1. Writing Checks for Everything
Once upon a time, adults carried around checkbooks like they were prized possessions. Whether it was paying the electric bill, buying groceries, or writing a birthday gift, checks were the go-to method. Kids today might recognize checks from Monopoly, but watching someone write out a check at the store would probably make them do a double take. Not to mention the whole ordeal of waiting for the person to fill it out, tear it off, and show their ID says NBC News.
Nowadays, most kids see money as numbers on a screen, not physical paper or a check stub. Venmo, Zelle, and tap-to-pay have completely taken over. The idea of waiting several days for a check to “clear” would sound ridiculous to a generation raised on instant transactions. It’s not just slower, it’s almost like a lost language adds American Banker.
2. Using a Rotary Phone
The idea of dialing a number by spinning a wheel sounds charming now, but it was the standard way to make a call. Every number had to be carefully dialed, and heaven help you if someone had a 9 in their number, because that took the longest to rotate. It was a real test of patience, and kids today are used to typing or tapping a contact name instead says MSN.
Modern smartphones let kids FaceTime their friends, text emojis, or use voice commands, all without actually dialing anything. Show a rotary phone to a kid today, and they’d probably assume it’s an old-fashioned toy or maybe a strange clock. Trying to explain that this was once considered high-tech would be met with blank stares. And forget about texting on one shares CNET.
3. TV Sign-Offs at Night
Before 24-hour programming was a thing, TV stations used to “sign off” late at night. They’d play the national anthem, show a waving flag, and then the screen would go black or switch to static. That was the universal signal that TV time was over, and if you stayed up late enough to see it, you felt like a rebel.
These days, there’s always something on, whether it’s streaming, cable, or YouTube. The idea that TV used to go to bed like the rest of us would completely confuse a kid who expects round-the-clock content. They can watch an entire series in one night if they want to, and commercials are barely a thing. It’s a whole different world from the days when silence meant the station was off the air.
4. Burning CDs or Making Mixtapes
Creating a playlist used to mean sitting next to your stereo with a blank cassette or later, carefully burning a CD on your computer. You’d pick the perfect songs, wait for the right moment to hit “record,” and hope no one interrupted the process. It was a labor of love, especially when you were making it for someone special.
Today’s kids can drag and drop a playlist in seconds or just stream a curated one with a tap. They don’t have to worry about running out of space or making a cover insert with colored pencils. The emotional weight of making a mixtape might be lost, but the convenience has definitely improved. Still, there was something kind of magical about giving someone music you picked just for them.
5. Dressing Up to Fly
There was a time when flying was considered glamorous, and people actually dressed like they were going to a fancy dinner. Suits, dresses, and polished shoes were part of the airport routine. Even kids wore their Sunday best because flying wasn’t just travel, it was an event.
Fast forward to today, and flights are full of sweatpants, hoodies, and neck pillows. Comfort has replaced class, and honestly, no one’s complaining. Kids would be puzzled if they saw old pictures of families boarding planes looking like they were headed to a wedding. Security lines, delays, and limited legroom have made fashion take a back seat.
6. Using Encyclopedias for Homework
If you needed to write a school report in the past, you went straight to the bookshelf and pulled out a volume of the encyclopedia. You’d flip through pages, take notes by hand, and maybe even copy sections word for word if you were feeling lazy. That’s how information was gathered, one dusty page at a time.
Today, kids can shout questions at Alexa or type into Google and get answers instantly. The idea of flipping through a 20-pound book set just to find the capital of Bolivia would seem completely bizarre. Research has become quick, easy, and often more up-to-date. Still, there was a certain thrill in flipping through and stumbling on something totally unrelated but interesting.
7. Drinking from the Garden Hose
Back in the day, kids played outside for hours, and when they got thirsty, they didn’t run inside for a water bottle. They bent down and drank right from the garden hose. It was a little warm, slightly metallic, and probably not the cleanest, but it was part of childhood.
Today’s parents might panic at the thought, with filters and BPA-free everything being the norm. Kids are more likely to carry hydro flasks than sip from the hose. The idea of drinking from something that also watered the plants and washed the car would be a head-scratcher. But for many, it was a badge of summer fun and independence.
8. Waiting for Photos to Be Developed
Taking photos used to be a bit of a gamble. You’d snap a picture and hope for the best, with no way to check it until you finished the roll and dropped it off at a photo lab. Then you’d wait days, sometimes a week, to see how they turned out.
For kids raised on selfies and instant previews, this would feel like a test in patience. They’d be shocked to hear you could take 24 pictures and maybe only get 10 good ones back. And if you accidentally opened the camera back, you could ruin everything. There was excitement in the mystery, but instant gratification has definitely won.
9. Passing Notes in Class
Before texting, passing notes was the secret way to communicate in class. Folded paper triangles would get slipped from desk to desk, carrying everything from gossip to declarations of love. You had to be sneaky and trust the person next to you not to rat you out.
Now kids can message each other silently with their phones, even in different classes. The idea of physically writing something down and risking a teacher reading it aloud would seem unnecessary and slow. There was definitely more risk and more heart in those handwritten notes. Plus, folding techniques were practically an art form.
10. Watching Saturday Morning Cartoons
Every kid used to live for Saturday mornings when cartoons took over the TV. You’d pour a big bowl of cereal, plant yourself in front of the screen, and soak in the animated magic. It was the reward for surviving the school week, and you didn’t want to miss it.
Kids today can watch cartoons whenever they want, thanks to streaming and on-demand services. They might not understand the thrill of waking up early just to catch a favorite episode. There’s something special about knowing you only had a small window to watch. It made the experience feel more exciting and a little more earned.
11. Making Collect Calls
If you were stuck somewhere without change, you’d go to a payphone and make a collect call. You’d say your name really fast during the prompt so the person on the other end didn’t actually accept the charges. It was a sneaky little workaround and totally normal at the time.
Kids today might not even know what a payphone is, let alone a collect call. The idea of not having a phone in your pocket at all times is already foreign. Add in the concept of paying to call someone or asking them to pay? That would just blow their minds. Convenience has replaced a lot of these workarounds, for better or worse.
12. Having to Wait for Your Favorite Song on the Radio
If you loved a song, you had to listen to the radio and hope the DJ played it. Sometimes you’d sit for hours just to catch it, and if you were lucky, you’d record it on a cassette tape—awkward DJ intro and all. It was part of the thrill and also a test of commitment.
Today’s kids can ask Siri or search Spotify and hear any song instantly. The idea of waiting around, fingers crossed, just to hear three minutes of music is totally foreign. They’ve got entire libraries at their fingertips. But those moments when your song finally came on felt like a tiny victory.