Raising My Kids Like It’s the ’90s — Because It Just Felt Simpler Then
- Erin Smith
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
There’s something about the ’90s that makes me want to bottle it up and sprinkle it all over my kids’ childhood. Maybe it’s the fact that my favorite memories don’t involve screens or perfectly curated Instagram moments. They involve scraped knees, neighborhood bike races, and being told to “come home when the streetlights turn on.” Or for my siblings and I, my Mom would whistle (the loudest whistle you’d ever heard).
It was a different time, but honestly? I think it was a better one for childhood.
I’m doing my best to raise my kids as close as possible to how I was brought up in the ’90s — even if the world looks completely different now. No, they don’t understand cassette tapes, and yes, they think a landline is some kind of ancient relic. But some things? Some things never go out of style.
Like outside play.
We didn’t have tablets to keep us quiet at restaurants. We had crayons, napkin tic-tac-toe games, and if we were lucky — those little handheld water ring toys. I want my kids to know what it feels like to come inside with messy hair, sweaty faces, and dirt-stained knees because they’ve been playing, not just sitting.
Like boredom.
Yep — good old-fashioned boredom. It’s where creativity was born. We made forts out of blankets, turned sticks into magic wands, and let our imaginations carry us. I tell my kids, “You’re bored? Perfect. Go be bored outside for a bit.” And slowly, they’re learning that their brains don’t need constant entertainment.
Like limited screens.
In the ’90s, “screen time” meant a Saturday morning cartoon marathon — and even then, your mom kicked you outside by noon. I love that. We’re not anti-technology in this house, but I am pro-childhood. Screens have their time and place, but they’ll never replace climbing trees or riding bikes.
Like simple joys.
Water balloon fights, sleepovers with actual talking (not texting), ice cream trucks, and neighborhood games of hide and seek. It didn’t take much to feel happy. I want my kids to know that joy isn’t bought — it’s built in the simple, messy, unplugged moments.
Like board games and ’90s pop music.
Nothing brings our family together faster than a good old round of Guess Who, Trouble, or UNO — and of course, the soundtrack is straight from the best decade ever. You better believe we blast Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Britney Spears, and a little TLC while we play. Sometimes it’s the hip hop and R&B that starts the vibe! My kids love it! Their favorite song is “Blue” by Eiffel 65.
I love when the kids ask about “wayyy back in the day when I was little.” It takes me back. Some of the questions they ask makes me think about things I haven’t thought about in so long and I totally enjoy telling them all about it!
Raising kids like it’s the ’90s might not be trendy, but to me? It’s giving them a childhood worth remembering. One with scraped knees, wild imaginations, dance parties in the kitchen, and memories that aren’t stored on a cloud — they’re tucked away right in their hearts.
Follow along as I try to survive modern parenting with a little ’90s magic sprinkled in.
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