Bringing Back the 90s Summer: What Our Kids Might Be Missing
Written By Alyssa Goff
A Therapist's Perspective on Childhood, Connection, and the Magic of Boredom…
If you grew up in the '90s, chances are your summer looked something like this:
You left the house after breakfast.
You rode your bike until the streetlights came on.
You made up games with the neighborhood kids.
You drank from the garden hose.
You built forts, caught lightning bugs, climbed trees, and came home with grass stains on your knees.
There wasn't a packed itinerary.
There weren't constant notifications.
And somehow...
Childhood felt a little slower.
While every generation has its challenges, many parents find themselves wondering:
How do we give our children some of that same magic?
Boredom Isn't the Enemy
Today, boredom often feels like something we need to solve.
The moment a child says, "I'm bored," we start brainstorming activities, reaching for a screen, or planning the next outing.
But boredom isn't a problem.
It's often the beginning of creativity.
When children don't have every minute planned for them, their brains begin to ask:
What could I create?
Who could I play with?
What adventure could I have?
That space is where imagination grows.
Childhood Doesn't Need to Be Constantly Productive
It's easy to feel pressure to make every summer count.
Sports camps.
Academic programs.
Travel teams.
Enrichment activities.
Family vacations.
Those experiences can be wonderful.
But children also need unstructured time.
Time to build forts.
Time to make up games.
Time to chase butterflies.
Time to stare at clouds.
Time to simply be kids.
Not every moment has to prepare them for the future.
Some moments simply become the memories they'll carry into adulthood.
The Nervous System Looooves Simplicity
As therapists, we spend a lot of time talking about emotional regulation.
One thing we know is that our nervous systems thrive when we experience moments of safety, movement, play, connection, and rest.
Many classic summer activities naturally provide those experiences.
Running barefoot through the grass.
Digging in the sand.
Floating in a pool.
Collecting seashells.
Listening to crickets at dusk.
Swinging on a hammock.
Reading under a tree.
These moments may seem simple.
But they help children slow down, notice their surroundings, and reconnect with themselves.
You Don't Have to Recreate Your Childhood
Your child's childhood will look different than yours.
That's okay.
The goal isn't to pretend it's 1995.
The goal is to ask:
How can I create more space for wonder?
Maybe it's one screen-free afternoon each week.
Maybe it's saying yes to the sprinkler instead of another scheduled activity.
Maybe it's letting your child be bored long enough to invent something.
Maybe it's joining them outside instead of watching from the sidelines.
Small moments often become the ones children remember most.
A Few Ideas for a "90s Summer"
If you're looking for inspiration, try creating a family bucket list with simple adventures like:
Ride bikes around the neighborhood.
Build a blanket fort.
Have a picnic at a local park.
Catch fireflies.
Make homemade popsicles.
Read books under a tree.
Draw with sidewalk chalk.
Visit the library.
Camp in the backyard.
Fly a kite.
Watch the sunset.
Collect seashells or interesting rocks.
Run through the sprinkler.
Have a water balloon fight.
Eat watermelon outside.
Make friendship bracelets.
Count the stars.
None of these require expensive equipment or a perfectly planned day.
They simply require time.
The Childhood They'll Remember
Years from now, your child probably won't remember every camp they attended or every activity they completed.
They may remember the evenings chasing lightning bugs.
The popsicle that melted all over their hands.
The backyard adventures that felt enormous.
The days that weren't scheduled down to the minute.
At Coastal Counseling Associates, we believe childhood doesn't have to be extraordinary every day to be meaningful.
Sometimes the greatest gift we can give our children is the freedom to slow down, get messy, be curious, and discover joy in ordinary moments.
This summer, maybe the goal isn't to do more.
Maybe it's to make a little more room for wonder.
Because the best parts of childhood were never found on a schedule.
They were found in the spaces between.