97 Things That Defined a '90s Childhood

Twitter Screenshot of the Harry Potter book series.

There’s a new Harry Potter book out, but it’s not as good as the original series. This got me thinking, “What other things did I grow up with in the 1990s that kids born today are likely to miss?”

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There are tons of 1990s nostalgia listicles out there, but I went for the whole gamut: books, TV shows, movies, technology, toys, and fashion styles. There’s even a list of things the Internet rendered obsolete! Enjoy!

First, books:

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WKFgEz1q4g

2. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

3. Captain Underpants

4. The Rainbow Fish

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbKr-k1PTvA

5. The Giving Tree

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axs82CUEu0s

6. Chicken Soup for the Soul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-1QsHqv80U&list=PLT-HtNHLvaKt3RrTdnGVnnsdzy3zygLMI

7. Animorphs

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Next Page: Hit 90’s TV shows that will take you back.

8. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

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9. Animated Batman

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10. Animated X-Men

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11. Doug

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12. Sabrina, the Teenage Witch

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13. Are You Afraid of the Dark?

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14. Recess!

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15. Rugrats

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16. Kim Possible

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17. Salute Your Shorts

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18. Legends of the Hidden Temple

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19. Carmen Sandiego

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20. Power Rangers

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Next Page: The great movies that came out while we were kids.

21. The Lord of the Rings — in Theaters

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22. Harry Potter — in Theaters

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23. (The Original) Independence Day

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24. Forrest Gump

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25. Titanic

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26. The Parent Trap

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27. Jurassic Park

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28. The Lion King

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29. 10 Things I Hate About You

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30. Matilda

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31. The Sandlot

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32. The Phantom Menace

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33. Beauty and the Beast

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34. Home Alone

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35. The Mummy

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36. Hook

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37. Aladdin

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38. Toy Story

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39. Hercules

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Next Page: The technology that set those Nineties apart.

40. Dial-Up

41. VHS Tapes

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42. Cassettes

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43. CDs.

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44. Hit Clips

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45. Flip Phones

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46. Home Phones — Listening in on Siblings’ Conversations

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47. Renting Movies

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48. “Please Be Kind and Rewind”

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49. Boom Boxes

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50. Ye Olde Walkman

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51. Recording TV Shows on VHS

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52. Box TVs

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53. The Blue Screen of Death

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54. Manual Car Windows

55. Pagers

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Next Page: All the toys and games you’ve forgotten about.

56. The Beanie Baby Craze

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57. Tamagotchi

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58. The Original Pokémon Games

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59. Ye Olde Game Boy

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60. Snake!

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61. Digimon

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62. Yu-Gi-Oh!

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63. Bop It

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64. Sonic the Hedgehog

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65. Age of Empires

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66. Super Mario Bros.

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67. Furby!

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68. Pogs

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69. Power Rangers

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70. Polly Pocket

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Next Page: The zaniest food and drink for us kiddos!

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71. Oreo O’s Cereal

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72. SqueezIt!

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73. Rice Krispies Treats — the Cereal

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74. Fruitopia!

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75. Crystal Pepsi

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76. Dannon Sprinkl’lins Yogurt

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77. Gator Gum — Gatorade’s Forgotten Baby Brother

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78. Heinz EZ Squirt

79. Orbitz Water

Next Page: Five things replaced by the Internet.

80. Looking Things Up … in Books!

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81. Blockbuster

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80. Disposable Cameras

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81. Getting Photos “Developed”

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82. Writing Letters — It’s Like Email, But on Paper!

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Next Page: All the fashion styles you’ve forgotten about!

83. Parachute Pants

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84. Jelly Shoes

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85. Overalls With One Strap Down

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86. Rollerblades: They Were the Coolest Thing Ever!

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87. Chain Wallets

88. Mood Rings

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Next Page: Seven more features of life in the 90s you forgot you remembered.

89. The World Trade Center (Too soon?)

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90. “Smoking or Non?”

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91. AOL Mail

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92. Ask Jeeves

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93. Being able to walk to the gate and greet your family coming home.

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94. GeoCities

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95. Lisa Frank Art — on Everything!

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96. This 1990s Laugh

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Let me know in the comments if I forgot anything!

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