How to Have a 90’s Summer
Simple Ways to Give Your Kids the Childhood You Remember, While Enjoying It Yourself
There is something about summer in the 90’s that feels impossible to recreate. Maybe it was riding bikes until the streetlights came on. Maybe it was drinking from the garden hose, playing neighborhood games, or spending entire afternoons outside without a phone in sight.
Whatever it was, it felt different.
Kids were bored all the time but then we just made up games. We spent more time outside than inside and parents were not constantly documenting every moment.
The good news?
I keep hearing everyone talking about making a 90’s summer or giving your kids a 90’s childhood… so let’s dive into how to make that feel real. Don;t get me wrong, there will still be some devices around and it doesn’t have to be perfect… but let’s learn to bring back the best parts of the 90’s this summer!
You do not need a time machine to create a 90’s summer. You just need a little intention. Here are some simple ways to bring that old-school summer magic back for your kids and then a whole section on how to have a 90’s summer as a mom… because I bet it was great for our moms too!
What Made a 90’s Summer Feel Different?
Before we jump into ideas, it helps to think about what actually made those summers memorable. Most of us were not doing expensive activities every day. Not everyone was going away to summer camp week after week (when did that even start?). Now my kids feel like the oddballs because they aren’t doing 5 summer camps this summer.
We were simply,
- Outside constantly
- Making up our own fun
- Less scheduled
- Less connected to screens
- More connected to people
The goal is not to perfectly recreate the 90’s, we have a lot of great benefits these days. The goal is to create more space for the things that made it special. Slow down, more outdoors, more unplugged is really the goal.
Bring Back Classic Outdoor Games
One of the easiest ways to create a 90’s summer is to bring back the games kids used to play naturally. Simple toys, simple games, less structure, more creativity. (Warning… there WILL be whining. They WILL want you to design and direct everything. Let them be bored but with so many different outdoor toys and things to choose from that creativity will flow… gently direct and give ideas if you need to, let’s retrain our brains for this together!)
Try:
- Kickball
- Capture the flag
- Tag
- Freeze tag
- Red light, green light
- Hide and seek
- Flashlight tag
- Four square
- Hopscotch
- Jump rope challenges
- Mother May I
- Hopscotch
- Skip-it
- Bubbles
- Chalk
- various sports (baseball, football, etc.)
The beauty of these games is that they require very little equipment and encourage kids to create their own fun.
You might be surprised how quickly they get into it.
Make Bikes Cool Again
If your kids have bikes, encourage them to use them.
Create:
- Neighborhood bike rides
- Races around the cul-de-sac
- Trips to the park
- Family bike nights
Many of us spent entire summers on our bikes, and there is a reason those memories stick.
Create a “Screen-Lite” Summer Environment
Notice I did not say screen-free. That is not realistic for most families. Here I am working on my screen right now. Instead, try creating natural limits. (That means you too!) This is hard to start, not tough to maintain once the habits are broken though.
Examples of ways to make this realistic:
- No screens before lunch (or what works better for us is no screens AFTER)
- Outdoor time before gaming
- Tablets only on the weekends for a certain amount of time
- Family evenings without devices
- A phone basket in the house where they go when not being used for work
The less screens become the default, the easier it is for kids to discover other ways to entertain themselves (and us too honestly).
Switch anything you can off of screens. It’s great that our phones can do everything these days, it also feeds the addiction.
- Switch to VHS tapes or even just TV streaming together instead of on the phones
- Board games and card games instead of tablet games
- Get physical books (no more kindle)
- Maybe even grab an actual camera
- Instead of making EVERYTHING in the phone try to think of what we used to do seperately that will make you less reliant on flipping on that screen.
Change Your Home Environment
Kids naturally gravitate toward what is available. Make it easy for them to choose old-school fun. Consider:
- Keeping board games visible
- Leaving art supplies accessible
- Creating a reading corner
- Keeping sports equipment near the door
- Having a basket of sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and jump ropes ready to go
Sometimes the simplest change creates the biggest difference.
Bring Back Summer Traditions
The best memories often come from repeated experiences. They can be sinple, fun, and not overly expensive (I know… it’s 2026, everything is expensive but making it more of a 90’s summer is actually cheaper. The outings and playing was simple.) Ideas include:
- Friday night ice cream runs
- Weekly water balloon battles
- Backyard campouts
- Family movie nights
- Library visits
- Lemonade stands
- Evening walks after dinner
Traditions do not have to be elaborate. Consistency is what makes them memorable.
How Mom Can Have a 90’s Summer Too
Let’s be honest, most moms need a little 90’s summer energy as much as the kids do. Somewhere along the way, many of us traded simple fun for constant notifications, endless scrolling, and feeling like we should always be productive. Maybe this summer is your chance to change that.
Unplug More Than You Think You Need To
You do not have to throw your phone in a lake. But you can create more moments where it is not the center of your attention. This is HARD. I work on my computer and phone constantly, actually so much there is no random scrolling time.
Productive? Yes.
Healthy? Ya probably not.
There’s nothing wrong with working on your phone or using it to relax in the evenings or to reset now and then. But in all honesty, checking the notifications and doom scrolling becomes addictive. Try:
- Leaving your phone inside during outdoor play
- Putting it away during family walks
- Limiting your screen time as passionately as you do for your kids
- Spending an evening without social media
Most of us do not realize how much mental energy our devices consume until we step away.
Dress Like Summer Is Supposed To Be Fun
The 90’s were not known for uncomfortable clothes. This is your permission slip to embrace:
- Oversized graphic tees
- Biker shorts
- Denim shorts
- Baseball caps
- Sneakers
- Baggy sweatshirts for cool evenings
Comfort is underrated. If it feels like something you would have worn while riding your bike to a friend’s house in 1997, you are probably on the right track.
Do Something Pointlessly Fun
Adults tend to make everything productive. Kids do not. This summer, try:
- Roller skating
- Flying a kite
- Making friendship bracelets
- Drawing with sidewalk chalk
- Playing cards on the porch
- Listening to music while laying in the grass
No goal. No outcome. Just fun.
Let Boredom Exist
This might be the most 90’s tip of all. Not every minute needs to be filled. Not every complaint of boredom requires a solution.
Boredom often leads to:
- Creativity
- Problem-solving
- Imagination
- Independent play
Some of the best summer memories start with, “Mom I’m booooored.” It can be tough sometimes for them to resolve this on their own indoors, outside it becomes much easier with nature around.
Final Thought
A 90’s summer is not really about the decade. It is about slowing down enough to enjoy the season. It is about less pressure, less scheduling, and more room for fun.
More bike rides.
More popsicles.
More backyard games.
More evenings outside.
The goal is not perfection. The goal is creating the kind of summer your kids will talk about years from now, while making sure you enjoy it too. Because those memories are not just for them. They are for you.
