My childhood took place in the 2000s. Born 1996 and now in 2014, I’ve been alive for 18 years, been in 3 decades, 2 millenniums, and a pretty big transitional time in society with this rise and take-over of technology. However, my childhood wasn’t all that techie. I am proud to say that I used my imagination and “played.” I didn’t sit around and watch TV all day, nor do I do that now. Here are some of the things that I did as a child to keep myself entertained while I wasn’t at dance or in school.
1. Stuffed Animals.
I’m pretty sure stuffed animals defined my childhood. That’s what I played with the most, but it was so much more than just play. My brother and I had integrated a huge group of stuffed animals which we named “The Guys” into our whole family’s life. Each guy had a name, family, story, and they each had different voices. They really we a part of our family. My brother and I based all of our play on the guys. We would have “guy” sleep overs and sleep in sleeping bags in my brother’s room playing with the guys all night. We would create radio stations with my brothers old tape recorder, complete with talk shows, music, and the most hilarious antics all by the guys. Even when we would simply eat lunch or dinner, we called the kitchen the “Lunch, Breakfast, Dinner Inn.” The guys would join us and be eating at this restaurant everyday. Basically this is my most favorite and prized childhood memory.
2. Barbies, Bratz, Polly Pocket, Betty Spaghetti, and What’s Her Face.
What girl doesn’t like Barbies? It is just an integral part to being a little girl. I loved getting a new boxed up Barbie for Christmas, Easter, or my birthday, opening it up with all those twist ties, plastic crap, and tape. But once I got the Barbie out, I loved how perfect her hair would be and nice and new. I loved getting the play sets and setting up whole towns, essentially taking over the living room floor for days until my mom would make me clean it up. The same this with Bratz. They are a bit creepy, but I still played with them. Polly Pocket was awesome too! Rubber clothes for little dolls? Teeny tinny shoes that got lost all the time? What a brilliant idea 😉 Betty Spaghetti was another favorite although I never was skilled enough to do anything creative with the “spaghetti” hair. What’s Her Face! They were so fun! Drawing your own face on a doll! Of course half the time I would purposely make the ugly just to be silly.
3. Making “Potions.”
I got in trouble so many times for this! I would have tons of lotions and make-up, things like that. Then I would get bored and start combining them. I would get a little bottle or container and just mix every possible thing I could in there. It was fun! (I guess this was foreshadowing my crazy love for cooking all.the.things!). Then I would try to hide my creations somewhere in my room. Inevitably though my mom would always find them and get made 😛 My brother and I also made “potions” while in the grocery store with my mom. She would be down the aisles getting stuff and my brother and I would secretly start combining loose food in a plastic produce bag. Think bulk bin items, coffee beans, sugar, flour. Then we would leave it somewhere in the store for someone to find 😉
4. Video Games.
Okay, so I did get a little techie. My brother and I loved playing the old Nintendo ’64, Super Nintendo, Game Boy, and the best…Game Cube! Seriously these were some of the most fun times as well. We loved playing the old 007 games on the ’64 and I loved playing games like Harvest Moon, The Sims, Animal Crossing, more 007 on the Cube. Good times! I haven’t played video games in a long time…my brother however…he never got out of that trend 😛
5. Creative Play.
I did a lot of stuff with my brother when we were younger. Since he is only 2 years older, we were pretty close. We loved making up story lines, TV shows, things like that and then acting them out as the characters. We would play outside and all around the house. We created a TV show called “Stranded” and kind of based it off the show Lost. We would come up with the most crazy story lines, like setting up jail cells in our closets, using the pool as a never ending ocean, etc. But it was all so much fun!
6. “Gymnastics” in the Living Room.
I spent a lot of my time just flipping around in the living room. Practicing handstands, walking on my hands, jumping around on the couch, just moving all over the place! With all that handstand practice though, I only just now can hold a handstand and walk on my hands, haha! I guess that’s just another reason I was meant to do yoga 😛 I love moving my body around in weird ways!
7. Legos.
My brother was the one with the Legos, but we would let me play too. We would set up little towns, build houses, and he even had this ship that we would take in the pool and pretend it was sinking. We always played Legos in the basement of my grandparents house though; that was the best! They has gallons of really old ones and we would keep the houses and stories we made up, set up for each time we came over.
