Remember navigating with paper maps and pen pals? Discover nine indispensable ’70s/’80s life skills—now nearly lost—that forged our generation.

Growing up in the 70s and 80s was a different ball game altogether. Life skills weren’t just buzzwords, they were survival tools we used daily.

Let me tell you, those days endowed us with certain abilities that today’s kids seem to lack entirely.

In this piece, I’m going to take you on a nostalgic trip down memory lane, highlighting 9 life skills we mastered growing up in that era. Skills which, I believe, are now a rarity among the new generation.

So tighten your seat belts folks, because we’re about to compare our old-school wisdom with the modern-day child’s reality.

1) Map Reading

Let’s go back to a time when GPS wasn’t a thing. Remember the days of road trips with physical maps, navigating through unknown territories?

The 70s and 80s were a time when reading a map was as crucial as driving the car itself. We learned to interpret topography, grid references, and symbols. We learned to plot routes and estimate travel times.

We didn’t have a robotic voice telling us to ‘turn right in 200 meters’. We had to rely on our map-reading skills and our sense of direction.

Fast forward to today, and kids barely know what a physical map looks like, let alone how to use one. It’s a skill that’s been replaced by technology, but its utility in developing spatial thinking and problem-solving is undeniable.

So, point one goes to the good old days of map reading – a skill that has unfortunately fallen by the wayside in today’s digitally dominated world.

2) Handwritten Letters

Let me tell you a story. When I was growing up in the 80s, I had a pen pal named Jenny from Australia. We would write letters to each other every month, sharing stories about our lives, our dreams, and our cultures.

The excitement of receiving a letter in the mail was unparalleled. It was a tangible connection to another person in another part of the world.

Writing those letters taught me patience, made me articulate my thoughts more clearly and improved my handwriting – skills that have proven to be invaluable in my life.

Fast-forward to the present day, and kids today can barely write a complete sentence without using acronyms or emojis. The art of letter writing is dying out, replaced by instant messaging and social media updates.

Handwritten letters – another life skill from the 70s and 80s that’s sadly missing in today’s fast-paced digital world.

3) Repairing Things

In the 70s and 80s, we didn’t just throw things away when they broke. We fixed them. From repairing a bicycle tire to fixing a leaky faucet, we learned how to troubleshoot and problem-solve.

These repair skills were not just about saving money. They were about understanding how things work, being resourceful, and taking responsibility for our belongings.

Here’s something to ponder over – in 1980, the average lifespan of a television was approximately 10 to 15 years. Today, it’s reduced to just 7 years. It’s not that the televisions are less durable. It’s because we’ve become a throwaway society that prefers to replace rather than repair.

A shift from repairing to replacing – another life skill from the past that’s becoming increasingly rare in today’s consumerist world.

4) Outdoor Play

Playing outside till the streetlights came on was a norm for us growing up in the 70s and 80s. We would play games that didn’t require any equipment, just our creativity and energy.

From tag to hide-and-seek, these games taught us teamwork, strategy, and negotiation skills. It also helped us stay physically active, unlike today’s kids who are often glued to screens.

Today’s children may have an array of digital games at their fingertips, but they’re missing out on the real-life lessons that come from good old-fashioned outdoor play. This is a life skill from our childhood that seems to be fading in today’s tech-dominated world.

5) Cooking from Scratch

Growing up in the 70s and 80s, most of our meals were home-cooked. We didn’t have the luxury of food delivery apps or microwave meals. We learned how to cook from scratch – how to knead dough, how to chop vegetables, and how to season food just right.

Cooking not only taught us self-reliance but also nurtured creativity. We learned to experiment with flavors and ingredients, creating delicious meals that left a lasting impression.

Today, many kids don’t know the basics of cooking, let alone making a meal from scratch. It’s a crucial life skill that seems to be diminishing in today’s fast-paced world.

6) Cherishing Simplicity

Growing up in the 70s and 80s, we learned to cherish the simple things in life. We didn’t have endless channels on TV or an infinite variety of toys. We didn’t need the latest gadgets to keep us entertained.

Instead, we found joy in the pages of a good book, the melody of a new record, or the thrill of playing catch in the backyard. We made our own fun and cherished these simple pleasures.

Today, kids are often overwhelmed with choices and are constantly seeking the next best thing. This ability to appreciate simplicity – an essential life skill – seems to be increasingly rare in today’s generation.

7) Handling Boredom

Growing up in the 80s, I remember long summer afternoons with nothing to do. No internet, no smartphones, no Netflix. Boredom was a common companion. But here’s the thing – it taught us to be creative, to find ways to entertain ourselves.

I remember picking up a sketch pad and discovering a love for drawing. Or grabbing a book and getting lost in a world of imagination. Or simply lying on the grass, watching clouds go by and daydreaming.

Today’s kids are surrounded by instant entertainment, which leaves little room for boredom. But they’re missing out on the opportunity to develop creativity and self-sufficiency that comes from learning how to handle boredom effectively.

8) Respecting Privacy

In the 70s and 80s, privacy was a respected value. We didn’t broadcast our lives on social media or share every detail of our day. We knew how to keep some things to ourselves and respect the privacy of others.

This skill has become crucial in today’s world, where oversharing can lead to serious consequences. Today’s children are growing up in a world where everything is shared online, often without a second thought about privacy.

Respecting privacy, a valuable life skill from our past, seems to be increasingly overlooked in today’s digital age.

9) Developing Patience

In the 70s and 80s, we learned the art of patience. We waited for our favorite song to play on the radio, we waited for letters to arrive, and we waited our turn to use the family phone. Patience was not just a virtue, it was a necessity.

Today, with everything available at the click of a button, this valuable life skill seems to be fading rapidly. The ability to wait, to be patient, is something that was ingrained in us growing up, and it’s something today’s instant-gratification generation could benefit from learning.