Kids Today Will Never Understand — Here's What Back-to-School Looked Like in the '90s

Updated on 7/25/2018 at 6:00 PM

Everyone looks back on their childhood as a "simpler time," but for kids who went to school in the '90s, there's no truer sentiment. School lunches consisted of PB&Js and milk, free time involved reading rather than playing educational games on iPads, and math was, well . . . math (throwing shade your way, Common Core).

Although some things will never change, like kids freaking out over getting to go shopping for school supplies, so much about the '90s looked completely different. If you were a '90s kid, take a stroll down memory lane with us, won't you?

First Day of School Outfits Were a Little More Dorky

OK, a lot more dorky.

As Were Class Photos on Picture Day

You stood on a rickety set of risers and there was zero editing for the final product.

You Had a Caboodle Full of Stuff to Get Ready With in the A.M.

It was always filled to the brim and you could never get it closed (relive the good old days with this Urban Outfitters Caboodle ($10)).

Urban Outfitters Caboodle

From

$10

Including These Butterfly Clips

If you didn't have 20 in your hair at once, you were doing it wrong (grab 12 of these pastel ones on Etsy for $8).

And 8 Million of These Lip Smackers Balms

Of which you would trade the flavors you didn't want with your friends.

You Won the Jackpot If Your Mom Packed Dunkaroos For Lunch

Especially if it was the sprinkled frosting version.

With a Yoo-Hoo to Wash Them Down

There was nothing more refreshing than this water-based chocolate drink, especially if it came in a juice box.

All in Your Plastic Lunch Box With Matching Thermos

What theme was yours? (Mine was Barbie, thanky ou very much, but you can still grab this vintage Dinosaurs one on Esty ($16).)

vintage Dinosaurs one on Esty

From

$16

At Recess, You’d Make One of These Cootie Catchers to Tell Fortunes

And promptly rig your friends' results.

Or Trade Pokémon Cards

Because you had to catch 'em all (grab a '90s set of Pokémon cards on Etsy for $10).

All of Your School Supplies Would Be Lisa Frank

So much color, so many Golden Retriever puppies.

And You Couldn’t Live Without a New Trapper Keeper

You know, for all of your important papers to get shoved into haphazardly (keep crunching those papers into this vintage Trapper Keeper on, sale for $20).

No Matter How Many Crayons You Had at Home, You Needed a Fresh Box For School

And if your mom let you get the 64-pack, it was like the holidays came early.

And a Pack of Mr. Sketch Scented Markers

That you'd sniff a little too hard and get all over the tip of your nose (keep on sniffing with this vintage set of scented markers for $14).

AND Some Stacking Pencils

Did anyone ever actually get through a full pencil tip, or did everyone just push them through, losing it in the abyss forever? (Buy 50 more to test out your theory on Etsy for $13).

You Kept Them All in a Space Maker

And its hinges would be broken by the third week of school (get this pink one from Etsy $16).

Many of Your Lessons Used an Overhead Projector

Which was never, ever in focus.

You's Watch a Movie on VHS That Applied to the Lesson

In a combo TV/VCR that never actually worked, usually.

For Many Assignments, You Had to Write in Cursive

And if you made a mistake, you had to start over.

When You Finished an Assignment Early, You'd Free Read One of These Books

Or something from the Goosebumps series, The Boxcar Children, or another book series (get a copy of any of the ones shown for just $2 on Etsy.