8. Calico Critters.
I always wanted Play Mobile, but those play-sets were for the rich kids. They were so expensive…but so were Calico Critters. However I did eventually get my big Green Calico house. That house and the critters we so cute! They had tiny little plates, couches, beds, even a tiny little soap bar! That this was a prized possession and something I will definitely hold on to. Too bad I don’t want kids…
9. Writing “stories.”
When I was a little older, one of my old friends got me into writing stories. I would buy a bunch of composition notebooks from the store and just start writing the most random “novels.” Each story always ended up never getting finished and just lasted a few pages, but it was fun at the time. My friend and I would call each other up and read out stories to each other late into the night. I got pretty weirded out though once I realized all her stories were depressing and dark…pre-teen angst?
10. Baby Born.
A life-size baby doll you could feed and then it would proceeded to actually pee! My friend and I were obsessed with these dolls and would play with them while I brothers were in Cub Scoot meetings. She introduced me to them and then I just had to have one and finally for Christmas one year got my own! But to clean the doll out after feeling it all that special magic powder food mix, you had to feed it a bottle of hot water and dish soap and then proceed to shake the thing really hard. (This is was not a doll intended for little kids, haha!)
11. Playing School.
I hated school, but I loved playing it on my own! I had a whole little “school studio” set up in my huge closet at one time. I would set out a few stuffed animals and pretend they were the students. I would usually do arts and crafts type things, but it was always fun to “be the teacher!” 😛
12. Tattoos!
Well I didn’t really do these much as a kid, but I did wear my fair share of temporary tattoos. The reason I bring this up though is that I just started playing with them again…kinda 😉 My TaT, is an awesome company making inspiring temporary tattoos for adults. From yogis, to runner, or even just inspiring words for survivors, there is something for everyone. Some of their collections include: yoga, outdoor athletes, charity, and power. I feel in love with the yoga collection and the power collection. My TaT sent me a My TaT zip bag of a bunch of their tattoos. But right when I saw the strength one, I knew that was the one I had to try first!
No I would never get a tattoo, but when I put this one on, I loved it! My favorite word right on my body. I thought it looked pretty good and pretty authentic too! I may need to rethink this “no tattoo” thing 😉 I placed it on the lower left portion of my core since I think my core is the strongest part of my body (planks for hours!). But it is also the center of my being and life. It was the perfect location for many reasons.
You can also create your own custom tattoos for order as well! And if you don’t like where you put it and want to take it off quickly or take it off once it begins to fad, they provide a bottle of remover you simply pat on your skin to run off the tattoo. And they offer free shipping to anywhere in the US! So if you are a strong fitness junkie or yogi like me…these are so perfect to pump up your day and keep you motivated! You can find them on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram! They love getting insta pics of your tattoos so make sure to tag them and hashtag #myTaTlove!
So tell me:
+ What was you childhood decade and what did you do for fun?
+ Did you have siblings you played with and were close to growing up? I am so thankful that I did! Being an only child seems like it would have been very very boring and sad :/
+ Were you into temporary tattoos as a kid? Would you wear them now?
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Lex says
hahah what a blast from the past! calico critters were my addiction growing up!! granted I was born in 1989 but you still hit the nail on the head with this list!
Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, they were the best right!? So cute!
Bailey K. says
Love this! I was born 10 years before you, so I’m definitely a 90s kid. A few things come to mind: we were big tree-climbers and we loved to “explore”. We had free reign of the neighborhood and rode our bikes/rollerblades everywhere, as long as we were home by dinner. I loved Super Nintendo and while we had a computer (for typing up homework and some computer games), we didn’t get internet until I was in 9th grade. And back then, internet was only good for chatting on AOL instant messenger! Hehe!
Strength and Sunshine says
We didn’t have a neighborhood or anywhere to explore except our yard, but I would have loved that!
Omg, yes! IM was the best! My brother and I had some fun times on there, haha!
Probably Rachel says
I grew up in the 90s so some of these things on your list were part of my childhood as well. Beanie Babies were a big deal and I still cherish my Cabbage Patch doll, but I also played with Barbies and Polly Pocket. I’m amazed at how well my older siblings and I played together (brother and sister), especially with how little we have in common now, but all three of us loved Power Rangers.
Strength and Sunshine says
Haha I remember power rangers! Something we weren’t into though 😛
Sam Kumar says
This is cool. Looking back all the memories of yesterday. There are so many changes for the childhood now compare to the years before. In my childhood years, i do love with my toys together with my siblings. Sounds so great in those times.
Strength and Sunshine says
I know! I mean now-a-days things change every month every day. I think “childhood” has simple changed and has a whole new meaning from even what it was 10 years ago.
