How to Relive the 1980s (for Kids)

In Music

Listen to early 1980s music. The early synthwave sound was forming in the early 80s, and it dominated the pop charts for years to come. Popular artists include Billy Joel, Blondie, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Foreigner, Elton John, Journey, Lipps, Inc, Michael Jackson, Olivia-Newton John, Prince, Queen, Soft Cell, Stevie Wonder, and Survivor. 1980 songs: "Another Bites the Dust" by Queen, "Babe" by Styx, "Call Me" by Blondie, "Celebration" by Kool and The Gang, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen, "Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer" by Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes, "Every Woman in the World" by Air Supply, "Funkytown" by Lipps, Inc, "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" by Billy Joel, "Magic" by Olivia-Newton John, "Please Don't Go" by K.C. and the Sunshine Band, "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson, etc. 1981 songs: "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton, "Believe It Or Not" by Joey Scarbury, "Bette Davis Eyes" by Kim Carnes, "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield, "Kiss On My List" by Daryl Hall and John Oates, "Let's Groove" by Earth, Wind, and Fire, "Private Eyes" by Daryl Hall and John Oates, "Rapture" by Blondie, etc. 1982 songs: "1999" by Prince, "Africa" by Toto, "Come on Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners, "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" by Culture Club, "Don't You Want Me" by The Human League, "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney ft. Stevie Wonder, "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor, "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" by Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, "Physical" by Olivia-Newton John, "Rosanna" by Toto, "Under Pressure" by David Bowie and Queen, etc. 1983 songs: "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, "Down Under" by Men at Work, "Every Breath You Take" by the Police, "Flashdance...What a Feeling" by Irene Cara, "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" by Cyndi Lauper, "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club, "Maniac" by Michael Sembello, "Say Say Say" by Paul McCartney ft. Michael Jackson, "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" by Journey, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by Eurythmics, "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler, "Uptown Girl" by Billy Joel, etc.

Listen to mid-1980s music. There were still more pop acts debuting in the mid-80s, as well as many rock bands rising to fame in the mid-80s. The synth sound was used in multiple songs, the most famous being "Take on Me" by a-ha. Movies like Footloose and Ghostbusters influenced music too. Popular artists include a-ha, Billy Ocean, Cyndi Lauper, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Duran Duran, Genesis, Huey Lewis and the News, Lionel Richie, Madonna, Prince and the Revolution, Queen, Stevie Wonder, and Wham. 1984 songs: "99 Luftballoons" by Nena, "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins, "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr, "Hello" by Lionel Richie, "Jump" by Van Halen, "Like a Virgin" by Madonna, "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell (featuring Michael and Jermaine Jackson's vocals), "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham, "What's Love Got to Do With It" by Tina Turner, "When Doves Cry" by Prince and the Revolution, etc. 1985 songs: "Careless Whisper" by Wham, "Cheri Cheri Lady" by Modern Talking, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears For Fears, "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner, "Money for Nothing" by Dire Straits, "Party All the Time" by Eddie Murphy, "Rock Me Amadeus" by Falco, "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams, "Take on Me" by a-ha, "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and The News, "We Are the World" by U.S.A. for Africa, "We Built This City" by Starship, etc. 1986 songs: "Glory of Love" by Peter Cetera, "Kiss" by Prince and the Revolution, "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" by Cutting Crew, "Papa Don't Preach" by Madonna, "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie, "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel, "Take My Breath Away" by Berlin, "That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Gladys Knight, "The Final Countdown" by Europe, "There'll Be Sad Songs (To Make You Cry)" by Billy Ocean, "West End Girls" by Pet Shop Boys, "You Give Love a Bad Name" by Bon Jovi, etc.

