A Throwback To The 90s – What S’porean Kids Used To Play With Before The Smartphone Era

90s childhood

Growing up in the 90s, life was great. As a 90s kid, we found many ways to entertain ourselves, and toy manufacturers were also stepping up their game so we had tons of new toys to pester our parents to buy.

But that aside, here are some of the things that we 90s kids remember from our childhood.

Beyblades

Beyblades were the toys of my childhood. They’re basically pimped-out spinning tops.

[caption id="attachment_35562" align="aligncenter" width="1500"]90s childhood Image Credit: Youtube[/caption]

I had an entire shoebox filled with Beyblades, and customisation was a big thing. I’d sneak my Beyblades to school and trade parts with my friends.

Also, thanks to the Beyblade cartoon that aired on Kids Central on Sunday mornings, screaming at your Beyblade became a thing.

[caption id="attachment_35561" align="aligncenter" width="480"]90s childhood GIF Credit: giphy[/caption]

While Beyblades made a comeback a few years ago, there’re too many gimmicks now and it’s no longer the same. R.I.P Childhood.

Block Catching

If you lived near a primary school, chances are you’ve heard kids sprinting and screaming down your corridor, hours after dismissal (This is why my mother chose to live in a corner unit).

[caption id="attachment_35566" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]90s childhood Image Credit: 90s childhood Image Credit: Alibaba[/caption]

You’re basically kicking a weighted feather, trying to keep it in the air for as long as you can. Some of the seasoned pros were able to perform tricks, much to the envy of the unskilled on-lookers.

If you were a seasoned chapteh pro, you had cred. That was an unspoken law in primary school.

Country Erasers

Country Erasers were probably the biggest source of income for school bookshops. While each eraser retailed for a measly $0.10, students would clear the stocks in bulk.

[caption id="attachment_35568" align="aligncenter" width="4032"]90s childhood Image Credit: Reddit[/caption]

Some of us even demonstrated budding entrepreneurial skills by SELLING the country erasers they bought, to fellow classmates.

Country Eraser-wrestling was a thing too. The goal was to flip your country eraser such that it sits on top of your opponent’s eraser.

In certain death matches, you’d lose your eraser though in most cases, you lost your pride. Which is more important? You decide.

Encyclopedias

Too much money has been lost to encyclopedia salesmen that haunted our neighbourhood shopping malls.

Till today, I have 3 bookshelves of Time Life Junior Encyclopedia in my room.

[caption id="attachment_35571" align="aligncenter" width="640"]90s childhood Image Credit: Carousell[/caption]

It’s a waste to throw them away.

However, I have to admit that I spent many afternoons and nights reading said encyclopedias which developed my love for Science.

That being said, if anyone would like the encyclopedias, please contact me.

Hopscotch

This is the reason why my Ocean Pacific wallet has scars.

I loved playing Hopscotch during recess time. We didn’t have the five stones to throw, so we had to use our wallets.

[caption id="attachment_35572" align="aligncenter" width="1030"]90s childhood Image Credit: family #games[/caption]

If you excelled in Standing Broad Jump, you’re probably good at Hopscotch. The ability to jump to the last 2 boxes at the end was a skill that few had.

We were Primary school kids with short legs okay? Give us a break.

Jumping Pen

This is why Pilot G2 pens saw a spike in popularity in the 90s.

[caption id="attachment_35573" align="aligncenter" width="500"]90s childhood Image Credit: 90s childhood Image Credit: Mashable[/caption]

But still, building blocks were great fun for a kid. To be honest, I still enjoy buying and building LEGO figures today. There’s something so cathartic about building something from scratch, and not knowing what you’ll end up with.

The possibilities are endless. But if you cannot afford genuine LEGO products, knock-offs will do. I still turned out fine. Mostly.

Neopets

Do Neopets die in cyberspace?

How many Kacheeks and Meercas have been left floating in the world of Neopia, following years of neglect? The Money Tree has probably withered by now.

[caption id="attachment_35570" align="aligncenter" width="553"]90s childhood Image Credit: 90s childhood Image Credit: 90s childhood Image Credit: From Teochew To Hakka, How Our Grandparents’ Heritage Shaped S’pore’s Chinese Cuisine

(Header Image Source: Alibaba and Medhatter)