This past weekend, I was enjoying a ring toss beach game called “Bunghole” with my niece, nephew and sister when I fell into a reverie of my own childhood games. I would love to say just how much greater the simpler times were and that I’d play with a clot of dirt and I was HAPPY ABOUT IT. However, I couldn’t help but notice how much better kids seem to have it nowadays. Beach playtime typically consisted of a bucket to play with and that was it. Here was a new game that captured their interest for literally hours – and outside nonetheless!

Games have come a long way, and (mostly) in a good way. Kid games now seem futuristic and complex compared to the ancient relics we played with in the 90’s. Here are a few of my favorite play things and their evolved counterpart, just 20 years apart.

Lincoln Logs = Minecraft

I grew up with sisters and Legos weren’t really a staple in our household. No, we had the wooden logs that were made to stack in such a way that you could make a log cabin…..or a larger log cabin. 

. If you wanted a window or a door, you had to know the special way to maneuver the design into creating it. Looking back, I really did just build the same square, brown building over and over again, but I always came back for more. It was a simple game with no set rules or timeline, and I appreciated that sort of candid free-play.

Today’s equivalent would be Minecraft – a world that you can build on the computer with endless materials. I have seen full kingdoms, crops, caves, and mountains made from this easy-to-learn program. I’m confident kids nowadays are far more ambitious than my lowly cabin. Not only do they get to share their creation with others online but they can VISIT it. Kids need to feel a part of this world, and it’s amazing a game can help accomplish interconnectivity and creativity simultaneously.

Razor Scooter = Hover board

Oh, the Christmas of 2000, when every parent had to scramble to fulfill the wishes of every kid in America. Everyone wanted the Razor Scooter. I received the off-brand Blazer scooter whose tires were made out of the plastic, presumably from recycled soap. They wore down so quickly and created so many bumps, I had to keep my mouth closed while riding it to keep from losing all my teeth.

The Hover board seems like false advertising since, well, it doesn’t technically hover. I was amazed when it came out how many people purchased them. Then a few of them blew up and caught fire. I’m going to be honest when I say that although I personally would not purchase one, that it wasn’t much of a deterrent. It was just THAT cool. Now kids don’t even need muscle strength to push themselves, and to a lazy 10 year old me – that would have been heaven.

VHS Video Camera = phones and tablets

In my household, we had to get creative with the limited resources of entertainment that wasn’t already destroyed by 5 children. We fondly utilized our family video camera on many occasions. We made subpar shows and movies, starring ourselves in them. When we had to re-do a scene, we had to rewind and tape over the old scene. Everything was done manually, and the result was a cheesy, rough cut with a shaky plot. At the end of the day, we proudly invited our parents to the exclusive premier of our masterpiece.

Today, Kids have access to video cameras at their fingertips. Past me would have been absolutely green with envy if she knew. Now we have filters, editing programs, voice changers, overlays of text…..it’s a completely different world. When Youtube came into fruition in 2005, the ability to share with the world was there, and not hidden in a shoebox collecting dust.  Also – my parents would have been relieved not to have to gather around the family TV to watch in simulated interest.  It’s truly amazing how far we’ve come in the ability to flex our talents and abilities, especially to the impressionable youth.  Today we can share what we’ve made and built, and that’s a beautiful thing.

Heraclitus was an ancient philosopher who famously touted “Change is the only constant in life”. If only he could see how the impacts of this statement rang true in all aspects of culture. I’m personally excited to see what people are going to come out with next, ready to embrace all changes to come! What games did you grow up with and how have they changed? Comment below to share!