Grayson West
Remember when free time wasn’t about scrolling or streaming? We filled our afternoons with activities that required imagination and a bit of elbow grease. These hobbies might seem like distant memories now, but they’re a big part of what made our childhoods so memorable. Let’s look back at the good old days together.
Playing With Pogs
For a brief but glorious moment in the 1990s, cardboard discs called Pogs ruled recess. Kids stacked them and fought over slammers. It was competitive and completely addictive. The fad burned bright and faded fast, but true 1990s kids still remember their best Pogs like trophies.
Kicking The Can
Forget expensive toys—one empty can and a group of kids were all it took for endless fun. Whether it was hiding or running to “kick the can,” this game had kids laughing until the streetlights came on. It was hide-and-seek, and teamwork all rolled into one.
Building Treehouses
Building a treehouse was like crafting your own secret hideout. With a hammer and some scrap wood, plus the addition of a lot of imagination, kids created magical spaces to share snacks and plan their next adventures. Some were more elaborate, with decks or even multiple stories. A treehouse was your very own fortress.
Making Friendship Bracelets
Not to throw shade on people of the modern world, but friendships seemed a lot more intentional in the past. It was especially popular among kids, who took time to weave colorful bracelets as tokens of friendship. While it still exists today, it’s now more of a summer camp activity.
Playing Jacks
A small rubber ball and a set of metal jacks were all kids needed for hours of entertainment. It actually took real skill to be able to bounce the ball and scoop up the jacks mid-air. Nothing too fancy about it, just coordination and some scraped knuckles.
Pressing Flowers
Collecting and pressing flowers in heavy books allowed kids to preserve nature’s beauty. It made nature walks just one random thought away from becoming an art project. They’d create decorative albums or homemade cards. But in today’s fast-moving world, most kids scroll past beauty instead of preserving it.
Playing Hopscotch
Sidewalks used to be covered in chalk outlines of numbered boxes and skids from hopping feet. If you were great at Hopscotch, everyone knew you had bragging rights. Rain could wash it away, but kids would redraw it in minutes. With fewer kids outside, it’s rare to spot this tradition anymore.
Building Soapbox Cars
Resourceful kids once scavenged materials to build soapbox cars, racing them down neighborhood hills. It didn’t take much to make one add some old wheels to cardboard with plenty of duct tape. These gravity-powered vehicles built creativity and certainly some engineering skills. DIY racers are now outpaced by screens and store-bought scooters.
Crafting Macrame
Can you even imagine a 1970s household without at least one macrame creation? This decade was a DIY paradise, and kids loved getting crafty. Afternoons were spent knotting colorful cords into masterpieces. It was just about the joy of creating something cool with your hands, not the end product.
Building Model Airplanes
Whether assembling plastic kits or crafting balsa wood gliders, building model airplanes was the original screen-free patience test. It required patience and precision. Kids would meticulously paint and assemble each piece, often displaying their finished creations proudly. Now, this hands-on hobby has largely been grounded in favor of virtual simulations.
Making Paper Dolls
All that was needed were scissors and imagination. Paper dolls came with outfits to cut out and mix up. In this endless imaginative play, kids created backstories and wardrobes before design apps existed. This lo-fi fashion game is now rare because most kids prefer digital avatars to paper tabs.
Playing Marbles
Whenever kids would gather in circles, best believe a high-stakes marble game was in the cards. They would flick colorful glass marbles to knock others out of the ring. These evolved into tournaments that were serious playground business, with prized “cat’s eyes” and “shooters” up for grabs.
Playing Red Rover
“Red Rover, Red Rover, let Tommy come over!” This iconic game was all about breaking through linked hands with a burst of speed. It was fun, and it was pure drama. Who’d break the line? Who’d stay? Kids played for hours while running and cheering in every round.
Collecting Baseball Cards
From bubble gum packs to plastic sleeves, baseball cards were once kid currency. Swapping them felt serious, and a rare rookie card? Pure gold. Kids had card stats memorized and lineups debated. Now, the thrill has cooled down, with digital collectibles replacing the shoebox treasures kids used to guard like dragons.
Building Ant Farms
Getting a close-up view of ants building tunnels was surprisingly cool. Ant farms turned a pile of sand into a bug metropolis. Kids learned structure and how to keep their bug roommates alive. This biology-meets-toy experiment has largely disappeared from kids’ desks and science fairs.
Playing Four Square
A rubber ball and a chalk-drawn court were all it took for a competitive game of Four Square. Kids rotated through the ranks, aiming for that coveted King Square. Reflexes mattered, and so did playground politics. Some may be surprised by all the skills to be gained from this game.
Making God’s Eyes
Weaving yarn around crossed sticks created colorful “God’s Eye” crafts that symbolized protection. Often made at summer camps or art classes, this craft has become less common in recent years. After making this, kids would gift them to friends or parents. Each layer added a burst of color and meaning.
Making Shrinky Dinks
It doesn’t take much for a kid to believe in magic. And for them, it’s a pretty magical experience to color on plastic sheets and then watch their creations shrink into charms inside the oven. Be it keychains or pins, Shrinky Dinks brought a serious wow factor to any rainy afternoon.
Collecting Stamps
Today, with mail going digital, stamps have become less of a hobby and more of a grandparent’s keepsake. But back then, stamp albums told stories from every corner of the globe. Kids hunted for rare finds and swapped duplicates with friends like treasure. Each stamp had a backstory and, sometimes, a scent.
Writing In Diaries
Before social media captured everything, kids kept secrets in lock-and-key diaries. If you wanted to know their crush or dreams, the answers were always in those doodle-filled pages. There was something sacred about writing to no one and everyone at once. Now, oversharing is digital.