Latest news with #Nostalgia
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘90s kid summer' trend ditches tech in favor of retro fun — here's why it won't work for all parents
Millennial parents are throwing it back. After the recent resurgence of iconic nineties trends jelly shoes, chunky highlights and flip phones, the ''90s kid summer' parenting trend reeks of turn-of-the-century nostalgia. Yet, proponents behind it say they're not just harking back to their childhoods — they're sick of their screen-addicted kids. Just before summer vacations across the country began, millennial parents took to TikTok en masse to reminisce on their own school-free months. In the comments of TikTok posts like this video by @_natenorman, nostalgic nineties kids recalled the days spent outside from dawn to dusk, biking alone to community pools, the unsupervised neighborhood playtime, and above all, the lack of communication from parents who simply wanted a few hours of peace and quiet. 'My summer memories all involve pools, sports, and exploring the woods. Creeks, birdwatching, riding bikes with the neighborhood kids and my siblings,' read one reply. 'The attic fan on at night is all I remember of indoors.' Many parents online claim that they're giving their kids a '90s summer to promote positive development like independence and creativity. And according to experts, they're not wrong to do so. The American Psychological Association says that unstructured play can help children progress in important body and muscle growth, socializing, decision-making skills, conflict management, and empathy, among other areas. However, a '90s summer is simply not feasible for some, and growing pressure from online parenting communities is leading to undue stress and guilt. Kristin Gallant, a parenting expert who posts child-rearing and mom life content on Instagram as @biglittlefeelings, was among the anxious millennials. 'If it works for your family, great,' says Gallant in the video. 'Working parents, we're stressed out when we see this. We need to send our kids to camp or have some child care' so the unplanned routine doesn't work quite the same, she explained. She also mentioned how neurodiverse kids and sensitive children who thrive on structure likely also wouldn't benefit from this trend. 'If you can't give your kids a '90s summer, don't let it make you feel like s–t,' she concluded. Claire Vallotton, professor of human development and family studies at Michigan State University, agrees that making a sudden shift towards the '90s summer lifestyle is not beneficial to kids, and explains that the trend is likely a response to the tendency that many modern parents have towards both maximizing their child's development by overscheduling them with classes, camps and other programs, as well as allowing young kids to have way too much screen time. In an interview with USA Today, Vallotton said that most kids of today 'are overscheduled and using technology too much,' and a majority of them are not spending time outdoors alone like their millennial parents. The urge to overcorrect with the '90s summer trend makes 'a lot of sense, but trying to solve it all in one summer isn't going to work for either the children or parents,' she explained. 'You can't just have this over-scheduled, technology-saturated life for nine months of the year and then switch into this absolute freedom,' Vallotton elaborated. 'We haven't prepared our children for that… It's going to make the children potentially more anxious.' Some parents online have commiserated with Gallant for numerous reasons. Some complain of 'velco children' — kids who stick to their parents' sides non-stop — while others bemoan the dangers and rising childcare costs plaguing the modern world. 'Give me a 90s economy and 90s real estate prices and I'll see what I can do,' replied a mom, agreeing with Gallant. 'I wish ['90s summer] was an option now for our kids. Karens everywhere crying about the noise of a basketball, no woods to go venture in or build treehouses, and people are always driving distracted, so riding bikes down the road can't happen,' said one commenter under @_natenorman's TikTok, explicating the impossibility of recreating those summers of the past. Meanwhile, other parents offered their own interpretations of the sudden online push for the resurgence of a '90s summer. 