Bring Back the Magic of a '90s Kid Summer

Childhood has definitely changed from the 90s to now. Now, a virtual world has replaced a fresh, outdoor-filled adventure. Years ago, we used to have a simpler time outdoors, filled with bikes, backyard sprinklers, and a song playing that everyone recognized as the ice cream truck just around the block. 

How can we go back to these times? Do kids these days even know what they're missing? Parents of young kids can encourage their children in some unique ways that add a modern twist. Technology is addictive, and kids may prefer it, but as parents, you can show kids a fun way to get outdoors and breathe the fresh summer air. 

How Did We Get Here?

In just a short time, we went from a simple time to staring at screens all day. It's been 20-30 years since the '90s kids had this experience. Since then, the smartphone has been put into all our hands and added endless entertainment to the point where it has become an integral part of our lives. Back then, we had less available entertainment, and so we had to create our own, which led to innovative, unique activities and games. 

One other reason kids may not be outdoors these days is that more households are dual-income, meaning parents are working more. It has led to parents having less capacity to come up with creative ideas for their kids. Smartphones and tablets have replaced this form of entertainment.

Fresh Ideas for a Modern '90s Summer

Here are some of our ideas for a return to a '90s summer. None are guaranteed to have your kid fully entertained, but you may be surprised what they like!

• Photo Journals: Give your kids disposable cameras or instant film to document their summer. Create scrapbooks at the end of the season.
  

• Street Art Day: Hand out sidewalk chalk and create a giant neighborhood mural.
  

• Mini Farmer's Market: Encourage your kids to set up a lemonade stand or garden veggie booth. Teach them to give half their earnings to a cause they love.
  

• D.I.Y. Field Day: Recreate the school’s field day in your yard or park—potato sack races, hula hoop contests, and a three-legged race.
  

• Retro Music Dance Parties: Introduce your kids to ‘90s playlists and have a family lip-sync battle.
  

• Sunset Screen-Free Hour: Spend the golden hour outdoors every night—reading, cloud gazing, or playing catch.

  

Balancing Screen Time

Unlike the '90s, today’s screens aren’t going away. Instead of banning them outright, parents are rethinking how they’re used. Instead of leaving your child alone with a screen, find times where you can interact with your kid and the screen. Bring back a family movie night, or find a fun co-op video game that both of you can play together or against. 

Let Kids Explore

Just like your parents did with you, let your kids find their own creativity! The most important thing to develop a creative mind is letting them explore their own adventures. So turn on the sprinkler. Grab a popsicle. Let your kids run barefoot and stay up past bedtime. Childhood doesn’t need to be curated. It just needs room to unfold.