Summer Vacations: Then & Now – A Nostalgic Journey for Today’s Kids
Back then, summer wasn’t about schedules, classes, or screen time limits. It was about losing track of time.
The Summer of the 90s – Simple, Raw, and Beautiful
For most kids in the 90s, summer vacation meant one thing first: going to native places. Whether it was a village in Konkan, a town in Satara, or grandparents’ home somewhere quieter than Mumbai, it felt like entering another world.
Mornings began early—not because of alarms, but because of sunlight streaming through windows and the sound of birds. There were no mobile phones, no Netflix, no constant notifications. Instead, there was freedom to explore.
Kids spent hours playing:
- Gully cricket with makeshift wickets
- Lagori, kho-kho, hide and seek
- Cycling endlessly without any destination
Afternoons were slower, but never boring. A ceiling fan, a mat on the floor, and a group of cousins playing carrom, cards, or board games like Ludo and Snake & Ladder. Sometimes, storytelling sessions with grandparents would transport children into mythological worlds or family histories.
And then came the small joys:
- Eating raw mangoes with salt and chilli
- Waiting for ice cream vendors or gola-walas
- Climbing trees (sometimes getting scolded for it!)
- Writing letters to friends instead of texting
There was boredom too—but that boredom often turned into creativity. Kids invented games, built things, imagined stories. Summer was not consumed; it was created.
Summer Today – Structured, Digital, and Fast
Fast forward to today, and summer vacations look very different. Children are more connected—but often less engaged with the physical world.
Vacations now often include:
- Summer camps (dance, coding, robotics)
- Screen time (mobile games, YouTube, OTT platforms)
- Indoor activities due to heat or safety concerns
While these options are not bad—in fact, they offer exposure and skill-building—they sometimes miss the unstructured magic of earlier times.
Today’s children are growing up faster, but sometimes missing out on slowing down.
Bridging the Gap – What Kids Can Do Today
The idea is not to go back in time, but to blend the best of both worlds.
Here are some meaningful ways kids can enjoy summer vacations today—with a touch of nostalgia:
1. Create “No-Screen” Time Blocks
Set aside a few hours daily where kids stay away from screens. Encourage them to play traditional games or even invent their own.
2. Reintroduce Outdoor Play
Even in a city like Mumbai, kids can:
- Play in society compounds
- Visit parks in the evening
- Try cycling or simple sports
These activities build not just fitness, but friendships and confidence.
3. Experience Simple Pleasures
Let kids enjoy:
- Seasonal fruits like mangoes, watermelon, kokum drinks
- Making homemade ice creams or aam panna
- Visiting local markets with parents
These small experiences stay as lifelong memories.
4. Connect with Elders
Encourage children to spend time with grandparents or older family members. Listening to their stories can be more enriching than any digital content.
5. Encourage Creativity
Instead of structured classes all the time, allow free creativity:
- Drawing, storytelling, journaling
- DIY crafts or simple home experiments
- Building something with their hands
6. Plan Short Trips
Even a 1–2 day trip to nearby places like Lonavala, Alibaug, or a village can give kids a break from routine and exposure to nature.
The Real Essence of Summer
Whether it was the 90s or today, the true essence of summer vacations lies in freedom, joy, and connection.
The 90s gave us:
- Simplicity
- Imagination
- Strong human connections
Today offers:
- Opportunities
- Learning exposure
- Global awareness
The goal is not to compare, but to combine.
Let children:
- Get bored sometimes
- Play in the mud once in a while
- Laugh without filters
- And create memories that don’t need to be posted online
Because years later, what they will remember won’t be the levels they cleared in a game—but the afternoons spent laughing with cousins, the taste of mangoes in summer heat, and the feeling of a vacation that truly felt like a break.
Final Thought
Summer vacations are not just holidays—they are childhood in its purest form.
And maybe, just maybe, if we bring a little bit of the 90s back into today, we can give children something priceless:
a summer they will remember for life.
– Rashmi Mavlankar
