Growing up in the early 2000s, there are so many items that spark a sense of nostalgia. Even though these objects bring back strong feelings from my childhood, the majority of the time, they never cross my mind. Every once in a while, when these artifacts magically creep back into my memory, I am reminded of the good old days. How many of my most prominent, nostalgia-inducing items can you relate to?
- ZhuZhu Pets
ZhuZhu pets were an integral part of my childhood, but I feel like they are not often remembered. When most people think of childhood animal toys, they think of Hexbugs or Littlest Pet Shop rather than (my personal favorite) ZhuZhu pets. For those of you who don’t remember, these were the robotic hamsters that could roam around on their own. I will never forget panicking after getting my hair stuck in their wheels, which happened frequently.
- Snackeez
Snackeez was a popular product of the 2000s. Advertised in TV commercials, They were the special cups that had a little compartment on top that one could fill with a desired snack. They were so intriguing to me at a young age, that I successfully convinced my parents to buy them. To this day, they remain somewhere in the back of our kitchen cabinet.
- Sillybandz
Sillybandz took the world by storm after inventing rubber bands shaped like characters that children could wear and trade. Some shapes included dinosaurs, stars, frogs, instruments, sports gear, or much more. I had to have at least 150 Sillybandz at one point in my life. Everyone would come to school with their wrists stacked with their best bands on display, ready to brag and trade. I predict that Sillybandz will be the most relatable item on this list!
- Squinkies
Squinkies were very important in my childhood. These were miniature, squishy figurines that could be collected. They are actually quite similar to today’s Shopkins. I remember having a drawer in my room specifically dedicated to my Squinkies collection. I just recently saw them in stores again, so maybe they are making a comeback?
- Busytown Mysteries
Now, this TV show will most likely be the least recognizable item on this list. I myself am impressed that I could find the name of the show! I vividly remember going downstairs as an elementary schooler on Sunday mornings to watch this show with my dad. Before writing this article, I had no clue what the name of the show was, let alone any character names or key plot elements. The only things that stuck out to me were the apple car and the who, what, when, where, why, how song that they would occasionally play while investigating. Nonetheless, it played an important role in my childhood!
These may be just a few of the objects that remind me of my childhood, but they bring back very strong memories. I believe that everyone has something that creates strong feelings of nostalgia upon remembrance. Maybe some of the products that I listed here were also an important part of your childhood!