How to Relive the 1990s (for Kids)

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1In Music

2In Fashion

3In Toys, Games, and Shows

4In Experiences

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1990s kids are people who were kids in the 1990s decade. So, people born between the years 1985-1992 were people that spent most of their childhood during this decade. There are some hybrids, such as people born in 1982-1984 who were tweens (kids aged 8-12) during the '90s and people born in 1993-1996 who were young children when the decade ended. The 1990s marked the start of many important events, such as the beginning of the internet era. The invention of the World Wide Web, Nelson Mandela's release from prison, and Princess Diana's death are some important events from the 1990s. Because the 1990s is slowly becoming further and further away, some people may grow nostalgic. Here are some ways to be a 1990s kid and relive your childhood.

Steps

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

In Music

The early 1990s (1990-1993) consisted of mostly alternative rock and pop. In the middle of the 1990s, rap became mainstream music, and girl groups and boy bands started to form. In the last years of the 20th century (the end of the 90s), teen pop was revived, and rap, plus R&B, were popular.

1. 
   1
   Listen to early 1990s music. Alternative rock dominated the early 90s. A new subgenre, "alternative metal", was also formed. There were many famous female pop artists, some from previous decades. Popular artists include Aerosmith, Boyz II Men, Dr. Dre, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Queen Latifah, Red Hot Chili Peppers, R.E.M, Salt-N-Pepa, and Whitney Houston.

   • 1990 songs: "Blaze of Glory" by Jon Bon Jovi, "Cradle of Love" by Billy Idol, "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode, "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice, "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor, "Poison" by Bell Biv DeVoe, "Praying for Time" by George Michael, "Step by Step" by New Kids on the Block, "The Power" by Snap, "U Can't Touch This" by M.C. Hammer, "Vogue" by Madonna, etc.
   • 1991 songs: "Black or White" by Michael Jackson, "Cream" by Prince & The Next Power Generation, "Emotions" by Mariah Carey, "Enter Sandman" by Metallica, "Everything I Do (I Do It for You)" by Bryan Adams, "Get Ready For This" by 2 Unlimited, "I Adore Mi Amor" by Color Me Badd, "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M, "Motownphilly" by Boyz II Men, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana, "Summertime" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, "Wind of Change" by Scorpions, etc.
   • 1992 songs: "A Whole New World" by Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle, "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix A-Lot, "Creep" by Radiohead, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John (Live Aid version with George Michael charted in 1992), "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men, "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred, "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, "Jump" by Kris Kross, "Jump Around" by House Of Pain, "November Rain" by Guns N' Roses, "Rhythm Is a Dancer" by Snap, etc.
   • 1993 songs: "Dreamlover" by Mariah Carey, "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston, "I Like to Move It" by Reel 2 Real and The Mad Stuntman, "It Was a Good Day" by Ice Cube", "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" by Dr. Dre, "That's the Way Love Goes" by Janet Jackson", "The Sign" by Ace of Base, "U.N.I.T.Y." by Queen Latifah, "What Is Love" by Haddaway", "What's Up?" by 4 Non Blondes, "Whoomp! (There It Is)" by Tag Team, etc.
2. 2
   Listen to mid-1990s music. Rap became a popular, mainstream genre with artists such as the Notorious B.I.G, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg. Disney songs were also popularized, mostly from the movies Aladdin, Pocahontas, and The Lion King. Popular artists include Alanis Morissette, Bon Jovi, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, the Notorious B.I.G, TLC, and Tupac Shakur.

