Growing up in the late 1990's and early 2000's was an interesting experience. Elementary school and middle school were definitely a little weird for everybody, but there are a lot of cool memorable things from those times. If you're like me and were born in the late 1990's, you're guaranteed to recognize at least some things on this list.
1. Nintendo DS
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I loved my Nintendo DS lite, it was pink and my favorite thing ever. When I wasn’t playing Nintendogs, I was seeing if I could color the whole screen black on Pictochat.
2. Tamagotchi
Everyone had Tamagotchis when they were popular! For those unlucky people whose schools banned them, they would always come home to find their Tamagotchi dead.
3. Bratz Dolls
Edgier than Barbies, Bratz were a huge deal. It was always a little weird that they didn’t actually have feet and that their shoes just kind of clicked into place on their ankles.
4. Crazy Bones
These were so fun to collect and trade with your friends. Pretty sure everyone played with them differently, but everyone definitely played with them.
5. Computer Games
Friends would come over and you guys would gather around the big PC computer in your designated “computer room” to play games. My personal favorites were “Putt Putt Saves the Zoo” and “Kid Pix”.
6. addictinggames.com
Whenever you were bored, this site would always come to the rescue.
7. Kooky Pens
Kooky pens were awesome to trade or just to spice up your childhood pencil case. Some people took it a step further and even wore them around their neck on a lanyard. I won’t confirm or deny if that was me.
8. Picnik Edits
These were all over Facebook in the early 2000's. You'd edit your own photos, you'd edit your friends' photos, and only the lucky ones got their parents to buy them Picnik premium.
9. Hit Clips
Hit clips were awesome. They only played a small portion of a song, but it was always the best part of the song. It was basically a requirement to have a Britney Spears and an NSYNC one.
10. Wonder Ball
These were my favorite part of checking out at grocery stores. I can’t even describe how good these were, or how disappointing it was when you opened one and it was already cracked open.
11. Goosebumps
These books by R.L. Stine made up every children’s nightmares.
12. Silly Bandz
These were HUGE. Kids would wear them up their entire arms, and schools even started to ban them when kids would get too distracted trading them. You have to admit they're kind of cool.
13. Oovoo
Oovoo was big in middle school. Everyone would do group video chats and talk about literally nothing for hours.
14. Gym Scooters
My friends and I used to call these “Butt Scooters” because of how you sit on them to ride them. All I know is when these came out during gym class, you knew it was going to be a good time. That is until you ran over your finger.
15. Scented Markers
They. Smell. So. Good. And you definitely tasted them at least once- don't lie.
16. Brain Pop
Tim and Moby are the best! They knew everything about everything, and when a teacher put them on the whole class would go crazy with excitement.
17. Skip-It
There were so many types of Skip-Its. Ones with ribbons, ones with counters, and even ones that glow in the dark. You didn’t wanna get hit in the ankles with one of these, though.
18. Mr. Meaty
This one is kind of specific, but for those who know the horrors of this television show, I am so sorry for bringing it up again now. I’m reliving the nightmares too.
19. Disney Movies
When Disney would play that Disney Channel original movie theme song you knew your friday night was going to be amazing. My favorites were Pixel Perfect, Smart House, Luck of the Irish, and The Thirteenth Year.
20. Plastic Balloons
You either loved or hated this toy. They had a really strong smell and they’d always make you lightheaded from blowing into the little straw, but they were so fun!
21. Chia Pet Commercials
Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! If you don’t know this commercial then you’re definitely lying.
22. Oreo Cereal
I want to petition for this cereal to come back! It was so good, with chocolate O’s and little marshmallows. #BringBackOreoCereal2k17.
23. Flip Phones
More specifically, the LG EnV or the Samsung Flick.
24. Purple Ketchup
There was even green ketchup too! I think they stopped making this stuff because it was a little off putting and honestly looked kind of gross. But hey- younger me thought it was the coolest thing ever.
25. Scholastic Book Fair
This place was heaven! They always had the coolest new books, erasers, and bookmarks. There was truly no happiness like book fair day at school.
It's a shame that some of this amazing stuff is no longer around! Makes you think about what things we are using now that may be on a list like this in a decade from now.