Listen to late 1980s songs. There were fewer songs with synthwave characteristics, but there were more songs of the hard rock and glam metal music genres being produced. A few pop groups, such as New Kids on the Block, became popular in the late 80s and early 90s. Popular artists include Aerosmith, Belinda Carlisle, Bon Jovi, Cutting Crew, George Michael, Guns N' Roses, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Milli Vanilli, New Kids on the Block, Prince, Starship, U2, and Whitney Houston. 1987 songs: "Bad" by Michael Jackson, "Heaven is a Place on Earth" by Belinda Carlisle, "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2, "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston, "I Want Your Sex" by George Michael, "La Bamba" by Los Lobos, "Livin' On a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, "Need You Tonight" by INXS, "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship, "Walk Like an Egyptian" by the Bangles, "With or Without You" by U2, etc. 1988 songs: "Angel" by Aerosmith, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison, "Faith" by George Michael, "Fast Car" by Tracy Chapman, "Father Figure" by George Michael, "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by the Proclaimers, "Look Away" by Chicago, "Man In the Mirror" by Michael Jackson, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" by Def Leppard, "Sweet Child O' Mine" by Guns N' Roses, "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" by Whitney Houston, etc. 1989 songs: "Blame It On The Rain" by Milli Vanilli, "Cold Hearted" by Paula Abdul, "I'll Be Loving You (Forever)" by New Kids On The Block, "I'll Be There for You" by Bon Jovi, "Like a Prayer" by Madonna, "Miss You Much" by Janet Jackson, "Paradise City" by Guns N' Roses, "Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson, "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel, "Wild, Wild West" by Escape Club, etc.

Host parties with 1980s music. The music in the 1980s varied. Music switched from disco in the early 80s to iconic pop songs, hard rock, and glam metal. You can make a large playlist full of tunes from the decade, or you could host a party specific to a few years of the decade (e.g. 1980 to 1983 or 1987 to 1989). If you are doing that, put songs that were made in between those years. For early 1980s, you could host a dance-pop party. For the mid-80s, the synth-pop songs and the pop tunes from well-known artists like Michael Jackson are great choices. For a late-80s party, put on glam metal tracks, rap tunes, or R&B. Request 1980s songs during dances and parties. To feel like a 1980s kid, request songs that were made in the 1980s during dances and other events. Many people like a boost of nostalgia during dances, so they might agree to putting old songs on the dance playlist.

Listen to 1980s songs in the car. Many people enjoy listening to today's tunes in the car to enjoy them or to sing along. If you did this back in the 1980s, you could continue doing so. If you aren't a 1980s kid, try asking your parents to put on some 1980s songs in the car. You can sing along to the songs as your parents drive the car. You can also pretend that you are in a music video. Many kids also like lip-syncing to the song, so you can do that if you want.

In Fashion

Find some 1980s fashion icons. Many of the people listed here were famous singers and actors that rose to fame in the 70s and 80s. Music influenced many fashion styles of the 1980s. Music inspired the 80s fashion style a lot, so you would see colorful clothing, as well as glam metal and punk rock styles of clothing. Search some of these up to gain some inspiration on your exact 1980s fashion style. Alyssa Milano Bon Jovi Culture Club Cyndi Lauper David Bowie Princess Diana Duran Duran Eurythmics Madonna Michael Jackson Prince Whitney Houston

Wear neon, bright colors. A hallmark of the 1980s are the bright and neon colors worn by many celebrities and people. Try to find as many colorful clothes as possible- no pastel, white, or black clothing! At the minimum, find some of this clothing; it symbolizes the mid-1980s. For example, wear a bright green T-shirt with yellow pants. Wear parachute pants. These were baggy, loose pants that people wore in the 80s and 90s. MC Hammer popularized this in the 1990s in his music video "U Can't Touch This".

Wear colorful athletic wear. Tracksuits were a popular item of clothing to wear while exercising. For females, get Lycra or Spandex tights along with colorful leotards/bodysuits. These come together to form a very iconic athletic style in the 1980s. People wore these while listening to workout music in a gym class. A popular example in 80s culture is from Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" music video, where she shows off her figure to males at the gym. You can also wear arm and leg warmers, as well as a headband if you want accessories. Slouch socks were also popular choices to wear with this outfit.

Wear a top along with a suit jacket and a skirt. These symbolized the masculine side of females, and they encouraged female strength. Females in the workforce wore these to work. The suit jackets often had padded shoulders, so try to find those to go along with your formal outfit.