   • 1994 songs: "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey, "Always" by Bon Jovi, "Basket Case" by Green Day, "Circle of Life" by Elton John, "I'll Make Love to You" by Boyz II Men, "Stay (I Missed You)" by Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories, "Take a Bow" by Madonna, "Tootsee Roll" by 69 Boyz, "Scatman (Ski-Ba-Bop-Ba-Dop-Bop)" by Scatman John, "Zombie" by The Cranberries, etc.
   • 1995 songs: "Breakfast at Tiffany's" by Deep Blue Something, "California Love" by Tupac ft. Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman, "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio, "I'll Be There For You" by the Rembrandts, "Macarena" by Los Del Rio, "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men, "Scream" by Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson, "Waterfalls" by TLC, "Wonderwall" by Oasis, "You Are Not Alone" by Michael Jackson, etc.
   • 1996 songs: "1979" by the Smashing Pumpkins, "Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey, "Don't Speak" by No Doubt, "Get Down (You're the One for Me)" by the Backstreet Boys and Smooth T, "Ironic" by Alanis Morissette, "I Want You Back" by *NSYNC, "Jesus to a Child" by George Michael, "Ready Or Not" by Fugees, "They Don't Care About Us" by Michael Jackson, "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai, "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls, "Un-Break My Heart" by Toni Braxton, etc.
3. 3
   Listen to late 1990s songs. In the late 90s, boy bands and girl groups formed. Famous examples include Destiny's Child (which included Beyoncé) and *NSYNC. Teen pop was getting revived, with teenage or young adult singers rising up. Electronic music production and Eurodance were popular trends throughout the early millennium. Additionally, many Latin pop artists rose in popularity worldwide. Popular artists include the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Destiny's Child, Enrique Iglesias, Goo Goo Dolls, Jennifer Lopez, *NSYNC, Puff Daddy, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ricky Martin, the Spice Girls, and Whitney Houston.

   • 1997 songs: "Alone" by the Bee Gees, "Around the World" by Daft Punk, "Barbie Girl" by Aqua, "Candle in the Wind" (the 1997 version for the death of Lady Diana Spencer) by Elton John, "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by the Backstreet Boys, "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" by Madonna, "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans ft. 112, "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion, "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia, "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba, "You Make Me Wanna" by Usher, etc.
   • 1998 songs: "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears, "Believe" by Cher, "Changes" by 2Pac and Talent, "Doo-Wop (That Thing)" by Ms. Lauryn Hill, "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" by Will Smith, "Iris" by The Goo Goo Dolls, "Millennium" by Robbie Williams, "Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)" by the Offspring, "The Boy is Mine" by Brandy and Monica, "The Cup of Life" by Ricky Martin, "When You Believe" by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, "When You're Gone" by Bryan Adams ft. Melanie C, etc.
   • 1999 songs: "All Star" by Smash Mouth, "Bailamos" by Enrique Iglesias, "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" by Eiffel 65, "Genie in a Bottle" by Christina Aguilera, "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys, "If You Had My Love" by Jennifer Lopez, "Livin' la Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin, "Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)" by Lou Bega, "Sandstorm" by Darude, "Still Dr. Dre" by Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg, etc.
4. 4
   Host parties with 1990s music. The music in the 1990s varied. Music changed from alternative rock and R&B to teen pop and rap styles. You can make a large playlist full of tunes from the decade, or you could host a party specific to a few years of the decade (e.g. 1990 to 1993 or 1997 to 1999). If you are doing that, put songs that were made in between those years. For early 1990s, you could host a rock party. R&B could be played during the mid-90s. For the late 1990s, play bubblegum pop tracks as well as rap from artists like Snoop Dogg.

   • Request 1990s songs during dances and parties. To feel like a 1990s kid, request songs that were made in the 1990s during dances and other events. Many people like a boost of nostalgia during dances, so they might agree to putting old songs on the dance playlist.
5. 5
   Listen to 1990s songs in the car. Many people enjoy listening to today's tunes in the car to enjoy them or to sing along. If you did this back in the 1990s, you could continue doing so. If you aren't a 1990s kid, try asking your parents to put on some 1990s songs in the car. You can sing along to the songs as your parents drive the car. You can also pretend that you are in a music video.

   • Many kids also like lip-syncing to the song, so you can do that if you want.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

In Fashion

1. 
   1
   Find some 1990s fashion icons. Most of these were famous singers and actors that rose to fame in the 1990s and the 2000s. Music influenced many fashion styles of the 1990s, such as the hip-hop and rock-inspired fashion.

