Holiday Gift Ideas for the 90s Child

We’re gearing up for the holiday at Children of the 90s, which means it’s that time of year when we all empty our pockets in the name of the spirit of the season. Something like that. That’s what I’ve pieced together from TV commercials, at least. There seems to be some direct correlation between buying a diamond tennis bracelet and Jesus’s crucifixion, though I’ve yet to determine exactly what that relationship is.

If you’re still agonizing over those last-minute gifts, you’re in luck: Children of the 90s is here to help. We’ve got heaps of nostalgia-tinted gift ideas to delight even the Scroogiest of grown 90s children. These gifts are sure to make the most dead-eyed pencil-pushing 20-something office drones hearken back to their happy childhoods.

Here are a few of this season’s 90s offerings sure to light up their recipients’ faces with a glow that for once does not come from their iPhone:

Beer Pogz

Yes, you heard right. Beer Pogz. Really, how 90s is that z-for-an-s-in-a-plural substitution? It just screams X-treme to the Max! in a uniquely 90s way. Our favorite childhood game is back with a distinctly adult-friendly twist: drinking. What a great way to combine two things that make us irrepressibly joyous: fond childhood memories and booze. And get this: it comes with a Keg Slammer. If you’re not sold on this game yet, I’m not sure how to make it more enticing short of plastering the packaging with adorable newborn puppies and scrumptious chocolate cream pies.

Find Beer Pogz here

Nick Rewind DVDs

What better way to show a 90s child you care than by giving them the gift of retro Nickelodeon? From the network ruled children’s programming in the 90s comes numerous DVD box sets from which to choose the perfect gift. Whether your giftee is more of a Secret World of Alex Mack type or an Adventures of Pete and Pete fanatic, this collection has a decent offering of our old favorites. You can even gift them these shows via iTunes, which features shows like Doug and Clarissa Explains it All.

Find Nick rewind DVDs here

Trivial Pursuit: 90s Edition

Have you ever wanted to appear impressively smart without the undue hassle of book learning and legitimate knowledge acquisition? Well, here’s your chance! Finally, a Trivial Pursuit edition that asks us questions to which we actually have a prayer of knowing the answer. The cards are brimming with pop culture questions that are sure to have you filling your little multicolored pie in less than the standard three hours for the original version.

Find Trivial Pursuit: 90s Edition here

Customizable Nike Air Throwbacks

There were no cooler athletic shoes in the 90s than the original Nike Air sneakers. Through the wondrous world of technology, you can now customize your very own brand new pair of 90s-style Nikes with a rainbow of color and pattern options. This is the stuff childhood dreams are made of. If you’d taken me to my local foot locker as a kid and told me I had free reign in customizing my sneakers, I would probably have passed out from excitement.

Find customizable Nike Airs here

90s Retro Candy Gift Basket
Do you have some abhorrent allegedly well-meaning friend who constantly gifts you with low-carb cookbooks and exercise equipment? Here’s your chance at payback. This is the ultimate 90s kid candy gift basket, containing old standards like Nerds Rope, Fun Dip, and Laffy Taffy. As one disgruntled Amazon customer laments in the reviews, the basket is sorely lacking in the Warheads department, though. The basket is listed under the “gourmet food” category, which I guess implies that Bubble Tape makes the foodie cut while Tearjerkers are for the masses.

Find the 90s Candy Gift Basket here

90s TV Show T-Shirts

Here’s your chance to give an apt gift to a friend who loves to wear his 90s pride on his sleeve. I’ll admit up front they’re a bit of a rip-off at about twenty bucks a pop, but it’s worth it to see a friend’s smile when they unwrap their coveted Legends of the Hidden Temple Silver Monkeys team t-shirt. You just can’t put a price on that sort of joy. Okay, actually, you can, and apparently it’s been appraised at $20. Extra credit goes to any reader who buys that full Where’s Waldo? costume.

Find 90s T-shirts here

Whatever: The 90s Pop Culture Box
If you’ve grown tired of collecting NOW! That’s What I Call Music! CDs, maybe it’s time to graduate to a full box set. Sure, this compilation leaves a bit to be desired, but it’s certainly enough to give you a solid dose of 90s Music. It’s a little tough to squeeze ten years worth of music onto a mere seven compact discs, but they did single out a decent selecton of popular genres.

Find the Whatever music box set here

New Bop-It

It may not be the original, but the new Bop It model isn’t so far off from the repetitive and anxious game we grew up with. To its credit, it comes with a sleek white design and some updated features. The current version offers a “Shout It!” option, which is sure to irritate parents even more than the original. The Shout It! makes it seem a bit angrier than our more benign, subdued version, but it’s probably worth a try. You can always turn that one off, anyway. This thing is undoubtedly just as addictive as the 90s prototype.

Find the new Bop-It here

Even if you’ve finished your holiday shopping, it’s not too late to buy yourself a little 90s something. As you feverishly tear through the gift wrap to reveal that Double Dare t-shirt from “Santa” on Christmas morning, it’ll all be worth it.