10 Things 90s Kids Will Have To Explain To Their Children

If you grew up in the 90s, congrats—you survived a time when dial-up internet was considered cutting-edge and “Netflix and chill” meant renting VHS tapes and rewinding them before returning them to Blockbuster. But how will you explain these iconic experiences to your kids? Here’s a list of 10 things 90s kids will definitely have to explain to the next generation.

1. Saturday Morning Cartoons Were Sacred

Before streaming, you couldn’t just binge-watch your favorite shows. Saturdays were THE day for cartoons, and if you missed them, you had to wait a whole week for another chance.

2. The Struggles of Dial-Up Internet

You’ll have to explain the pain of waiting minutes for a webpage to load, only to hear the dreaded screech of someone picking up the landline and disconnecting you. Kids today will never know the patience it took to get online.

3. Burning CDs Was Basically a Hobby

Curating the perfect playlist for your crush or road trip? You had to spend hours burning CDs, labeling them with Sharpies, and hoping they didn’t skip in the car.

4. Blockbuster Was a Weekly Ritual

Streaming movies on demand? Nope. You had to visit Blockbuster, wander the aisles for 30 minutes, and pray your favorite movie wasn’t already rented out. And don’t forget the late fees if you forgot to return it!

5. Tamagotchis Were a Full-Time Job

Keeping that digital pet alive was more stressful than most school projects. Forgetting to feed or clean up after your Tamagotchi could end in disaster.

6. Taking Photos Was a Risk

You had no idea if your photos were good until you developed them. Blurry shot? Someone blinking? Too bad—you didn’t get to see until it was too late.

7. AIM Was the Original Social Media

Setting up your AIM away message was an art form. You had to pick the right lyrics to let everyone know you were deep without being too obvious.

8. Phones Were for Calling, Not Everything Else

Imagine a phone without apps, internet, or cameras. The best feature was playing Snake on a Nokia brick phone, which, by the way, was indestructible.

9. Cartoon Cereal Toys Were Everything

Cereal boxes came with actual toys, not QR codes. Sometimes, the toy was the only reason you begged your parents to buy the cereal.

10. The Y2K Panic Was Real

The year 2000 wasn’t just the start of a new millennium; it was the moment everyone thought technology would implode. Spoiler alert: It didn’t, but the Y2K paranoia was unforgettable.

Why It Matters

Explaining these moments to your kids will be like describing life on another planet. They’ll never know the thrill of recording songs off the radio on a cassette or the heartbreak of a scratched CD. But sharing these memories? That’s how you pass on the magic of being a 90s kid.

What’s your favorite 90s memory? Let’s keep the nostalgia alive in the comments! 🕹️📼