'What I take from the 90s summer is letting go of the pressure to be over-scheduled, do every single expensive camp, and be IG perfect,' replied one user under Gallant's video. 'I think the takeaway is that it's okay to let your kid have a solid chunk of independent play where you as the parent are not playing camp Director,' explained another. 'It's not unsupervised but unstructured. Not all day but part of it. For me, after lunch, I might push the kids outside and go read on the porch while they figure it out. They have things to do provided, but it's dealer's choice.' Instead of making an instantaneous transition like millennial parents across the Internet seem to imply, Vallotton advised that parents slowly reduce technology access for kids and encourage children to play together outdoors while supervising from afar.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Brits' most loved 90s trends revealed – from Doc Martens to ‘The Rachel' haircut
Doc Martens, baggy jeans, and 'The Rachel' haircut are among Brits' most loved 90s trends. A poll of 2,000 adults revealed the most iconic 90s fashion crazes – with crimped hair, perms, and leather or denim jackets also high up the list. 2 Other nostalgic staples included shell suits, high ponytails, and the iconic little black dress. The 90s was also voted as the decade with the most influence on today's fashion choices – with top overall trends revealed as Brit-pop, hip-hop, and grunge. Respondents also voted for their favourite celebrity hairstyles of the era – with Jennifer Aniston's iconic "Rachel" haircut, Johnny Depp's floppy hair, and Victoria Beckham's Posh bob the official winners. Most iconic UK fashion moments were decided as Princess Diana's revenge dress, Geri Halliwell's Union Jack dress at the BRIT Awards, and Liz Hurley's Versace safety pin dress. Ashley Birch-Ruffell, spokesperson for FUNKIN COCKTAILS, which commissioned the research ahead of the launch of its new 90s classic cocktail, the Apple Sour Martini, said: '90s fashion is very on trend, and it's fun to see what our official favourite styles are. 'There are clearly many iconic hairstyles and memorable moments from this decade that live on in the public consciousness. 'It seems clear that 90s trends aren't going anywhere anytime soon – and why would we want them to.' Younger generations are leading the revival, with over six in 10 Gen Z (64 per cent) and Millennials (63 per cent) saying the decade's fashion still influences their personal style – compared to just under four in 10 (39 per cent) of the total population. Ironically, three quarters of Gen Z (75 per cent) and Millennials (76 per cent) feel nostalgic for the 90s, despite many of them being too young to fully experience the decade first-hand. In contrast, fewer than two in 10 Boomers (19 per cent) say they feel the same, despite living through it as adults. Almost nine in 10 (87 per cent) Gen Zs and 82 per cent of Millennials would also jump at the chance to revisit the 90s for one night to soak up the fashion and culture. There were also some key trends that appealed to the younger demographic in particular – with a fifth of Gen Zs big fans of the space buns and the YTK aesthetic (22 per cent). Whereas Millennials were found to be number one fans of the curtain hairstyle (18 per cent) and rave wear (17 per cent), according to data. And despite agreeing Diana's revenge dress couldn't be beaten, other top fashion moments for Gen Zs were Victoria Beckham's little black dress, Kate Moss's grunge look, and Naomi Campbell's metallic mini dress. When asked who most embodies 90s style today, Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, and Rihanna took the top spots as beacons of this iconic decade. To mark the launch of the Apple Sour Martini, FUNKIN COCKTAILS has teamed up with London based hairdresser, Duck & Dry to offer free 90s hairstyles alongside a trial of the canned Nitro cocktail. Ashley added: 'It's clear that the whole culture of the 90s is still considered unapologetically iconic and we wanted to deliver the perfect cocktail to match that vibe – as well as helping people level up their 90s aesthetic.'
