28 Things Every 80s Kid Did After School That Don’t Exist Anymore
For kids growing up in the ‘80s, after-school hours were pure freedom. There were no smartphones, no streaming services, and definitely no social media—just endless possibilities.
Whether you were riding your bike until the streetlights came on or blowing on a Nintendo cartridge to make it work, life after school in the ‘80s was a time of adventure, creativity, and sometimes, questionable safety.
Here are 28 things every ‘80s kid did after school that today’s kids will never experience.
1. Racing Home to Catch Cartoons
The moment the school bell rang, it was a race against time to get home and turn on the TV. Shows like DuckTales, He-Man, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were must-watch entertainment, and if you missed an episode, there was no DVR to save you.
You either caught it live or waited for a rerun—if you were lucky.
2. Calling Friends on a Landline
Before cell phones, the only way to make after-school plans was to call your friend’s house and hope their parents didn’t answer. If they weren’t home, you’d just have to wait and try again later—no texting, no instant messages, just pure patience.
And if you had siblings, you probably fought over the phone nonstop.
3. Riding Bikes Until the Streetlights Came On
The ultimate ‘80s kid rule: Be home before dark. Until then, you and your friends were free to explore the neighborhood, build ramps for your BMX, or ride to the nearest convenience store for a candy bar.
Helmets? Who needed those? It was all about speed, scraped knees, and the thrill of the ride.
4. Playing Outside Without Supervision
Parents in the ‘80s had a much looser definition of “keeping an eye on the kids.”
Whether you were climbing trees, playing tag, or inventing elaborate games with the neighborhood crew, there were no check-in calls or GPS tracking—just the honor system and the occasional shouted reminder to be home for dinner.
5. Blowing on Nintendo Cartridges to Make Them Work
For many kids, after school meant one thing: video games. The NES was king, and everyone had their go-to favorites like Super Mario Bros. or Zelda. But when the game wouldn’t load?
No problem—just take out the cartridge, blow on it like some ancient ritual, and pop it back in. Worked every time… sort of.
6. Recording Songs Off the Radio
Creating the perfect mixtape was a true art form. You’d sit by the stereo, finger hovering over the record button, waiting for your favorite song to play on the radio.
Of course, the DJ would always start talking right before the song ended, ruining your perfect recording, but that was all part of the challenge.
7. Eating Sugar-Loaded Snacks with Zero Nutritional Value
Forget protein bars and organic fruit snacks—after-school treats in the ‘80s were all about artificial colors and extreme sugar levels.
Fruit Roll-Ups, Dunkaroos, and Kool-Aid (with about five scoops of sugar) were the fuel of choice for kids burning off energy from a long school day.
8. Watching Reruns of 70s and 80s Sitcoms
There was no on-demand TV, so after school, kids had to settle for whatever reruns were playing. Shows like Gilligan’s Island, The Brady Bunch, and Happy Days were ‘80s afternoon staples, even if they originally aired decades earlier.
If nothing else, they made great background noise while doing homework… or pretending to.
9. Visiting the Local Arcade
If you had some quarters saved up, the arcade was the place to be. Games like Pac-Man, Galaga, and Street Fighter kept kids glued to the screen, trying to beat high scores or impress their friends.
The smell of popcorn and the sounds of 8-bit music created an unforgettable atmosphere that modern gaming just can’t replicate.
10. Trying to Solve a Rubik’s Cube (and Usually Giving Up)
Every ‘80s kid had a Rubik’s Cube, but only a few ever figured out how to solve it without peeling off the stickers.
The colorful puzzle was an obsession, a frustration, and, for many, just a decoration on the bedroom shelf after repeated failed attempts.
11. Recording TV Shows on a VCR (and Messing It Up)
Long before streaming, the only way to “save” a show for later was to record it on a VHS tape. But timing it just right? That was an art. You either started too early and recorded half of a soap opera, or too late and missed the first five minutes of Knight Rider.
And heaven forbid someone taped over your favorite episode!
12. Hanging Out at the Mall for No Reason
In the ‘80s, the mall wasn’t just a place to shop—it was the after-school hangout. Kids would roam from store to store, buy a single soda at the food court just to stay longer, and play with display toys they had no intention of purchasing.
If you were lucky, you’d have enough cash for a slice of Sbarro’s pizza or a new cassette tape.
13. Making Friendship Bracelets and Trading Them
If you didn’t have at least one woven friendship bracelet on your wrist, were you even an ‘80s kid? Making and trading them with friends was a social currency.
