Nostalgia is for mature people. The longer you live, the more memories you create and have to cherish, the further you are from those carefree days. “The nostalgia of childhood, of thinking how beautiful everything was when we went to school, and we had no problems or responsibilities, has always existed. But there is a new, specific nostalgia among the new generations,” points out psychologist Enrique García from the Official College of Psychologists of Madrid, in Spain. “It happens to all of us, but it happens more to older people because they have more experiences in the past,” confirms Roger Ballescà, vice-secretary of the Official College of Psychologists of Catalonia. Then why has it become a resistance to accepting loss, and our future?

Every generation thinks their childhood years were something special before the ugly aspects of adulthood hit them like a truck; now it is the Zillennial’s turn to look back. This time, it’s, of course, for different reasons. It’s for escapism, to find emotional comfort, to long for a world before our digital world, to reconnect, and for so many other ideas. 

Bringing Back Our Childhood 

During our childhood and adolescent years, we had a good mix of many aspects. A healthy combination of playing outside and staying indoors, playing video games or watching shows, as well as an abundance of good media (music, cartoons, mainstream anime, good movies, etc.). Game companies were producing innovative and new, creative ideas that peaked in the late 2000s. Hollywood was still creating original movies, franchises, and cultural hits that make our childhood so nostalgic now. 

Third spaces and green spaces were a vital part of our lives. Malls, bowling alleys, arcades, diners, and many other areas were alive and accessible to almost anyone. They were constantly packed and felt vibrant to exist in. You can be in those areas for hours without the strict expectation to spend money. Recently, especially after the pandemic, there is always an expectation that you need to contribute to those spaces to keep them alive, rather than just exist within them. In another way, we were properly able to “touch some grass” without having an obligation to easily be in a public space.

Technology was in an era of rapid innovation, but it was still relatively contained in its usage and impact on society and the planet. The home computer was a staple of many people’s childhood, including mine. That is what the internet was really known for: staying at home or just on a computer. There were no smartphones or intense use of AI. There was just the simple PC that we used to play tycoon games.

A craving for analog, for retro items, for texture, for physical items to feel and hold that doesn’t seem soulless. It was a time before some people were connected to screens and felt the need to use “machines” to progress. It delayed our culture and our childhood, making us need nostalgia to feel the vibrancy we did as kids. 

To bring back childhood, we need to believe that the past is simply fleeting and maybe it is a bit ephemeral. We quickly lived through those times and while the feelings may never feel the same, we can bring back memories and items from our childhood.

Are you bringing back childhood? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!