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie says
This was just a trip down memory lane for me! I was obsessed with playing school!! I guess it all makes sense now since I am going to school to become a teacher! haha
Strength and Sunshine says
Haha sometimes the stars aligin! Not for me though! I guess my potion makes was most indicative of my love for cooking though haha!
Megan @ Meg Go Run says
My true “childhood” years took place during the late 80s, early 90s. I played school, had stuffed animals, and did a lot of creative pay like you. I loved dress up. My little brother and I played Rug Rats (like the TV show on Nick) and pretended to be the characters. We road bikes, spent the summer at the pool, and played outside a lot. I loved my Barbies and I loved to read. We had an old Commodore 64 computer with fun video games, but there were 3 of us and only one joystick so it’s not like we could play too long. If you saw the video games we played, you would laugh so hard. 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
Haha no, the old old video games are the best! We had an original very old pocket gameboy like with the black and white choppy image! The Mario game we had for that was the bomb, haha!
Whitney @ To Live & Diet in L.A. says
I grew up in the 90’s and Potions & Polly Pockets were at the top of my list too 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
Haha the simple pleasures of every decade 😉
Farrah says
Aww, I really like this post! It made me kinda nostalgic, haha. My childhood took place in the 90’s and my older brother (we’re about 13 months apart) and I would play together whenever we weren’t trying to beat each other up! :p
Strength and Sunshine says
I was blessed with a really perfect brother! He never tormented me 😉
fitnessmomwinecountry says
Okay I am the old lady here! Born in 1967 and growing up in the 80’s was my era. We were the open door to all things awesome 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
Hahaha, for sure! Your around the same age as my mom then, which means your pretty awesome 😉 XOXO
Anna | One Prickly Pear says
Born in ’88…man, I feel old. I absolutely loved polly pocket when I was growing up. Polly pocket used to be way smaller in the 90s, though. My mom would always worry my sister and I would choke on a polly pocket hahaha. Yeah, that’s how small they were. Love your post! Brings back a lot of very good memories! 😀
Strength and Sunshine says
I remember that I lost my first and most favorite Polly Pocket in a movie theater when I went to see a movie with my mom, brother, and grandma. I was devastated and my mom ran back in and even searched the trash…but we never found it 🙁
Casey @ Casey the College Celiac says
Definitely Throwback Tuesday! 😉 My sister and I were obsessed with Barbies and Polly Pockets…in fact, still have some of those today! In a storage box for future possible generations, of course! 😉 I also remember lots of imaginative play, like pretending the floor was lava and trying to avoid touching the ground! Luckily, my sister is 19 months younger than me, so we were (and are) really close. Built in play mate, sign me up! 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
Same here all my barbie and doll stuff in packed up in the basement! It would kill me though to ever get rid of it…so sad :/
We would do that too! Haha we would use pillows as stones and safe spots so you could get around the room!
Siblings can be the best 😉
Ashlee says
Born in ’93 and experience a lot of the same things. I loved Barbie, Bratz, Polly Pockets, and Betty Spaghetti. I had endless Beanie Babies and stuffed toys. I loved making potions (and yes, my mother also got mad). I went through a temporary tattoo phase and especially loved my Lisa Frank ones! I had two tomigatchi’s and my father actively played on our nintendo 64. Major nostalgia going on in this post!
Strength and Sunshine says
All the best right! Can’t we go back and just take a few days or endless kid fun with no stress and just playing 😉
Erin (@girlgoneveggie) says
I was born in 1990 so my childhood decade was like 1995-2005. I loved growing up when I did!
Strength and Sunshine says
Yea, I guess I can’t complain! It was a good time to be a kid 😉
Sarah Grace FFH says
Haha bratz dolls! Oh my. I was born in ’92 so same decade as you! I definitely had my fair share of dolls and such, but I was definitely you active, outdoors tom boy girl for a long time, always making up games to play like survivor in our neighborhood lakes, or hanging with all the boys catching lizards all day (gasp), haha 🙂
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
Strength and Sunshine says
Playing outside was the best! We don’t live in a neighborhood so it was just me and my brother, but we were blessed with a huge yard!