Wear a mixture of formal and casual clothing. This style was influenced by the TV show Miami Vice, which revolutionized 80s fashion. People wore T-shirts underneath expensive suit jackets, and Hawaiian shirts with tan, gray, or white jackets were worn together. Corduroy jackets also became popular with the advent of this show.

Wear a leather jacket. These were staples to various subcultures and fashion styles of the 80s. Most people could pair this with a white shirt and denim, acid-washed jeans. Michael Jackson was also famous for wearing red and black matching leather pants and jackets. Many teenage boys emulated his style. People wore many types of shoes with this outfit. A famous type are the Doc Martens. These shoes were integral parts of the punk and post-punk Gothic looks.

Wear shorter clothing. For females, this meant shorter skirts along with a form-fitting shirt and fashionable jacket (such as a leather jacket). Madonna popularized this type of less restrictive, less conservative clothing style. Older people in the 80s thought that Madonna was a bad influence on young people for this reason. However, she revolutionized 80s clothing, and is still an icon today. For males, this meant bike shorts and other athletic shorts along with form-fitting shirts. If you are a child, make sure to make your outfit appropriate. Don't wear overly revealing clothing if you're trying to dress 80s.

Try making your hair look 80s. The hair was an essential part of 1980s fashion. Large, poofy hairstyles dominated the 1980s. Glam metal bands such as Bon Jovi had band members with long, layered hair. People wore all kinds of hairspray to keep their hair in tact for the whole day. Aqua Net was a brand people used often for the 1980s hairstyles. Try going to the hair salon to get a nice 80s haircut for yourself, or try cutting it yourself. Get a mullet. Crimp or curl your hair. If you have straight hair, try curling it. You can use hair curlers or curling irons. For fellow punk kids, Style a mohawk. Get Jheri curls. MJ was famous for this hairstyle in the 80s. Buzz cut your hair. Annie Lennox from the pop band Eurythmics wore this hairstyle, making herself androgynous.

Wear 1980s shoes. There are a variety of shoes that people wore in the 1980s. Jelly shoes, loafers, leather boots, flats, and kitten heels were just some of the types of shoes adults wore in the 80s. However, most kids wore sneakers. The hip hop culture was starting to develop in the 80s, with kids gradually wearing sneakers instead of dress shoes to school. Popular shoe brands from the 1980s include Adidas, Asics, Converse, Diadora, New Balance, Nike (especially Air Jordan 1s), Puma, Reebok, and Wilson.

Wear accessories that were popular in the 1980s. 1980s kids often paired their look with different accessories that they could mix and match. The accessories depend on what you wear, so go online to see what accessories best fit your look and outfit. Wear Ray-Ban glasses. The most popular model in the 80s was the Wayfarers. Use a scrunchie to tie up your hair. Wear multiple bracelets on both hands. Madonna popularized this trend. Wear fingerless gloves. Again, Madonna was one of the famous celebrities who wore this, as well as Billy Idol. Put on arm and leg warmers with athletic clothing. Wear earrings. Females wore large hoop earrings, whereas males tended to wear smaller gems in their ears. It was common for males to wear earrings in the 80s. Put on colorful necklaces.

Become a member of a subculture. There were many subcultures in the 1980s, along with some new ones. If you want to become part of a subculture, search for one that you connect with the most. See which one goes well with your personality. Be a punk kid. Be inspired by the hip-hop subculture. Look preppy. This style originated in Northeastern private colleges.

In Toys, Games, and Shows

Find some 1980s dolls. Many of these aren't sold anymore, so you'll have to check online for them. Kids still played with dolls in the 80s, and there were many emerging brands as well as old ones. For example, Barbie dolls had been around for 20 years in the 1980s. Some doll brands that were popular in the 1980s include: American Girl (first released in 1986) 1980s Barbie dolls (first released in 1959) Cabbage Patch Kids (first released in 1982) Sindy (first released in 1963) Strawberry Shortcake (first shown on greeting cards in 1972)

