It’s officially spring break for many California families—a moment that feels like both a celebration (cue the sugar intake) and a deep breath before the plunge into summer.
The long, light-filled days ahead bring freedom, possibility… and, for many kids, more screen time and scrolling.
It’s enough to make you nostalgic for times gone by. I’m a millennial, raised in the lakes, rivers, and mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Yes, we had video games, blocky little pixel worlds, but back then calls came in on landlines and socializing happened at the corner store.
My kids don’t have smartphones or smartwatches yet, but one thing I’ve learned as a parent is that simply restricting devices doesn’t work very well on its own. What works better is building a life around them that feels engaging enough to compete with screens.
In other words: giving them something like the childhood many of us had in the 1990s.
What does that look like in practice?
We force them (lovingly) to ride their bikes around our community. To make it fun, they rig a speaker to their handlebars and blast music or pick up a friend on the way.
We’ve given them a Polaroid camera so they can snap pictures without a web-enabled device.
We nudge them to walk the 10 minutes downtown to the local sports card shop, bookstore, or game store. They go with $20 to split, digital watches to track time, and clear expectations for when to return.
I’ll admit, the first time we sent them off on their own, I was nervous. Would they cross the busy street safely? Would my older one leave their sibling behind? But they came back beaming, full of stories and holding tiny treasures they couldn’t wait to show us.
Through these small acts of trust and experimentation, we’re not just giving our kids a taste of the childhood we had. We’re teaching them independence, and we’re learning—sometimes reluctantly—to let go.
We don’t get it right every day. Sometimes screens win. But we’re trying. Connection beats perfection.
This spring, I hope to keep building small moments of freedom, movement, and wonder for my kids—and for myself.
—Jennifer Heifferon, Child Well-Being Program Director, California Partners Project
Your Turn!
The ’90s revival isn’t just about disposable cameras and Tamagachis. Parenting like it’s 1999 is really about balancing modern tech with real-world experiences—and giving kids enough independence that the physical world can compete with the digital one. A few ways to try it:
Choose the least-connected option when possible. A digital watch instead of a smartwatch. CDs or mixtapes instead of streaming music.
Encourage independence. A kids-only bike ride around the block or a short walk to the store—with clear expectations.
Prioritize connection over perfection. Screens aren’t always the enemy. A shared video game night still counts as time together—especially if it’s on an old-school Nintendo.
If this resonates, check out the Social Emotional Health Family Guide for more ideas on finding your own balance between tech and real life.
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