Every generation has its own set of household staples, but many of the things boomers grew up with have become completely obsolete.
As technology advances and home designs change, everyday objects from the past have been replaced by modern alternatives, or forgotten entirely. Many of the things that once seemed essential in a home would leave today’s kids confused, wondering what they were even used for. From outdated technology to long-gone household traditions, here are some of the things boomers took for granted that kids today would be completely confused by.
1. Rotary phones
Before mobile phones, before even push-button landlines, there were rotary phones—those clunky, dial-operated devices that required you to spin a numbered wheel for each digit of a phone number. They were slow, required precision, and if you misdialled, you had to start all over again.
Today’s kids, who are used to instant communication with a tap on a touchscreen, wouldn’t even know where to begin with a rotary phone. The idea of being physically tethered to a spot while talking—and not being able to walk around the house—would seem completely bizarre to them.
2. Encyclopaedias
Before Google and Wikipedia, boomers relied on encyclopaedias—massive, leather-bound books filled with general knowledge. Many families had a full set, often taking up an entire bookshelf, and they were used for everything from school projects to answering random questions.
Looking something up meant flipping through hundreds of pages instead of typing into a search bar. If a modern kid needed to do research and was handed an encyclopaedia, they’d probably flip through it aimlessly before asking, “Can’t I just Google it?”
3. TV sets without remotes
Today, losing the remote is an annoying inconvenience, but for boomers, remotes weren’t even an option. If you wanted to change the channel, you had to get up, walk over to the television, and manually turn a dial.
Not only that, but there were only a handful of channels to choose from, and if the reception was bad, someone had to fiddle with the antenna to fix it. For kids today, the idea of watching TV without an endless selection of on-demand shows—and having to physically change channels—would be unimaginable.
4. Ashtrays in every room
Smoking indoors was so common in boomer households that ashtrays were a standard household item. Even if not everyone in the family smoked, there was usually an ashtray on the coffee table, in the kitchen, and sometimes even in bedrooms.
Today, with smoking bans, health awareness, and fewer people lighting up indoors, kids would probably struggle to figure out what an old ashtray was used for. It’s now more likely to be seen as a vintage decoration rather than an actual household necessity.
5. Milk deliveries
For many boomers, milk didn’t come from the supermarket—it was delivered straight to the doorstep in glass bottles by the milkman. Families would leave empty bottles outside their doors, and fresh ones would arrive the next morning, sometimes with cream still sitting on top.
Today, the sight of a milkman making early morning rounds is rare. Most kids are used to buying milk in plastic jugs or cartons, and the idea of fresh milk being dropped off daily would seem like an old-fashioned luxury rather than an everyday service.
6. Patterned carpet in every room
Bright, patterned carpets were once a staple of home decor. Whether it was floral, geometric, or swirly designs in shades of orange, brown, or green, carpets weren’t just for comfort—they were a bold statement.
Today, most homes favour minimalist, neutral flooring, with wooden floors and simple rugs replacing the thick, wall-to-wall carpets of the past. If a modern kid walked into a house with a 1970s-style patterned carpet, they’d probably assume it was a museum exhibit rather than a design choice.
7. Record players and vinyl collections
Before CDs, MP3s, and streaming, music was played on vinyl records. Every boomer household had a record player and a collection of albums, which required careful handling to avoid scratches.
Listening to music wasn’t as simple as pressing a button—you had to place the needle in just the right spot, and if you wanted to skip a song, you had to manually lift and move the needle. While vinyl has made a trendy comeback, most kids today would struggle to operate an old-school turntable without help.
8. Phone books
Every home once had a thick, heavy phone book filled with names, addresses, and landline numbers. If you needed to call someone, you had to flip through pages of tiny print to find their listing.
Today, all contact information is stored digitally, and the idea of physically looking up a number seems ridiculous. Kids would probably be confused by the sheer size of a phone book, let alone the effort required to use one.
9. TVs that stopped broadcasting at night
For boomers, TV wasn’t a 24-hour service. At the end of the night, channels would play the national anthem, display a test pattern, or switch to static.
Today’s kids are used to instant, always-available entertainment. The idea of a TV channel just shutting down for the night, instead of providing endless content, would be completely baffling to them.
10. Manual can openers
Before pull-tab lids and electric can openers, every household had a manual can opener that required you to twist a handle to cut through metal. It wasn’t always easy, and sometimes the lid would still be attached in an awkward way, leaving sharp edges.
These days, most cans come with easy-open lids, and many kitchens have electric openers that do the job instantly. If a modern kid was handed an old-fashioned manual can opener, they might turn it over a few times before asking, “What do I do with this?”
