logo

40 Epic Things From The 80s That Far Too Many 80s Kids Have Forgotten

Stay true to your roots, y'all.

40 Epic Things From The 80s That Far Too Many 80s Kids Have Forgotten

The 1980s left behind more than big hair, neon colors, and unforgettable music, they also packed in a long list of everyday things that once felt impossible to miss. For anyone who grew up in that decade, these details were part of daily life, from snacks and toys to TV shows and school-time favorites.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

Now, a lot of those things have faded into the background, even though they helped define the era. This roundup brings back 40 forgotten pieces of '80s life, and the mix of nostalgia, oddball products, and pop culture throwbacks makes it hard not to keep scrolling.

[ADVERTISEMENT]

Some of these will feel instantly familiar, while others may spark a very specific kind of memory. Read on.

1. Every '80s kid rocked these. I know I did, and I had two pairs.

1. Every '80s kid rocked these. I know I did, and I had two pairs.Pinterest
[ADVERTISEMENT]

2. Automakers started removing them silently sometime in the mid-'90s.

2. Automakers started removing them silently sometime in the mid-'90s.Imgur
[ADVERTISEMENT]

3. Disneyland Records released the exercise album for children in 1982.

3. Disneyland Records released the exercise album for children in 1982.Disney Records

4. Kids had fun learning their ABCs with their favorite Disney friends.

4. Kids had fun learning their ABCs with their favorite Disney friends.Etsy

5. Nestlé sold Quik in metal containers.

5. Nestlé sold Quik in metal containers.Reddit

6. General Foods Corporation sold Tang in a glass jar.

6. General Foods Corporation sold Tang in a glass jar.21food.com

7. This was one of the few successful game shows in the '80s.

7. This was one of the few successful game shows in the '80s.NBC

8. Today's Special – A children's puppet series set in a department store.

8. Today's Special – A children's puppet series set in a department store.tvo.org

9. Johnson's No More Tangles spray in the '80s.

9. Johnson's No More Tangles spray in the '80s.Pinterest

10. Tinkerbell play makeup for '80s kids.

10. Tinkerbell play makeup for '80s kids.fourthgradenothing.com

11. Koala bear pencil huggers.

11. Koala bear pencil huggers.corporateoz.com

12. The English rock band Genesis featured weird puppets in the music video for their rock song, "Land of Confusion."

12. The English rock band Genesis featured weird puppets in the music video for their rock song, "Land of Confusion."Atlantic Records

13. Did you play with this?

13. Did you play with this?Etsy

14. This book gave many '80s kids sleepless nights.

14. This book gave many '80s kids sleepless nights.Etsy

15. FHE released some of the best '80s movies, including GI Joe and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Their logo on your screen indicated that something spectacular was around the corner.

15. FHE released some of the best '80s movies, including GI Joe and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Their logo on your screen indicated that something spectacular was around the corner.Lionsgate Home Entertainment

16. If you didn't watch this movie (Three Men and a Baby) back in the day, you should watch it today.

16. If you didn't watch this movie (Three Men and a Baby) back in the day, you should watch it today.Reddit

And if you love odd nostalgia, you will probably obsess over the collectors building wildly specific collections nobody expects.

17. I owned one of these... *sigh*

Bubble Trouble, Donkey Kong, Duck Hunt, Sonic... I think I'm going to cry.

17. I owned one of these... *sigh*retromags.com

18. Collapsible Water Bottle.

18. Collapsible Water Bottle.casseroleofdisaster.blog

19. "Hi, my name is Penny."

19. "Hi, my name is Penny."CBS/ vimeo.com

20. Remember Dynamite magazines?

20. Remember Dynamite magazines?Etsy

21. McDonald's polystyrene clamshell food container.

21. McDonald's polystyrene clamshell food container.Imgur

22. McDonald's high chair for kids.

22. McDonald's high chair for kids.Pinterest

23. McDonald's flexi-disc vinyl record dubbed "The $1,000,000 Menu Song."

23. McDonald's flexi-disc vinyl record dubbed "The $1,000,000 Menu Song."Mark Davis/ youtube.com

24. Remember the My Buddy and Kid Sister jingle?

24. Remember the My Buddy and Kid Sister jingle?YouTube

25. Strawberry Shortcake chewable Vitamin C.

25. Strawberry Shortcake chewable Vitamin C.Pinterest

26. Only '80s kids can relate to this meme.

26. Only '80s kids can relate to this meme.me.me

27. Chicken McNugget puppet advertisements.

27. Chicken McNugget puppet advertisements.keywordsuggest.org

28. '80s cameras.

28. '80s cameras.Pinterest

29. We don't have a crystal ball, but we know your mom or aunt had this back then.

29. We don't have a crystal ball, but we know your mom or aunt had this back then.picclick.com

30. A favorite toy of many '80s kids.

30. A favorite toy of many '80s kids.eBay

31. Bubblicious Wild Strawberry Gum.

This truly was wild!

31. Bubblicious Wild Strawberry Gum.sprinklepuffball.blogspot.com

32. The Tales From the Care Bears book series.

32. The Tales From the Care Bears book series.Good Reads

33. Remember the Beverly Cleary book series?

33. Remember the Beverly Cleary book series?Etsy

34. Lucky Eggs arcade redemption machine.

34. Lucky Eggs arcade redemption machine.rebrn.com

35. The infamous "READ" poster created by the American Library Association (ALA), featuring a celebrity posing with their favorite book.

35. The infamous "READ" poster created by the American Library Association (ALA), featuring a celebrity posing with their favorite book.coolmompicks.com

36. Remember this cartoon?

36. Remember this cartoon?DIC Entertainment

37. Garfield glass mug.

37. Garfield glass mug.Etsy

38. ABC's Time for Timer aired on Saturday mornings.

38. ABC's Time for Timer aired on Saturday mornings.ABC

39. '80s kids loved this chewable vitamin.

39. '80s kids loved this chewable vitamin.Pinterest

40. Fiber optic color-changing flowers and music box.

40. Fiber optic color-changing flowers and music box.picmia.com

In Summary...

The '80s were an interesting time in technology and popular culture.

We may have forgotten many things from that decade, but it doesn't change the fact that it made significant contributions to the world as we know it today: from the introduction of blockbuster movies to the emergence of MTV to even the invention of the internet.

Certainly, the '80s deserve all the hype they've been getting, and we have a feeling it won't be ending any time soon.

Want more “how did they survive that?” energy, see how your grandparents were built different in these vintage safety-suggestion photos.

More articles you might like