Hype Malaysia
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Canadian Piano Prodigy Tony Ann To Return To KL This October
You've likely heard his music on Instagram and TikTok because Piano prodigy Tony Ann has gone viral on social media with a number of instrumental pieces, including 'Icarus', 'REMINISCE', 'Nostalgia', and 'Euphoria'. Following a successful debut performance in Kuala Lumpur last year, the 24-year-old musician is set to return to Malaysia this October! Earlier this year, the young pianist announced he would be touring across Asia, with Malaysia included on the list of stops. Over the weekend, he excitedly reminded his fans that he'll be returning to the continent — and performing in several countries for the very first time. A virtuoso by trade, Tony Ann is a solo pianist from Canada with big ideas. He fuses the styles of both the new and the old to breathtaking effect. With over 100 million views and more than 6 million followers on social media, the young artist pushes the limits of neo-classical and popular music, seamlessly blending contemporary and classical styles. 'ASIA DATES NOW ON SALE 🎹!!!!!! So, so, so excited to come back to Asia in October 😍😍 It's going to be a very special time! I'll be returning to a few cities I played in last year, but visiting the Philippines and Osaka for the first time,' he wrote in his Instagram caption. The details of his upcoming KL show are as follows: TONY ANN Live in Malaysia Date: 21st October 2025 (Tuesday) 21st October 2025 (Tuesday) Time: 8pm 8pm Venue: The Odeum, Jiospace The Odeum, Jiospace Organiser: Soundscape Records & Productions Soundscape Records & Productions Ticketing: CAT 1 – RM268, CAT 2 – RM228 Tickets are available now on CloudJoi, so be sure to secure your seats to watch Tony Ann perform your favourite pieces live in concert! Which of his tracks are you most excited to hear? Personally, we'd love to experience 'Icarus' live. While we count down to the show, here's a video of the musician playing one of his most popular compositions: Sources: Instagram, CloudJoi What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
Forbes
6 days ago
- General
- Forbes
The Summer Of The 90s Is Back—Because We Miss It
Why do 90s flavors still hit so hard today? For adults navigating compound stress, these snacks ... More offer a powerful return to simplicity, a tangible connection to summers before adulthood's weight. Sometimes, memory arrives not as a thought but as an instinct. A flavor. A gesture repeated so many times it becomes embedded in the body. I think of those summers—hot, restless, and too long in the best way—and I remember pulling the golden straw from the back of a Capri Sun pouch, jabbing it just right so it didn't collapse in on itself. If you froze it, you bought yourself a few extra minutes of cold. If you didn't, you drank it quickly before the heat turned it flat. Either way, that first sip always hit the same: sweet, metallic, perfect. You didn't think much about it then. You were a kid, probably told to go outside and not come back in. The AC was for grown-ups. The backyard was your season. That's what taste memory gives us—not just flavor but atmosphere. The texture of a moment. And it's part of why Instacart's newest campaign, which brings back 1999 prices on snacks like Kool-Aid, Capri Sun, and Bagel Bites, doesn't feel like just another brand ploy. It's a nod to something deeper, a recognition of what summer used to mean for those of us who came of age in a different kind of world, whether as Gen Xers navigating their independent teens or Elder Millennials like myself savoring our childhood summers. According to a recent Harris Poll commissioned by the brand, 71% of Americans say they often think back to their childhood summers. That number jumps to 79% among those of us who were kids in the '90s. But even without the numbers, you can feel it: this collective ache for something unstructured, a little sticky, and completely ours. Taste Memory: More Than Just a Snack, It's a Feeling Beyond just flavor, 90s snacks like popsicles and Capri Sun activate powerful taste memory, ... More transporting us back to the freedom and simplicity of childhood summers. Discover how this emotional connection is more than just a brand ploy. When I think about that decade, I don't just remember the snacks. I remember the freedom that surrounded them. I rode my yellow banana seat bike up and down our long gravel driveway until the sky changed color. I peeled corn with my mom, on the steps of the front porch, never as fast as her. So many days of swimming in the pool. Those were the kinds of days that didn't ask anything of you except to exist inside them. No performance, no pressure, only presence. It wasn't about pretending things were perfect, but more about the particular ease of not knowing yet how heavy things could get. For many of us, adulthood has been a string of compound stress: 9/11, the 2008 recession, a pandemic, and now a seemingly endless loop of economic uncertainty and burnout. The life we were told to expect—some version of linear success and upward mobility—never quite unfolded the way we thought it might. For Gen Xers hitting their stride and crossing into early adulthood to Elder Millennials deeply immersed in childhood freedom, those summers were formative. My older sister, Jodi, born in 1975, and my younger brothers Philip and Tim (born in 1987 and 1989) each will have a different stack of taste memories and what a 90s summer was to them than I, but