   • The Backstreet Boys
   • Kate Moss
   • Mariah Carey
   • Nirvana
   • The Spice Girls
   • Will Smith
2. 2
   Wear bomber jackets. These jackets were an example of the military-inspired clothing. These were popular accessories to pair with different kinds of shirts and pants. For example, Tom Cruise wore a bomber jacket in his movie Top Gun.
3. 3
   Wear large T-shirts. Large t-shirts with an edge hanging out were popular. It was a time of minimalist clothing, with people of all ages wearing loose shirts and baggy jeans. It was also a sign of more freedom from the teenagers and young adults from the 1990s, like the Gen X and millennial generations.
4. 4
   Put on a flannel shirt. Mostly grunge kids wore flannel shirts along with baggy jeans. Alternative rock artists such as Kurt Cobain inspired this type of 90s fashion, along with Jonathan Brandis.
5. 5
   Put on a band tee. People appreciated their favorite bands by wearing band T-shirts, usually adorned with the logo of their band and/or a picture of their members. Grunge kids wore these along with flannel shirts to show their appreciation for bands like Pink Floyd, Nirvana, and Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
6. 6
   Wear board shorts. Nowadays, mostly surfers wear them. But, these were a fashion statement back in the final decade of the 20th century. Females wore extra short versions, and males adopted long versions of these. The fly was usually made out of velcro for practicality.
7. 
   7
   Wear 1990s shoes. There are a variety of shoes that kids wore in the 1990s. If you were a hip-hop kid, you usually wore Timberlands. If you wanted to be a fashionista, long fur boots and buckled boots were the thing. Adults fashion icons usually wore high heels and some type of boot.

   • Popular shoe brands from the 1990s include Adidas, Coach, New Balance, Reebok, Skechers, Steve Madden, Timberland, and Tory Burch.
8. 
   8
   Wear accessories that were popular in the 1990s. 1990s kids often paired their look with different accessories that they could mix and match. The accessories depend on what you wear, so go online to see what accessories best fit your look and outfit.

   • Wear a mood ring on your finger. Even though these aren't proven to accurately detect your mood, they are still a fashionable accessory. Many kids enjoyed wearing these.
   • Put on some smiley-face or emoji accessories.
   • Add some butterfly hair clips in your hair.
   • Use a scrunchie to tie up your hair. These were popular in the 80s, but also in the 90s.
   • Put on a bandana.
   • Wear a bucket hat.
   • Wear small, circular tinted sunglasses.
9. 9
   Become a member of a subculture. There were many subcultures in the 1990s, along with some new ones. If you want to become part of a subculture, search for one that you connect with the most. See which one goes well with your personality.

   • Be a punk kid.
   • Be inspired by the hip-hop subculture.
   • Look preppy. This style originated in Northeastern private colleges.
   • Be a grunge kid.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

In Toys, Games, and Shows

1. 
   1
   Find some dolls that you may have had in the 1990s. Many of these are still sold in stores, although you may have to check online if your in-person retailer does not have these anymore. Kids still played with dolls in the 90s, and there were many emerging brands as well as old ones. For example, Barbie dolls had been around for a few decades in the 1990s. American Girl dolls were also around. Some doll brands that were popular in the 1990s include:

   • 1990s Barbie dolls (first released in 1959)
   • American Girl (first released in 1986)
   • Cupcake dolls (first made in 1991-1992)
   • Polly Pocket dolls (first made in 1989)
2. 2
   Find some 1990s toys in stores. Many 1990s toys are still sold in stores today. There were a variety of toys that were popular in the 1990s, from action figures to stuffed animals and collectible toys. Add these to your collection and play with them!

   • Talkboy (from the Home Alone movie, released in 1992)
   • Beanie Babies (released in 1993)
   • The original Furbies (released in 1998)
   • Hungry Hungry Hippos (first released in 1978)
   • Pokemon cards (released in 1996)
   • Super Soakers (released in 1990)
   • Tickle Me Elmo (released in 1996)
   • Tamagotchi (released 1996 in Japan, released 1997 in the U.S. and Europe)
3. 3
   Play video games that were released in the 1990s decade. Many video games were released in the 1990s or had editions made during this decade. The main competitors in the video game market in the 90s were Sony and Sega. If you were a kid in most of the 1990s, you may find some of these video games nostalgic.