Find some 1980s toys. There were many iconic toys that symbolized the 80s decade. Many 80s toys were made during previous decades, but gained popularity in the 1980s. Add these to your collection and play with them! Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots (released 1964) Lite Brite (released 1967) Rubik's Cube (released 1974) Star Wars figurines (released 1978) Care Bears teddy bears (1981) Original My Little Pony figures (released 1983) Pound Puppies (released 1984) Transformers action figures (released 1984) Original Calico Critters/Sylvanian Families toys (released 1985) Teddy Ruxpin teddy bears (released 1985)

Play video games from the 1980s. Many video games were released in the 1980s or had editions made during this decade. The main manufacturer of console video games was Japanese company Nintendo. Arcade games were more popular in the 1980s than the 1990s, because home consoles were still in their infancy in the 80s. Pac-Man (released in 1980) Donkey Kong (released in 1981) Frogger (released in 1981) Robotron: 2084 (released in 1982) Mario Bros. (released in 1983) Kung-fu Master (released in 1984) Tetris (released in 1984) Gauntlet (released in 1985) Super Mario Bros. (released in 1985) Super Mario Bros. 2 (released in 1988)

Use video game consoles released in the 1980s. Nintendo, Sega, and Atari were the main competing companies of video game consoles. Chances are, you have seen them online or seen your parents/older relatives play with these. If you have some of these consoles, get them out. If you don't, try searching online for them, although they will probably be more expensive. These consoles aren't produced anymore, so you'll have to check the internet to find good-condition consoles. Play games with these consoles to experience a 1980s gaming experience! Sega's SG-1000 (released in 1982) Nintendo Entertainment System (released in 1983) Sega's Master System (released in 1985) Atari 7800 (released in 1986) Sega Genesis (released in 1988)

Try watching some cartoons that were popular in the 1980s. After school and homework, watch some cartoons that were popular in the 1980s decade to see what things kids watched back then. See if your TV still airs 1980s cartoons. If it only airs more recent cartoons, try YouTube, Netflix, or another streaming service. If you're not interested in watching cartoons anymore, don't worry! Be a 1980s kid in other ways, such as dressing like one or sharing similar experiences. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (January 1980-December 1980) The Smurfs (1981-1989) The Incredible Hulk (1982-1983) He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (1983-1985) Inspector Gadget (1983-1985) Voltron (1984-1985) Thomas & Friends (1984-2021) Scooby's Mystery Funhouse (1985-1986) The Berenstain Bears (1985-1987) Little Women (January 1987-December 1987) DuckTales (1987-1990) Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996) Fireman Sam (1987-present) Garfield and Friends (1988-1994) The New Yogi Bear Show (September 1988-November 1988) Dragon Ball Z (1989-1996)

View some 1980s kids' movies. Animated movies had color, but they were still 2D in the 80s. Disney and Studio Ghibli made lots of popular movies during this time period. You might have even seen some of these movies already. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) The Fox and the Hound (1981) Annie (1982) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Tron (1982) A Christmas Story (1983) The Karate Kid (1984) Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985) The Princess Bride (1987) My Neighbor Totoro (1988) Oliver and Company (1988) Back to the Future Part II (1989) Batman (1989) The Little Mermaid (1989)

In Experiences

Think about old 1980s technology you used to have. If you were a 1980s kid, think about what types of technology existed. The 1980s marked the beginning of home devices and electronics. If you weren't a 1980s kid, research about the types of technology. If you still have some, find them and see if they still work. 1980s CDs Film cameras made by companies such as Leica, Minolta, and Nikon. The Minolta Maxxum 7000 and the Canon T80 models were popular types of cameras that were used. Additionally, disposable cameras that were meant to be used only once were also popular. Sony Walkman Motorola DynaTAC phones Apple Macintosh computers Microsoft Windows 1.0 computers Cassette tapes IBM 5150 computers

Attend a Scholastic book fair. Scholastic book fairs have existed since 1981 , and the experience of going to one has been very similar throughout the years. You bring some change from home and go to the book fair to check out some books and little trinkets you can buy. If you want, you can look through the catalog ahead of time and write down some of the books you want, so you can buy them easier when you visit the book fair.