Sarah Grace FFH says
Huge yards are all you need as a kid, I loved going to my grandma’s house just for that reason! 🙂
genevieve y says
I was born not too long before you (1992) but most of these seemed to be a pretty big part of my childhood too! The barbies, especially 😛
Strength and Sunshine says
Barbies rock! I hate how they get so much negative press now-a-days 🙁
genevieve y says
I know. I understand the negative press, though- maybe they could make more realistically sized and diverse Barbies. I once told my mama I wanted blonde hair just like Barbie when I was little and she told me never to wish to change anything about myself! Still loved playing with Barbies!
candies & crunches says
Even though I was born in 80ies… I feel old now lol!.. I also did lots of flipping in the living room because I did rhythmic gymnastics and had to stretch and what not all the time. Great memories! ANother beautiful post! xoxo
Strength and Sunshine says
Haha thanks love! I always had to be careful though since I could injure myself for dance! Haha. Should have been a gymnast though….
little chickadee says
The nostalgia is STRONG in this one. Loved your list 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, thanks girl! It’s fun thinking back to what I used to fill my days with! The good ole, days 😉
Amy Lauren says
I am a child of the 1990s (born in 85), but it sounds like we had a really similar childhood. I loved writing stories as a kid and also acting them out with my American Girl dolls. I had legos as well and would have loved Calico Critters if that had been around when I was little, just because I loved cats (and so did my whole family!). I was definitely a creative, artsy, kid and not one to be in front of video games or electronics all day!
Thanks for the fun flashback post!
Strength and Sunshine says
Using your imagination to play was and always is the best! Even when my brother and I would play video games, we would create elaborate stories going on in them and even then take those stories out and continue playing them with ourselves not on the screen!
littlegreenrunningshoes says
haha this is too cute. I was born in the 80’s but raised in the 90’s so there’s a little cross over! I would add TGIF, beanie babies, tamagachis, and book fairs to fond childhood memories!
Strength and Sunshine says
Why were Beanie Babies such a thing! I did have a few, but really, now they are worth $0, haha! We knew some family friends who collected multiples of like every one! Such a waste now! (But they were cute so…) 😉
Lindsay L, RD (@LeanGrnBeanBlog) says
i was a big story writer too! and loved polly pockets…but i grew up in the 90’s 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
90s is close enough to the 2000s 😉 I think the simplest methods of entertainment were the best! Like writing and stuffed animals 🙂 They will never die!
Kelly (@KRod0519) says
I grew up in the 70s and spent my teen years in the 80s…Brady Bunch, Duran Duran, Baby Alive, hair bands, playing outside until the streetlights came on, one phone…usually in the kitchen and bad fashion…well, in my opinion. 😉 This is a fun post. 🙂
Kelly
http://www.alovelylifeindeed.com
Strength and Sunshine says
Haha I think we all look back on what we wore when we were younger. I know I do and I think, why the hell would my mom even buy that for me! 😛
thegreatamericanweddingexpo says
Lol! You ladies did have a fine time. My daughter was a child then and enjoyed many of these same things. She especially loved Polly Pocket. She made 2 places. One the City and one the country. She had a township hall lady, and outside township hall she made up all these little itty bitty posters like Hugo, in concert today, Buy your Veggies at the Farmers Market, and Sale at the hat shop. She played with that for hours, days, weeks……. Good memories!
Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, it was fun being a little girl! I always wanted my brother to play with those things with me, but no dice! Thus we found common ground with out stuffed animals!
Linz says
ok i feel old. i grew up in the 90s. but i did love temporary tattoos then too 🙂 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
That is not old, haha! Really I think all the older generation “toys” and things to do were so much better than what there is now. I feel bad for kids growing up with all this crazy technology. And the dolls just keep getting creepier and creepier!
cottercrunch says
well now i just feel old.I grew up in the 80s. haha
Strength and Sunshine says
That is not old in the least!
Tina Muir says
Hehe, although I remember some of these when I was too old to actually enjoy them, I did see a lot of them through my sister and she had a baby born. I do remember that being her favorite toy. We also loved playing goldeneye….my dad still brings it out every now and again. Thanks for a trip down memory lane 🙂
Strength and Sunshine says
Goldeneye is probably the best video game ever, haha! We could play that for hours and hours on end! The old video games were always and will always be the best!
eatsandexercisebyamber says
Rebecca, talk about a throw back with this post!
I have a few to add:
Beanie Babies, Furbies, Tamigotchies, Pokemon,
but I WAS STUFFED ANIMAL OBSESSED. and still am…I just love their softness 🙂 And finally someone who remembers Betty Spaghetti! What about Polly Pocket? ah and I LOVED GELLY ROLL PEN TATTOOS 🙂 okay I’m getting too excited now 😛
Strength and Sunshine says
I should have posted this on Thursday huh 😉
O no! Tamigotchies were all the rage in my 3rd grade class! I hated them so so much. Everyone in my class had one and I refused to ever stoup to that level and get one. I thought they were the worst!
There were a few forays into Pokemon and Yu-gi-oh when my brother got into that for awhile, but it was never to big for me!