   • Super Mario World (released in 1990)
   • Street Fighter II (released in 1991)
   • Mortal Kombat II (released in 1993)
   • Virtua Fighter (released in 1993)
   • Donkey Kong Country (released in 1994)
   • Final Fantasy VI (released in 1994)
   • Mario Kart 64 (released in 1996)
   • Resident Evil (released in 1996)
   • Fallout 2 (released in 1998)
   • Super Smash Bros (released in 1999)
4. 
   4
   Use video game consoles released in the 1990s. Nintendo, Sony and Sega were the main competing companies for video game consoles in the 1990s. Chances are, you have used these before or have seen them online. If you have some of these consoles, get them out. If you don't, try searching online for them, although they will probably be more expensive. These consoles aren't produced anymore, so you'll have to check the internet to find good-condition consoles. Play games with these consoles to experience a 1990s gaming experience!

   • Nintendo Gameboy (released 1989)
   • SNK Neo Geo (released 1990)
   • PlayStation (released 1994)
   • Sega Saturn (released in 1994 in Japan, released in 1995 in the U.S. and Europe)
   • Nintendo 64 (released 1996)
   • Dreamcast (released 1998 in Japan, released 1999 in North America and Europe)
5. 
   5
   Try watching some cartoons that were popular in the 1990s. After school and homework, watch some cartoons that were popular in the 1990s decade to see what things kids watched back then. See if your TV still airs 1990s cartoons. If it only airs more recent cartoons, try YouTube, Netflix, or another streaming service. If you're not interested in watching cartoons anymore, don't worry! Be a 1990s kid in other ways, such as dressing like one or sharing similar experiences.

   • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996)
   • Rugrats (1991-2004)
   • Crayon Shin-chan (1992-present)
   • Rocko's Modern Life (1993-1996)
   • The original The Magic School Bus series (1994-1997)
   • Pinky and the Brain (1995-1998)
   • Arthur (1996-2022)
   • Detective Conan (1996-present)
   • Recess (1997-2001)
   • The Powerpuff Girls (1998-2005)
   • Courage the Cowardly Dog (1999-2002)
6. 
   6
   View some 1990s kids' movies. 1990s kids' movies were the start of new animation. Since computers were available in the 1990s, animators started using computer animation instead of traditional animation (drawing out individual frames onto cells). Computer animation took less time, and the animation could not be easily destroyed or ruined. This was also the decade of the Disney movie renaissance, which made some of the most iconic movies we know today. Some of these movies include:

   • Home Alone (1990)
   • Kiki's Delivery Service (1990)
   • Beauty and the Beast (1991)
   • The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
   • Hocus Pocus (1993)
   • The Lion King (1994)
   • A Goofy Movie (1995)
   • Toy Story (1995)
   • Matilda (1996)
   • Anastasia (1997)
   • The Prince of Egypt (1998)
   • Tarzan (1999)
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Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

In Experiences

1. 
   1
   Think about old 1990s technology you used to have. If you were a 1990s kid, think about what types of technology existed. The 1990s marked the infancy of the internet and companies starting to produce home electronics. If you weren't a 1990s kid, research about the types of technology. If you still have some, find them and see if they still work.

   • 2G cellular networks
   • Pagers/beepers (the first one was released in 1949, but these came into use in the 80s and 90s)
   • Sony MiniDisc (1992)
   • iMac (1998)
   • Nokia phones, like the 8110 (1996) and 5110 (1998) models
   • The invention of the internet (made in 1990)
   • CDs (released in 1992)
   • DVDs (released in 1996)
2. 2
   Remember the earliest online websites and information. One of these was Microsoft Encarta, which was an online encyclopedia with thousands of articles about numerous topics. You could get this on CD or DVD, or by buying it online. The very first website was CERN in 1991, which talked about the internet and related tools.