Use 1980s slang. Each decade has its special phrases and slang, and the 1980s were no different. There were many phrases that people across the internet used. Some of these include: Bodacious - excellent or wonderful Cheeuh - slang word to indicate that something is true Gnarly - cool; badass Grody - gross Phat - exceptional; unique Tubular - perfect Valley girl - a stereotypical female that raises her voice while speaking declarative sentences (raising one's voice is usually done with questions, not all sentences) and uses words like "Whatever!", "Totally!", "Like", etc. Veg/Veg out - relax Where's the beef - used to indicate the quality/purpose of the product; similar to saying "Where's the important part?" (popularized in a 1983 Wendy's ad) Word - yes Yo - casual greeting (like the word "Hey" or "Hi")

Buy a McDonald's Happy Meal. If you are still a child, try asking your parents to buy you a Happy Meal. If you have money or are old enough, go to McDonald's and buy a Happy Meal. These are an essential part of many people's childhood experience, regardless of which decade they were a kid in. Websites like the Happy Meal Toys fandom page show you the Happy Meal toys from the very beginning (1979) to now. Start from the year 1980 and scroll to 1989 to see if you have any of these toys. You can also copy and paste the names into a search engine to find pictures of the toys. These toys will be difficult to find now because they have been discontinued for a while now. Check online for specific toys that you or your relatives have.

Do 1980s trends. Each modern decade has its many trends. The 1980s trends, fads, and experiences were defined by TV shows, pop culture, cartoons, and shared experiences. Movies and music also influenced the casual fashion and trends of the 1980s. Collect Cabbage Patch Kids. These were a craze in the 1980s. Every kid wanted them and tried to collect as many of these dolls as they could! Play with a Hacky Sack. These have existed since ancient times, but were first trademarked in 1972. Hacky Sacks were balls filled with sand or plastic beads. Many 80s kids played with them. Listen to the popular artists of the time. These largely depend on the genre you listen to. Rock bands like AC/DC, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, and Guns N' Roses were largely popular with teenagers and young adults in the 80s. For pop lovers, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Madonna, Michael Jackson, or Prince would be good choices. Some popular bands of the 80s include a-ha, Culture Club, Eurythmics, Hall and Oates, Pet Shop Boys, and Wham. Try to rap. Rap and hip hop were popular genres of music in the 1980s. You could also listen to rap and hip-hop music. The 1980s were the beginning of modern rap music. In previous decades, people enjoyed rock-and-roll, jazz, folk, or country music. Wear a Thriller jacket. This was first worn by Michael Jackson in his music video for his song Thriller (1983). It then caught on with fans and other celebrities. Attempt the moonwalk. Michael Jackson's iconic moonwalk dance in Billie Jean (1983) was copied by fans across the world! This can be difficult to do at first, so make sure to get lots of practice on a smooth floor. Do aerobics. Aerobic exercise strengthens your arm and leg muscles. This became a huge trend in the 80s. It also influenced the fashion of this time period (leg warmers, tights, sneakers, leotards, neon clothing, etc.). Play arcade games.

Think about other 1980s childhood experiences you had. Obviously, everyone has a different childhood experience, but there are some parts of the 80s that many people shared. Reminisce about your awesome childhood in the 1980s if you grew up during that decade. There are many stores from the 1980s that have closed down. Also, modern technology did not encompass people's whole lives back then; life seemed simpler before the 21st century. Watching MTV for the first time. The music channel was introduced in 1981, and it later grew into a widespread thing, with everyone tuning in for new music on it. The first music video played on MTV in the U.S. was "Video Killed the Radio Star", a song released in 1979. Witnessing the live ceremony of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles's (now called King Charles III)'s wedding on TV in 1981. Pressing physical buttons on a phone to dial someone instead of using a touchscreen. Also, using phonebooks to search up phone numbers instead of having the person's phone number in your contacts list. Using the Dewey Decimal System to find books at the library without the help of the internet. Doing fun activities with your friends outside (e.g. racing bikes, catching insects/frogs, playing backyard games, playing in a treehouse, building things) and not having any restrictions on safety. This was very common in the 70s and 80s; parents on these kids had relaxed rules on safety, and they would just ask them to come back before nighttime or mealtime. Developing photos from companies such as Kodak. No snapping pics from your phone- you used a camera to take a picture, and you had to go to a photo development center to wait for the pictures to process.