40 Things That Didn't Exist 40 Years Ago
The world really was a different place back then.
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The thing about new technology is that you start to forget how you ever existed without it. (For instance, email was invented in 1972, went into widespread usage in the '90s and now runs our lives.) This is true for all the other stuff that is now an integral part of our everyday lives, from stores we depend on to products we can't put down.
Selfies
Though the concept is kind of timeless, never has it been so easy to take hundreds of self-portraits. Just think of how odd it'll be in the near future, with adults reminiscing about old times over photos of their younger selves taken at arm's length.
Pre-made Sandwiches
On mornings where nothing went right, your parents would've loved having this option to throw into a lunchbox or lunchbag. These thaw-and-eat sandwiches debuted in 2000.
Fruit Pouches
We've grown used to the sight of kids sucking on bags of applesauce, veggie and fruit purees, which is something that wouldn't have been possible in the heady days of the '70s.
Swiffer
Same for the humble Swiffer, which was introduced in 1999 and forever saved us from having to constantly mop (and lug buckets of water with us).
Diaper Genies
Though the origins are a bit murky (the invention came about sometime in the 1990s), we can't imagine a nursery without this diaper disposal system.
Fidget Spinners
Back in your day, when you wanted to annoy your teachers and parents (while also letting out your excess energy), all you had to do was tap your pencil against your desk or throw a wad of paper at a friend or sibling.
The Disney Store
The Disney Store — and those famous Disney princess dresses — didn't make their mall debut until 1987.
And "Disney Reveals"
Like unboxing videos, the "Disney Reveal" — where parents creatively surprise their kids with a Disney vacation and upload the reaction on YouTube — is certainly a product of our time.
Healthy-ish Fast-casual Restaurants
There were a few kid-friendly restaurant chains and fast-food options, but nowhere that let you turn lunch or dinner into a choose-your-own-adventure of burritos or tacos. Chipotle came into our lives in 1993.
Cake Smashes
Back in your day, smashing your little hands into a cake would be cause for punishment, not a photo shoot.
Bento Boxes
$13
Kids still carry plastic lunch boxes, though they're likely to be tidy bento boxes (which are now available everywhere) made of the indestructible material.
Wikipedia
Remember having to do research for school reports from the latest set of encyclopedias? Today's kids have no idea how lucky they are to have Wikipedia (even if teachers frown upon it as a source), which launched in 2001.
Fitness Trackers
$70
We had gym class and recess and that was enough. Today: Kids wear fitness trackers (like the Garmin vivofit JR.) to make sure they hit their step count for the day.
FaceTime
...along with Skype and Google Hangouts. These apps do something that would have been unimaginable to you as a child: Visit face-to-face with far-flung grandparents and other relatives without leaving the living room.
Streaming Music
We have the MP3 (patented in Germany in 1989) to thank for laying the groundwork for services like Spotify, Tidal, Amazon Music and more. What you may have downloaded on Napster in 1999 turned into something you bought and downloaded from the iTunes store when it debuted in 2001, but now you can listen to whatever music you want without downloading a thing.
Droids
$116
Not only has Star Wars introduced so many more characters since you were little, you can play with some of them in real life thanks to new tech. The sassy droid BB-8 can be controlled using your smartphone.
Netflix Bingeing
You used to have to wait a week to see a new episode of your favorite show, or wait until a rental came in at Blockbuster for a movie you were dying to see. Now, all of those things are available whenever you want, thanks to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and countless other services. Another thing that's changed? We no longer have watch parties with our friends. Instead, we hole up in our apartment glued to a screen all weekend.
Beach Tents
$29
You might have received a coat of Coppertone before a long day at the beach, which would seem woefully inadequate to modern day parents who buy pop up tents for their little ones.
Crazy Hair Colors (That Weren't Frowned Upon)
Though your punk phase had you dyeing your hair with Kool-aid, today, playing with wild hair color isn't so rebellious. There are non-permanent dyes and plenty of inspiration on Pinterest for on-trend moms.
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