Back to School in 1986 vs. Today: When School Supplies Were Half the Fun

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Back-to-school season still happens every August. The stores still put up their displays. Parents still spend more money than they planned to, and kids still have very definite opinions about what they will and will not wear on the first day of school. But back to school today looks very different from the way I remember it as a 10-year-old in 1986. Today, a big chunk of the back-to-school budget can disappear into sneakers, clothes, backpacks and whatever else kids suddenly insist everyone at school is wearing. And once they actually get to school, much of their work may be done on a Chromebook, iPad or another device provided or required by the school. There are still pencils, notebooks and folders on school supply lists, of course. But they don't seem to have quite the starring role they once did. Because in 1986? The school supplies were part of the excitement. Picking out a pencil case wasn't just picking out something to hold pencils. It was deciding whether you were a Sm...
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Birthday Parties Then vs. Birthday Parties Now

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From Sheet Cakes and Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey to Balloon Arches and Dessert Walls


I was born in the 1970s and grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, which means I had a front-row seat to what many of us consider the golden age of childhood birthday parties.

I'm talking about the era of Saturday morning cartoons, cassette tapes, roller skating rinks, MTV, arcades, and mall food courts. The era when kids rushed home to watch Jem, The Smurfs, Rainbow Brite, He-Man, Care Bears, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. When birthday invitations were handed out at school, parents took photos with disposable cameras, and nobody worried about creating content for social media.

Birthday parties back then weren't elaborate productions. They were usually held at home, in the backyard, at the roller rink, or maybe at the local pizza place if you were really lucky. Decorations consisted of streamers, balloons, a birthday banner, and whatever themed paper plates your mom found at the party store.

And honestly? We thought they were amazing.

I still remember birthday parties where the biggest decision was whether the cake would be chocolate or vanilla. There wasn't a custom backdrop, a themed dessert table, or a social media hashtag. Just friends, family, and way too much sugar.

Fast forward to today, and children's birthday parties have become events. Balloon arches tower over dessert tables. Themes are carefully coordinated. Personalized decorations, favors, signage, and custom invitations are often part of the celebration.

Don't get me wrong—I absolutely love the creativity and attention to detail that goes into modern parties. But every once in a while, I find myself looking back at those simpler celebrations and smiling.

So, let's take a little trip down memory lane and compare birthday parties then and now.

Birthday Parties Back Then



Growing up, birthday parties were usually simple.

The guest list was your classmates, cousins, and maybe a few neighborhood kids. Invitations were often handwritten or picked up from the local party store. If you forgot to RSVP, someone called your house phone.

The decorations?

A few balloons. Some crepe paper streamers. Maybe a banner if your parents were feeling ambitious.

The menu was pretty predictable:

  • Pizza
  • Chips
  • Soda
  • Cake
  • Ice cream

And honestly? Nobody complained.

The entertainment didn't require a Pinterest board or a professional event planner. We had classics like:

  • Pin the Tail on the Donkey
  • Musical Chairs
  • Treasure Hunts
  • Limbo
  • Water Balloon Tosses

The biggest excitement of the day was finding out what kind of cake your mom ordered or dare I say? She may have even baked a cake herself! 

Back then, parents weren't spending weeks creating balloon arches. They were trying to keep ten kids from destroying the house while simultaneously making sure nobody lost a shoe in the backyard.

Somehow, everyone survived.

Birthday Parties Today

Fast forward to today, and birthday parties have become an experience.

Many parties now have:

  • Custom invitations
  • Coordinated decorations
  • Balloon garlands
  • Personalized favors
  • Dessert tables
  • Themed backdrops
  • Matching party signage

And let's be honest—some of them look absolutely incredible.

Social media has definitely changed expectations. We're constantly seeing beautifully styled celebrations that look like they belong in a magazine.

The good news? There are more theme options than ever before. Whether your child loves sharks, flamingos, dinosaurs, princesses, woodland animals, sports, or video games, it's easier than ever to create a party that feels unique and personal.


What Hasn't Changed

Here's the funny thing.

Ask most adults what they remember about their childhood birthday parties and they probably won't mention the decorations.

They remember:

  • Their friends showing up
  • Blowing out the candles
  • Opening presents
  • Playing games
  • Feeling special for a day

The same is true for kids today.

Sure, the balloon arch is beautiful. The dessert table is adorable. The themed invitations set the tone.

But what kids remember most is having fun.

Maybe the Best Parties Borrow From Both Eras

My favorite parties combine a little bit of both worlds.

I love the creativity and personalization we see today. A fun theme can make a celebration feel extra special.

But I also think there's something to be said for keeping things simple.

You don't need a party planner.
You don't need a five-tier cake.
You don't need to spend a fortune.

Pick a theme you love. Add a few thoughtful details. Invite the people who matter most.

The rest tends to take care of itself.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're planning a simple backyard party or a celebration worthy of its own Pinterest board, the goal is still the same as it was thirty years ago:

Make someone feel special.

The balloons, invitations, decorations, and cake are just the extras.

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