by Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Dec 27: Ever asked a fellow millennial about their childhood back in the 90s? Chances are, they’d beam with nostalgia, describing a time when life felt simpler, free from today’s technological complexities.
Now that many millennials are inching closer to or have joyfully surpassed the big 3-0 milestone, we’ve put together a list of 10 childhood items. These were the gems every Sarawakian or Malaysian millennial either proudly owned or secretly wished for, all harking back to those pre-internet days.
1. Multi-functional pencil cases
Decked out with clever features, these pencil cases are like the superheroes of stationery, making them a must-have for millennials. They’ve got a built-in sharpener with a user-friendly mechanism, and those plastic covers? They pop out effortlessly, making pencil shavings disposal a breeze. But wait, there’s more – a pop-out pencil stand for proudly showing off your gel pen collection in style. Think of them as the Swiss Army knives of the pencil case world!
Okay, they might add a smidge of bulk to your backpack already filled with textbooks, but come on, who can resist their charm? The foam covers flaunt vibrant images of our favorite animated characters, turning these multi-functional pencil cases into more than just useful accessories – they’re like little bursts of joy in our daily lives!
2. Biodata books
Ah, biodata books – the OG social media of our time! Picture this: the last day of school, everyone huddled together, filling out these gems with memories, inside jokes, and heartwarming messages from friends.
TMI (too much information) details, such as birthdays, home addresses, and blood types, were spilled onto those pages, creating a snapshot of our childhood pals that we can still vividly recall. Those biodata books weren’t just keepsakes; they were magical time capsules that make us smile whenever we flip through the pages. Good times, right?
3. Velcro wallets
Remember the go-to wallet for our first adventures into personal finance? Yep, it was that trusty velcro wallet from the 90s! These bad boys came in all sorts of designs, but the coolest ones always had our favorite animated characters and superheroes.
Picture this: fumbling through the folds of those wallets to get our pocket money or proudly showing off our Pokemon cards. Each time we cracked open that velcro flap, it was like stepping into a nostalgic time machine, capturing the essence of our youth.
And oh, the satisfying feeling of popping that velcro open and shut, paired with the lively images plastered on it – it was all part of the epic 90s kid experience!
4. Roller shoes
Back in the day, snagging a pair of roller shoes wasn’t just a practical move – it was like declaring, “I’m cool, and I’m up for some spontaneous fun!”
What made these roller shoes stand out? Well, it was that slick single wheel tucked away in the heel, turning a regular walk into a glide of awesomeness.
Yeah, the trend of roller shoes may have wheeled away over time, but the memories of carefree glides and the unique style they gifted us 90s kiddos? Those are here to stay.
5. Lockable diaries
Owning our personal diaries was a trend, and the ones with locks were like hidden treasures.
Sure, if we’re being real, many of those locks were practically the same. But you know what? It didn’t bother us one bit. The notion of having a secret spot for our thoughts was just too cool, even if the truth was that anyone with a similar diary could easily unlock it. Oh, the quirks of our teenage years.
6. Foreign comic books
Way back before smartphones stole the spotlight as our go-to entertainment, there was this absolute gem of a comic series that we all adored – ‘Old Master Q’, also known as ‘Lao Fu Zi’. It was our trusty companion, making the wait for our moms at the hair salon way more entertaining.
And hey, let’s not forget about other favorites like Doraemon and Archie Comics – they were all part of the awesome lineup.
7. Tamagotchi
Meet the Tamagotchi, the adorable pocket-sized virtual pet that totally won over the hearts of 90s kids! It wasn’t just any old toy; it became like a BFF, a little buddy that brought tons of joy and, yes, a bit of responsibility too.
Imagine this tiny, egg-shaped device with a black-and-white screen – that’s where the magic happened! The Tamagotchi wasn’t just a toy; it was basically a VIP (Very Important Pet) in every 90s kid’s day-to-day adventures.
8. Brick Game (Tetris)
Who else had a ‘Brick Game’ back in the 90s? These handheld electronic wonders won the hearts of many, especially when the budget wasn’t quite up to Game Boy standards.
Back in the early 90s, the first versions of brick games were a bit more modest, storing just a few games. But let me tell you, those were the days of endless Tetris on that little LCD screen.
9. Music players or Walkmans
Way back before music streaming was a thing and we could endlessly loop our favorite jams, we had these awesome music players from Sony – you might’ve heard of them, they’re called Walkmans.
Everyone just had to have one, you know? It was all about playing those jams from 90s superstars like the Spice Girls and our very own Siti Nurhaliza whenever the mood struck.
10. VHS tapes
Before we got all fancy with VCDs, DVDs, and the latest online streaming platforms, us 90s kids were rocking it with VHS tapes – you know, the video home system magic!
These old-school tapes were the OGs of our cartoon and movie collection. And let’s talk about their size – these things were bulky so they pretty much claimed their own territory on the shelf. Nostalgia central, right?
Got any other items you’d like to add to the list? Leave a comment on our socials to let us know what other items or toys you enjoyed growing up in the 90s. — DayakDaily
