Sometimes, it feels like young people today have lost the art of boredom. The Boomer generation is a unique one that remembers the value of amusing ourselves; we frequently kept ourselves busy with these 18 old-time hobbies that only we Boomers will remember.
Hula hooping
Hula hoops may reappear from time to time in gym class, but when does anyone actively use one? Hula hooping was a simple yard activity that Boomers became experts at. Summers were spent growing hula skills and getting slightly dizzy in the process.
Beetle fighting
Technology was not as accessible as it is today, so Boomers found their own forms of entertainment. One of the more bizarre activities we chose was to watch two beetles fight each other. It may be inhumane these days, but any boomer will remember gathering around to witness the battle of the bugs.
Spirographs
Once in a blue moon, Spirographs reappear, but kids these days don’t play with them like boomers did. Boomers spent hours creating colorful and intricate designs with the ultimate drawing tool of the 60s. The National Museum of American History even says it won The Educational Toy of the Year award in 1967!
Troll doll collecting
Gen Z probably has no idea what Trolls are since they seem to have disappeared from the planet. These unique little dudes were extremely popular in the 1960s, and it was super cool to have a collection. Featuring crazy hair and gemstone belly buttons, they were an unusual but surprisingly popular fad.
Lava lamps
An iconic symbol of the Boomer generation, many hours were spent mesmerized by lava lamps. When boredom struck, lava lamps were surprisingly entertaining to watch, and the slow movement was extremely relaxing. Every cool kid’s room had a lava lamp.
Hacking radios
In the days before prank calling and trolling on social media, Boomers were hacking radios and hassling truck drivers. Through playing with frequencies, you could connect with pretty much anyone and had no idea who you would end up talking to. It was a huge buzz that we always got a thrill from.
Pet rocks
Most kids in the 21st century have a pet at some point but in the 60s, it was pretty rare. Instead, days were filled taking care of the most low maintenance pet of all time – the pet rock. Pet rocks were perfectly aligned with the laid-back lifestyle of the 60s.
Sea monkeys
If you were lucky, you may have kept sea monkeys as pets. Sea monkeys were the bridge between the pet rock and an actual pet; it was an adventure to see these little water creatures grow. However, they weren’t really monkeys; Britannica reminds us that they were actually specially engineered brine shrimp.
Painting by numbers
Painting by numbers occasionally has a resurgence but in the 60s, it was big. A therapeutic way to paint without any need for actual creative talent, painting by numbers was the ultimate DIY art project in the 60s. Receiving a kit for Christmas was always welcomed at any age.
Whittling
When all other forms of entertainment were exhausted, whittling was the boredom buster used as the last resort. Hours were spent carving and chopping a piece of wood, sometimes to create something, other times just for the simple satisfaction of it.
Soap carving
Every boomer will remember taking the soap bar from the bathroom and carving it into something unique. It was a genuine hobby that would keep you entertained for hours, and it was also a great way to give a budget-friendly gift that would look great in any guest bathroom.
Stamp collecting
Before the internet, mail was the ultimate correspondence. Without emails and texts, sending letters was how we connected with long-distance friends. This was fun in itself, but we also loved removing the stamps and collecting them. We never expected our collections to become so valuable, as Investopedia claims is the case today.
Model airplanes
One of the most intricate hobbies you could have in the old days was building model airplanes. These tiny airplanes required extreme attention to detail, and it was important to devote time to them to make them look perfect. Extreme pride was taken in the result and missing pieces were the enemy.
Potato printing
For the parents of Boomers, there was a huge importance on keeping children entertained for cheap. Potato printing was one form of creativity that added a bit of diversity to a standard painting session without forking out for different art tools. Kids spent hours designing their artwork with the help of a spud.
Macrame
A hobby that came with the hippy era, macrame was a simple, creative technique for spicing up home decor. Once people got the hang of it, macrame exploded in popularity; you could use it to design wall hangings, rope planters, and other artistic pursuits. Whatever happened to it!?
Listening to Radio Series
Before TV series, we boomers loved listening to radio series. In particular, the radio adaptation of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds was a national event when it first aired. It was the soundtrack to growing up from the 40s to the 80s, with Slate even deeming it a cult-like phenomenon.
Quicksand pits
Kids always have crazy ideas and in the 60s, that was the idea of creating a quicksand pit. Most popular with those who had siblings, transforming the backyard sandpit into a danger zone that will trap an annoying brother or sister was taken seriously. Ah, the good old days before health and safety…
Mood rings
Finally, we boomers were so invested in mood rings at the time. While they had no scientific accuracy, they were taken very seriously and regularly monitored. Teenage girls spent hours deciphering what the color of their mood rings meant and deciphering how they referred to what was going on in their life. We hope they make a comeback!
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