10 Things That Used To Be Everywhere When You Were a Kid in the ’80s
One look at the ’80s childhood and it’s like your brain hits rewind. You’re back in the era of loud patterns, plastic everything, and endless Saturday mornings. Even if you haven’t thought about this stuff in decades, your inner eight-year-old definitely remembers.
Wham-O Roller Racer
Credit: Reddit
This sit-down ride-on toy worked by swinging the handlebars left and right to gain momentum. It was built low to the ground with sturdy wheels and was a favorite in school gymnasiums and driveways. Kids loved the speed, especially on a downhill slope. It felt like riding a scooter without standing up.
Rainbow Flip-Flops
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Kids wore these everywhere once the sun came out. The straps often looked fun in bright rainbow colors, but the hard plastic between the toes caused plenty of blisters. They weren’t designed for comfort or support. Still, they showed up at every public pool, park, and summer camp.
Paddington Bear on PBS
Credit: IMDb
The stop-motion version of Paddington aired regularly on PBS in the early ’80s. The show’s slow pacing and paper-cutout backgrounds gave it a handmade feel. Paddington’s gentle personality stood out during a time when louder cartoons dominated screens.
Chuck E. Cheese Carpet
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The carpet featured deep reds and dizzying patterns that disguised a lot more than just wear and tear. Most kids never noticed the crumbs and spilled soda ground into the fibers. Parents probably did. It was part of the sensory overload that made each visit to the arcade feel exciting.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch’s Three Bakers
Credit: X
Long before the cereal focused on one chef named Wendell, there were two others standing beside him. Early commercials showed them busy in the kitchen, whipping up batches of cinnamon-dusted squares.
Colorforms Play Sets
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These sticker-like vinyl pieces clung to laminated boards without adhesive. Kids could reposition the shapes to change the scenes as many times as they wanted. The sets came in a wide range of themes, from cartoons to animals, and were often sold in slim boxes that were easy to store.
The CorningWare Blue Cornflower Dish
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This glass-ceramic casserole dish had a floral design printed in rich blue. It could go from the oven to the dinner table without another serving dish. It often outlasted the stove it was used on. Families passed them down long after the recipe books changed.
Square One TV’s “Mathnet”
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“Mathnet” was part of the educational show “Square One,” which aired on PBS. It followed two fictional detectives who used math to solve crimes. Unlike typical cop shows, there were no chase scenes. The mysteries were built around number problems, graphs, and logic. Somehow, it still managed to be fun.
Chuck E. Cheese Birthday Hats
Credit: Facebook
Paper hats with Chuck E.’s smiling face became a birthday tradition. They were handed out with plastic cups and pizza slices, worn until they tore or got greasy. Wearing one meant you were the guest of honor. After the party, they usually ended up in a toy bin or the trash.
Smurf Chef Boyardee Pasta
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Chef Boyardee released a special-edition canned pasta that featured Smurf-shaped noodles. The taste matched the brand’s other offerings, but the novelty made it feel more fun to eat. With Smurfette or Papa Smurf floating in tomato sauce, lunch became a tie-in to the cartoons kids watched before school.
The Little Professor Calculator
Credit: ebay
Texas Instruments introduced this red calculator in the mid-1970s, and it gained traction throughout the ’80s. Instead of solving problems, it posed questions and waited for kids to answer. The screen displayed a smiling professor wearing glasses. It was a toy with educational value that didn’t feel like homework.
Fisher-Price Toddler Skates
Credit: ebay
These bright yellow and red skates were strapped over regular shoes and adjusted for size. They were designed as a safe entry into skating, but they were stiff and difficult to control. Most kids spent more time stumbling than gliding.
Clown Balloon Lamp
Credit: etsy
A porcelain clown holding colorful balloons lit up many kids’ rooms. The balloons doubled as light bulbs, and after a few minutes, they became dangerously hot to touch. Its cheerful design made it popular, but many children learned the hard way that it was best admired from a distance.
Fisher-Price Little People Zoo
Credit: ebay
This 1984 plastic playset included animals like a lion and elephant, plus a zookeeper figure. Kids could set up enclosures, guide tours, and make up stories using the chunky Little People figures.
Three’s Company Reruns
Credit: IMDb
Afternoon reruns of “Three’s Company” aired on local stations well after the show ended. Younger viewers may not have understood the jokes, but the theme song, physical comedy, and exaggerated facial expressions were enough to hold attention. John Ritter’s slapstick performance made it feel like a cartoon with real people.