that underlying sense of boundless time was still there for us. So we return, however we can. Sometimes through food, or through smell or sound. But often, through the repetition of what made us feel safe, or seen, or simply unburdened. And that's where these snacks come in—not as food trendsetters, but as emotional connection. The Texture of Then: Freedom in Familiar Flavors Remember the exact feeling of those summer days? Explore how the taste memory of iconic 90s treats ... More creates a profound emotional connection, offering a tangible link to the unburdened summers of our youth. It's about remembering a feeling, not just a snack. Taste memory isn't nostalgia for nostalgia's sake. It's a form of recall that bypasses language. You don't think about it, you feel it. A Capri Sun doesn't just taste like juice. It tastes like the day you brought it to the city pool, the soccer field, or the cracked steps outside your cousin's apartment. It tastes like being sweaty and loud and free in a way adulthood rarely permits. The snacks highlighted in this campaign—Hot Pockets, Fruity Pebbles, Lunchables—are not aspirational. They're accessible. And maybe that's what makes them stick. They don't demand effort. They just arrive unchanged, offering a moment that feels remarkably familiar in a world that often doesn't. It's not the ingredients we're chasing, It's the rhythm they once belonged to. Why 90s Flavors Still Hold a Potent Pull In a world that rarely leaves us room to just be, reaching for simplicity through 90s flavors offers ... More a powerful reminder of unburdened joy. It's about finding a way to visit the version of ourselves who knew how to play. Now, many Gen X and Millennials who lived those summers are raising kids of our own, trying—often imperfectly—to hand down that same sense of unstructured magic. But the world they're growing up in is faster, tighter, and less forgiving. Summer doesn't pause for working parents. Time off doesn't feel like time away. And even when the intention is there—to offer our kids the kind of open-ended summers we remember—there are economic, emotional, and structural realities that make it hard to pull off. According to the same Harris Poll, 84% of parents with minor children say they're more focused on reducing their kids' screen time in the summer than at any other point in the year. That isn't nostalgia talking. That's a desire for presence. A hunger for the kinds of days when imagination and sunlight were enough. But imagination doesn't always fit into modern schedules. And so we reach for what's within reach. Marshmallows, Otter Pops, or discounted mac & cheese. Not because we're chasing flavor but because we're chasing feeling. While time travel may not be possible, there are still ways to visit the version of ourselves who knew how to play. Reaching for Simplicity: Rebuilding a Summer We Can't Replicate So yes, Instacart is running a nostalgic promotion. But what they're really tapping into is the quiet grief that adulthood often carries—the longing for days that moved more slowly, for joy that didn't feel like a task. We're not just buying the snack. We're buying the pause it promises. We're looking for a way to slip back into ourselves, even if it's only for the length of a freezer pop. These foods can't bring back the past. But they can create a moment that feels like a truce. A soft place in the day. A reminder that we once knew how to feel full without being busy. And in a world that rarely leaves us room to just be, that reminder is worth holding onto.
Perth Now
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Mother Mother refuse to 'pander to the TikTok era' after going viral
Mother Mother will never "pander to the TikTok era" with their songwriting. The Canadian rockers - who have exceeded nine billion streams globally - found themselves going viral on the video-sharing platform in 2020, after their 2008 song Hayloft was used in edits, cosplay, and creative transitions. As a result, the group dropped Hayloft II, which also became a hit. Frontman Ryan Guldemond subsequently noticed on Reddit that some people were critcising them for going after commercial success with their music - but he insists that couldn't be farther from the truth. He told "I was reading people saying, 'Oh, they pander to the TikTok era with their new writing.' And it's like, Huh? I don't think that's true. If anything, it's the opposite, like, yeah, you know, the TikTok thing came along and made a bunch of songs that were really unviable, commercially famous, and that was to us that sent a message like, Oh, just be yourself. Like, just write from the heart and follow your whims. And that's the best thing you can do, is to be just totally authentic. And if that means you're writing kind of weird, unconventional songs, then so be it." The 'Finger' singer insists the whole TikTok viral experience taught them to "reject writing strategically for anything". He continued: "And so I've sort of taken that message and really ran with it, because I agree. I think the best thing anybody can do, whether you're writing a song or just, I don't know, whatever in life, just to be who you are. So I'm grateful for the TikTok thing, for sending that message, and if anything, yeah, like I said, it has made us reject writing strategically for anything." Mother Mother returned on June 6 with their new album 'Nostalgia', comprised of songs old and new to mark their 20th anniversary. Stream 'Nostalgia' now on all major streaming platforms.
