I moved to a super kid-friendly very mixed socioeconomic neighborhood where all the houses are extremely similar townhouses. Kids are outside all the time biking and walking to each others houses.

Limit screens, and have them go outside to play with friends more. Let them walk to the library, the store, whatever is walkable, on their own. Give more freedom/try not to say no as often as you do now. Allow sleep away camp - best independence and confidence builder ever

Anonymous wrote:Did you not have Nintendo?

I spent quite a bit of time on Atari from 7th-9th grade in the early '80s. That's when our console broke and we couldn't replace it because the craze was over and they weren't sold anymore.

Make your kids park their phones after 8 at night. And let them stay home all summer instead of going to day camps. That would be a good start.

We did, and kids had activities. The difference is, we had a better balance. Even in 7th-9th grade like youre saying we still go t off screens, went outside and socialized with friends in person.

Anonymous wrote:You cannot go back in time.

No, you can't, but you can do some things to create a childhood similar to this.

You cannot go back in time.

Anonymous wrote:I hate what childhood has become today with all the endless time on electronics, lack of independence and constant activities and sports. I’d love to give my kids a more fun, carefree, 90’s style childhood that I grew up with. Anyone feel similarly and what are you doing to make it happen?

100% agree! I do not and will not overschedule, even when they're teens, screebs are ok, but with limits. No phone til high school, no social media. Have some like minded neighbors. Good luck, so worth it!

Get off your phone more yourself

On your end, you don't schedule too many activities, limit electronics, and let them outside independently without supervision. That's all. It's hard though because you can't guarantee there's other kids to play with, and that's a necessary component. We're lucky, we have that, but we're two kids moving away from not having it. I also know my kid is on screens sometimes when she's independently roamed to another house, which isn't ideal, but controlling it undermines the independence.

Did you not have Nintendo?

I spent quite a bit of time on Atari from 7th-9th grade in the early '80s. That's when our console broke and we couldn't replace it because the craze was over and they weren't sold anymore.

Make your kids park their phones after 8 at night. And let them stay home all summer instead of going to day camps. That would be a good start.

Get a dial-up modem.

Let the kids out the house to play without parents hovering.

90s had tv and video games, sports and all that.

Anonymous wrote:Running around when my parents have no clue where I was, finding beer at the creek, being hit on by creepy men as I rode my bike, molested by my uncle while no adults paid attention to us. No thanks.

omg i was just going to write something like this! So funny and sad. We survived.

Running around when my parents have no clue where I was, finding beer at the creek, being hit on by creepy men as I rode my bike, molested by my uncle while no adults paid attention to us. No thanks.

I hate what childhood has become today with all the endless time on electronics, lack of independence and constant activities and sports. I’d love to give my kids a more fun, carefree, 90’s style childhood that I grew up with. Anyone feel similarly and what are you doing to make it happen?