning at dinner time. We just ran free with no fear of being kidnapped.”

Another user said, “We had to be home when the street lights came on.”

Finally, a user sarcastically said, “Interacting with people in real life, outside, not on the internet.”

Penny Candy

A user really shook things up with, “Bulk but individually wrapped candy was like this near me. You could either take a big bag and pay by weight at the check out, or five pieces for a quarter.”

This sweet user said, “Giant never-ending gobstopper candy ball.”

Mix Tapes

Another Redditor said, “And the mix tapes you made when listening to the radio for the songs you want. Good times.”

Goosebump Books

Another person chimed in with, “Those Goosebump books, trashy daytime talk shows…there were dozens of them and Hollywood Video / Blockbuster.”

Prank Phone Calls

One user commented, “My niece had my great nephew prank call me a couple of months ago. I’m just sitting there minding my own business when I see my niece calling. I answer and hear a little boy say, “Is your refrigerator running?”. I said yes, and he says, “Well, you better go catch it!”. He’s 4 and he thought it was pretty funny to play a trick on his great uncle. It was cute.”

Dial Up Internet

Who could forget this in the early days of the internet? Added another user, “Having to get off the internet so Mom could make a phone call, lmao.”

Another Redditor said, “The snake game on phones.”

Renting Videos

One Redditor remembers, “Going to Blockbuster on Friday night.”

While another commented, “Video Warehouse for me, but yes. Good times.”

Pretty Much Everything

Finally, one of the best posts from a user, “Family Portraits at Sears/JCPenney, Beepers, Malls, Arcades, Library Cards, Bowling Alleys, Sizzler/Ponderosa, House Phones/Landlines, Address Books/Calendar Organizers, Coin Purses, Smoking in public places, and Book It”

This Reddit thread pretty much nailed it.

Many of these comments took us back to our childhood and teen years. How about you? Did you find yourself dreaming of when life was simpler without social media and the constant buzzing of the twenty-four-hour news cycle? Did we miss anything?

This article is inspired by the internet and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Motherhood Life Balance.