If you’re like me, you probably have a lot of great memories and nostalgic feelings from childhood.
And as I’ve written about before, us “grown-ups” have a lot to learn from our younger, child-selves.
But instead of living in the past, let’s incorporate that magical, fun-loving awesomeness into the present.
Here’s how…
15 Ways For 90’s Kids To Reclaim That Childhood Awesomeness:
1. Play outside (like you did in the good ol’ days).
Ride a bike (maybe put a card in the spokes so it sounds cool too). Play on a playground. Bust out the roller blades. Ride a scooter. Coast down the street on a skateboard. Climb a tree. Jump in a pile of leaves. Just do it. Remind yourself what fun really is.
2. Watch a 90’s Nickelodeon show for old-time’s sake.
Nick-nick -nick-nick-nick-nick-nick-nick… Nickelodeon.
I’m pretty sure all of us have positive memories attached to Nickelodeon, right? Watch some old cartoons every once in a while. They’re fun. Instead of posting bathroom selfies from last week on Instagram, get your “Throwback Thursday” on by watching an episode of Hey Arnold! or something.
3. Play board games.
Take a break from technology and play some tangible games again. You’ll remember how fun they are. Some bars even have board games to play, which is pretty much the best idea ever.
4. Apply Pokemon to real life.
If you grew up in the 90’s, and didn’t live under a rock, you know all about Pokemon. We don’t even have to necessarily play it to reclaim its awesomeness right now. You can apply Pokemon to your life. That’s what I do. For example, “catchin’ em all” can apply to checking off your bucket list items. Leveling up can apply to any form of skill development or self-improvement. You can even do something like carry a Pokemon card in your wallet and show it to bouncers as your ID when you’re feeling funny.
5. Get your hands on an interactive book.
Remember those things? Where’s Waldo, Madlib…etc. Buckets of fun.
6. Watch a movie you loved when you were a kid.
Try to be in a bad mood while you watch your favorite childhood movie… Impossible.
7. Listen to 90’s music.
Because who doesn’t love 90’s music?
I can’t help but smile like Wilt Chamberlain in a sorority house when I hear stuff like this:
8. Eat like a kid sometimes.
Have a crazy cheat meal every once in a while. Combine all the foods you love and go to town. A couple weeks ago I made some pumpkin cheesecake. And I ended up putting some in a bowl of cereal. It was random, spontaneous, and glorious; and it gave me that awesome feeling of being a kid again.
*Watch this for inspiration 😉
**Just don’t go back to drinking 4 cans of Surge a day. That stuff will have you fat, sick and diseased quicker than you can say “Type 2 Diabetes.”
9. Call someone.
Remember when people used phones to actually talk? Instead of texting, give someone a call. It’s a nice change and feels, well, more human.
Remember me?
10. Wear ridiculous clothes.
Remember how ridiculous clothes were in the 90’s? Just wearing that kind of stuff makes you feel more spontaneous and fun-loving.
Selfie of the century
11. Get your hands on some crazy 90’s toys to play with.
Nerf guns, moon shoes, vortex…etc. All that stuff is too much fun. Bring it back.
12. Put down your phone and actually interact with people.
Back in the day, no one had cell phones to stare at to try to make awkward situations a little less awkward. Next time you’re in an elevator, keep your phone in your pocket and say something funny to the person next to you.
Don’t be a socially awkward penguin
13. Draw something with crayons.
Bust out the big crayola pack and go to town. Even if you’re drawing skills are non-existent, it’s still fun to mess around with crayons and a big sheet of paper.
14. Do some sort of arts and crafts.
Remember that stuff? When’s the last time you’ve done some sort of arts and crafts project? Or made something with your own two hands? And when’s the last time you even heard anyone say “arts and crafts”?
15. Spice up your vocabulary with random 90’s phrases and slang.
You, and everyone around you will definitely get a kick out of using these again. (As long as you don’t use them to the point of being annoying.)
Some examples:
- All that and a bag a chips
- Boo Ya!
- Off the heezy
- Open up a can of whoop-ass
- The shit
- Stylin’
- Talk to the hand
- Trippin’
- Word
- Da Bomb!
- Tight
- Dope
- Fly
- Your mom
And my favorite…
There’s nothing more awesome than screaming “Whoomp! There it is!“ after accomplishing literally anything in life. From using the right key to open a door, to landing your dream job, “Whoomp! There it is!” is the perfect way to immediately celebrate.
So there you have it.
15 ways for all us 90’s kids to reclaim that childhood awesomeness.
Stay feelin’ good, feelin’ great.
-Stevie P!
