Growing up today looks very different from the childhoods of previous generations. Many experiences that were once common are now unfamiliar to kids, shaped by advances in technology and changes in daily life.
You might be surprised by the simple things that shaped how children used to grow up but seem almost impossible for today’s kids to understand. These differences highlight how much the world has evolved and how childhood itself keeps changing.
Rewinding VHS tapes before returning them
You had to rewind VHS tapes before bringing them back to the video store. It wasn’t just a suggestion—it was expected. If you forgot, stores often charged you a fee.
Rewinding took time, sometimes several minutes, and you needed to be patient. If you didn’t rewind, the next person would have to do it, which was seen as rude.
This simple task was part of the rental experience and showed respect for the store and other renters. Kids today don’t have to think about that with streaming and digital rentals.
Playing outside until the streetlights came on
You might find it hard to imagine, but kids used to play outside for hours without any screens. The only sign it was time to go home was when the streetlights flickered on.
You and your friends could be riding bikes, playing tag, or just exploring until dusk. It was a simple way to enjoy freedom and adventure.
Scraped knees and dirty clothes were part of the fun, not a reason to head inside. Those evenings spent outside built friendships and created memories that lasted.
Using payphones to call friends
You remember needing to find a payphone when you wanted to call someone. These public phones weren’t free—you had to have coins, usually a dime or a quarter, to make a call.
You couldn’t just call anytime or anywhere. If you were out and needed to reach a friend, you had to track down a payphone first. It wasn’t instant, and sometimes you had to wait your turn.
Today, you can call or text from your phone anywhere you are. But back then, using a payphone was a small hassle that everyone just accepted as part of staying connected.
Making mixtapes on cassette players
Making a mixtape was a fun way to share your favorite songs with friends. You had to pick each track carefully and record them in the right order on a cassette tape.
You couldn’t just press a button to skip or shuffle songs. Recording meant pressing record and play at the same time and timing everything perfectly.
Sometimes, if a tape got stuck, you used a pencil to rewind it. It took patience and creativity, but the result was a personal soundtrack you could carry anywhere.
Waiting for a dial-up internet connection
You had to be patient when connecting to the internet with dial-up. The process involved listening to a series of beeps and static noises as your modem dialed in. It wasn’t instant; sometimes, it took several tries to get connected.
During this time, you couldn’t use the phone for calls because the line was busy. Connection speeds were slow, so loading websites or downloading files tested your patience. Today’s always-on, high-speed internet makes this waiting feel like a thing of the past.