You’d spend hours twisting colorful threads together, only to have them slowly unravel after a few weeks of wear.
14. Playing with Slap Bracelets Until They Fell Apart
Speaking of wrist accessories, slap bracelets were the ultimate fidget toy. With one swift motion, you’d smack them onto your wrist, only for the thin piece of metal inside to eventually break through the fabric—turning them from cool to slightly dangerous.
But that didn’t stop anyone from collecting them in every color.
15. Building the Tallest House of Cards (and Watching It Collapse)
Before smartphones and tablets, kids had to entertain themselves with whatever was lying around the house—including a deck of playing cards.
The challenge? Building a towering house of cards. The inevitable? Watching it collapse at the slightest movement, usually right before you finished.
16. Drawing Epic Chalk Murals on the Sidewalk
Sidewalk chalk wasn’t just for hopscotch—it was a creative outlet. Every driveway and street corner became a canvas for massive, colorful masterpieces.
Until, of course, a single rainstorm washed it all away, forcing you to start from scratch the next day.
17. Eating TV Dinners on a Folding Tray in Front of the TV
Microwave dinners were the height of convenience, and nothing beat the excitement of peeling back that foil to reveal mashed potatoes, some sort of meat, and a questionable dessert.
Eating on a TV tray while watching The A-Team or ALF just made the meal taste better—no matter how weirdly artificial it was.
18. Making Paper Fortune Tellers and Taking Them Way Too Seriously
Also known as “cootie catchers,” these folded-paper oracles supposedly predicted your future—who you’d marry, how rich you’d be, or what career you’d have.
Of course, it was all nonsense, but if the fortune was bad, you definitely made your friend redo it.
19. Trying to Win a Free Soda by Checking the Cap
Before apps and QR codes, soda brands had under-the-cap contests where you could win free drinks or prizes. The problem? Sometimes the cap would say “Please Try Again”—and that was always a letdown.
But when you found a winning cap? Pure joy.
20. Making Mix Tapes for Friends (or Your Crush)
A well-crafted mixtape was the ‘80s equivalent of a love letter. You spent hours curating the perfect songs, timing the transitions, and maybe even adding a few spoken-word intros.
And if someone made you a mixtape? That was a Big Deal.
21. Walking to the Local 7-Eleven for a Big Gulp and Candy
Grabbing a Slurpee and a pack of Nerds from 7-Eleven was peak childhood freedom. Walking there with friends after school felt like an adventure—even though it was probably just a few blocks away.
And yes, mixing all the Slurpee flavors together was mandatory.
22. Collecting Scratch-and-Sniff Stickers Like They Were Gold
Teachers and parents used to hand out scratch-and-sniff stickers as rewards, and they were everything. Some smelled great (strawberries and bubblegum), while others were just weird (pizza and gasoline?).
Either way, having a full sticker album made you a legend.
23. Playing with Pogo Balls and Skip-Its Until You Tripped
Pogo Balls and Skip-Its were the ‘80s version of TikTok challenges—everyone tried them, but only a few mastered them.
Whether you were hopping on a rubber disk or spinning a plastic ball around your ankle, it was all fun and games… until you wiped out on the pavement.
24. Hosting Lip Sync Battles in Your Bedroom
Before Lip Sync Battle was a thing, kids were already putting on performances in front of their bedroom mirrors.
Armed with a hairbrush microphone, you’d belt out Girls Just Wanna Have Fun or Livin’ on a Prayer like you were on stage at Madison Square Garden.
25. Spending an Entire Afternoon Playing with an Etch A Sketch
There was something magical about twisting those little knobs to create a masterpiece—until you realized you messed up and had to start all over.
But hey, shaking it clean and trying again was half the fun.
26. Covering Your School Books with Paper Bags from the Grocery Store
Schools required you to cover your textbooks, and the best (a.k.a. cheapest) solution? Brown paper grocery bags.
Of course, once covered, they became the perfect canvas for doodles, stickers, and band logos drawn in permanent marker.
27. Playing Tag Until Someone Got Hurt (and Then Playing Again Anyway)
Tag had one unspoken rule: If you fell and scraped your knee, you got up and kept running. Kids of the ‘80s were tough—unless the injury was really bad, you didn’t quit.
And if it was, your friend just ran home to get a Band-Aid.
28. Taking Disposable Cameras Everywhere and Waiting Weeks for the Photos
Before smartphones, capturing memories meant using a disposable camera. You had no idea if the pictures turned out well until you got them developed—usually weeks later.
Half of them were blurry, and at least one had a giant thumb in the frame. But that was just part of the fun.