   • Other websites founded during the birth of the internet include IMDB (1993), Doctor Fun (1993), BBC Online (1994), NetBoy (1994), and Yahoo (1994).
   • Think about the very first web browsers. These include WorldWideWeb (released in 1990, the very first web browser), Mosaic (released in 1993), Netscape (released in 1994), and Internet Explorer (released in 1995).
3. 3
   Treat yourself to a Scholastic book fair. Scholastic book fairs have existed since 1981, and the experience of going to one has been very similar throughout the years. You bring some change from home and go to the book fair to check out some books and little trinkets you can buy. If you want, you can look through the catalog ahead of time and write down some of the books you want, so you can buy them easier when you visit the book fair.
4. 4
   Use 1990s slang. Each decade has its special phrases and slang. The 1990s were no different. There were many phrases that people across the internet used. Some of these include:

   • Aiight - abbreviation of "all right"; "cool kids" said this in the 90s
   • All that and a bag of chips - the best
   • As if - short for "as if that would happen"; used in sarcasm
   • Booyah - used to express joy and happiness
   • Da bomb - really amazing
   • Let's bounce - another way of saying "Let's leave"
   • Oh snap - used to react to something unbelievable
   • My bad - used to express apology after making a mistake (still used today)
   • No duh - to express that something is very obvious
   • Take a chill pill - used to express that someone needs to calm down
5. 5
   Buy a McDonald's Happy Meal. If you are still a child, try asking your parents to buy you a Happy Meal. If you have money or are old enough, go to McDonald's and buy a Happy Meal. These are an essential part of many people's childhood experience, regardless of which decade they were a kid in.

   • Websites like the Happy Meal Toys fandom page show you the Happy Meal toys from the very beginning (1979) to now. Start from the year 1990 and scroll to 1999 to see if you have any of these toys. You can also copy and paste the names into a search engine to find pictures of the toys.
6. 
   6
   Do 1990s trends. Each modern decade has its many trends. The 1990s trends, fads, and experiences were defined by TV shows, pop culture, cartoons, and shared experiences. Movies and music also influenced the casual fashion and trends of the 1990s.

   • Listen to the popular artists of the time. If you enjoy rap, the Notorious B.I.G, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre could be your to-go artists. For R&B, try Boyz II Men, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, SWV, TLC, or R. Kelly. For rock fans, listen to bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, or Soundgarden.
   • Get all of your Beanie Babies out. These were one of the most popular fads in the 1990s. People were rushing to buy and collect as many Beanie Babies as possible.
   • Get out your Furbies. These were popular with Beanie Babies in the 1990s.
   • Wear Christmas sweaters. These were trendy in the 1990s.
   • Learn how to inline skate. This sport was popular in the 90s.
   • Find your old Where's Wally/Waldo? puzzle books. These books had pictures on every page that let you find the hidden person (named Wally in Europe and Waldo in North America) in the complicated frame.
   • Play the iconic game pogs.
   • Do the running man. This was an iconic dance move in the 90s.
   • Get 'The Rachel' hairstyle. This hairstyle was worn by Jennifer Aniston when she played Rachel in the iconic Friends series.
   • Believe in girl power. Girl power was (and still is) a movement that encourages female independence and strength.
   • Listen to iconic 1990s songs. Some of these include Smells Like Teen Spirit (1991), Macarena (1993), and Barbie Girl (1997).
7. 
   7
   Think about other 1990s childhood experiences you had. Obviously, everyone has a different childhood experience, but there are some parts of the 90s that many people shared. Reminisce about your awesome childhood in the 1990s if you grew up during that decade. There are many stores from the 90s that have closed down. Also, the internet used to be a rarity and a fascinating tool to use, as compared to now.

   • Blockbuster sold movie VHS tapes- you rented movies from there as a kid.
   • You weren't on the internet every day for hours. Even though the early internet existed in the 1990s, kids went outside proportionally more than staying indoors on the computer.
   • You weren't contactable 24/7 on your cellphone.
   • The beep-boop dial-up internet noises that played when you started up the internet.
   • Hanging out with classmates and friends by playing 90s games (such as Mario Kart), watching 90s movies, or going out to a 90s restaurant/mall. You also played outside by playing playground games, racing cars, playing a sport, or riding your bikes.
   • Watching MTV music videos.
   • You had to talk your friend's parent on the phone before speaking to your friend.
   • When traveling, your parents had to ask someone for directions if they were unsure how to go to their destination.
   • Using CDs and tech such as Sony MiniDiscs to listen to music. There were no streaming services yet, so you had to buy CDs for music.
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