50+ Simple Ways to Bring Back a 90s Childhood

Mar 9

If you’ve been feeling that pull toward a simpler time lately, you’re not alone.

So many of us are craving the way life felt in the 90s. We want less noise and a slower life instead of being constantly entertained. And as moms, I think we feel it even more, because we are trying to raise our kids in a world that feels very different from the one we grew up in.

The good news is, we don’t have to go backward to bring some of that feeling back. Though, if you offered me a time machine to go back, I’d prob jump on it right away… ha!

We can take the parts of the 90s that we loved and really worked for a family, the ones that created calm, connection, and creativity, and intentionally bring them into our homes today.

Not perfectly, or to fill some social media aesthetic, but in small ways that start to shift the rhythm of our everyday living (and lower our mom overstimulation/stress!)

Below are simple, realistic ways to bring back that 90s childhood feel, while still living in the modern world we are in.

Tech Boundaries That Actually Work

Put phones in another room during meals
Turn off non-essential notifications
Remove social media apps from your phone
Use a computer instead of your phone for scrolling or work
Set a daily “offline hour” for the whole family
Keep TVs off (or very low-stim media) during most of the day
Charge phones outside the bedroom at night
Use tech for communication (landlines, anyone!?), not constant entertainment
Delay giving kids personal devices as long as possible
Consider a smartwatch for safety instead of a full phone

50+ Simple Ways to Bring Back a 90s Childhood in a Modern World

Let Kids Be Kids Again

Let your kids be bored every day
Keep art supplies easily accessible
Encourage drawing, building, and creating without instructions
Let them make up their own games
Limit highly stimulating shows and fast-paced media
Allow unstructured playtime without stepping in
Say no to over-scheduling activities
Let them play outside with neighbors or siblings (obviously, know your kids' maturity for this..)
Give them time to solve their own problems
Protect time for imagination and creativity

*How to Live a 90s Lifestyle in a Modern World*

If you’ve been craving a simpler, quieter life lately, I wrote a deeper post on why so many of us are feeling this way and how to actually bring that 90s feeling back into our homes in a realistic way.

read more →

Slow Down Your Home Life

Let your home feel lived in, not perfectly curated
Stop trying to optimize every routine
Focus on what actually matters instead of doing everything
Leave some space in your day unscheduled
Do one thing at a time instead of multitasking everything
Let chores be simple and realistic
Keep systems that work, and let go of the ones that don’t
Lower the pressure to “do it all”
Accept that not everything needs to be perfect, messes happen in real life…
Create a home that feels calm, not constantly busy

Bring Back Simple Family Rhythms

Have regular family dinners without screens
Create a simple weekly rhythm instead of a packed schedule
Set aside one night a week for family time
Play board games or work on puzzles together
Watch a movie together without multitasking (put the phone away…)
Let evenings be slower and less structured (think ~ rhythms over routines)
Keep weekends simple ~ fewer plans and more family time at home
Prioritize connection over constant activity
Build small family traditions that don’t require a lot of effort
Make time for conversations without distractions

Choose Simpler Entertainment

Pick a few favorite shows, and favorite them, instead of endless scrolling
Choose slower, more positive shows for your little ones (think~ Curious George, Arthur, Franklin)
Do a family rewatch of something nostalgic **some favorites below**
Visit the library for new books every couple of weeks
Bring back kids' magazines (Highlights, NatGeo Kids, etc.).
Listen to music without doing anything else
Try older video games that are less overstimulating (90s Mario is always a fun family game night!)
Turn off background noise when it’s not needed
Be more intentional about what is always playing in your home

We can add so much more to this list!

Leave some of your favorites in the comments!!

Make Life Feel Tangible Again

Write notes or cards to loved ones
Use a paper calendar that the whole family can see
Print photos and put them in albums
Bonus: Use a camera with film (or disposable for kids)! It feels like a surprise to get the photos back & look at them together!
Let kids create things with their hands regularly (Legos, crafts with recyclables, etc.)
Rent DVDs from the library for movie night
Keep books around the house within reach
Let kids look through old photo albums
Display meaningful items instead of constantly updating decor — hang more kids crafts & DIYs!
Keep a family notebook or journal
Try to choose physical over digital whenever you can