We Asked Parents: “What’s One 90s Summer Memory You’re Recreating With Your Kids Today?”

If you grew up in India in the 90s, you know that summer truly began when school ended for the year. There were no alarms, just sunlit mornings, cousins pouring in, and the comforting whirl of the ceiling fan.

We’d spend hours on the terrace or outdoors, our fingers stained purple from peeling jamuns, laughing over nothing and everything. Family cricket matches, marbles, hopscotch chalked onto the driveway — our calendars were ruled by the sun, not the clock. And somehow, even the boredom felt like a gift.

Now that we’re parents, we often find ourselves asking, can our kids ever experience summers the way we did? With screens everywhere and schedules packed, it feels harder than ever.

Recently, I took my five-year-old daughter to the Goa Science Centre in Miramar — a quiet, breezy spot with hands-on exhibits, a mini planetarium, and an open-air science park. As we wandered around, we stumbled upon a Shaktimaan installation, and it instantly transported me back to the 90s. It was such a fun, unexpected flashback, and it made me so happy to be sharing that feeling with my daughter, who (surprisingly!) loves being out in nature.

In a world where screens usually come first, that moment reminded me how rare and special it is to create those simple, old-school memories with our kids.

So I went looking for more such moments — and found parents who are bringing back the slow joys of 90s summers in their own creative ways.

‘Going to the jungle with all cousins for collecting wild berries and jungle health treasure…’

In Goa, Sheetal Phaldesai is recreating the summer magic she once lived. “We used to go into the jungle with our cousins to collect wild berries and explore what we called ‘jungle health treasure’. We’d pluck mangoes, jackfruits, and chikoo — waiting eagerly for them to ripen so we could devour them,” she shares.

If you’re in Goa, try exploring the lush biodiversity trails near Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary or the Mhadei River, which are perfect for introducing kids to wild berries, native plants, and the thrill of a jungle adventure. If you don’t want to venture too far, step into a ‘forest’ in the heart of Panaji.

Nestled along the Campal promenade, the Bhagwan Mahavir Bal Vihar Park is a hidden green gem in Panaji, where families can experience a slice of forest life in the city. Maintained by the Goa Forest Department, this lush park is more than just a play area — it’s a natural retreat rich in biodiversity, dotted with native trees, flowering plants, and chirping birds.

Whether you’re there for a morning walk, a weekend picnic, or simply to let your child explore the outdoors, this spot is a beautiful way to connect with nature.

Activity tip: Sign up for a forest-foraging walk or guided spice plantation tour in South Goa — many eco-tourism groups offer kid-friendly experiences that blend fun with learning. Nature’s Nest Goa offers a “Forest Trail Experience” that takes you on a guided walk through the Western Ghats’ forests, focusing on the region’s rich flora and fauna.​

• Contact: +91 9923754664​
• Website: Nature’s Nest Goa – Forest Trail Experience

‘Making kulfi together, family yoga time, painting rocks, cycling, swimming…’

For Deepali from Mumbai, summer is about bringing back shared family rituals. “We make kulfi together, do yoga as a family, paint rocks we find on walks, and of course, there’s cycling and swimming,” she says.

Summer in Mumbai doesn’t always have to mean malls and screens — it can be a cool shade under trees, rock painting by the lake, yoga on the grass, or simply a barefoot run across a green patch. Sometimes, nature’s best classroom is just around the corner.

And Mumbai has no shortage of old-school summer joy — whether it’s cycling along Marine Drive early in the morning, joining weekend family yoga sessions at Shivaji Park, or visiting parks like Priyadarshini and Hanging Gardens for a rock-painting picnic.

And if you’re looking to explore beyond South Mumbai, the city offers plenty of green corners where childhood can bloom a little slower.

In the western suburbs, Aarey Colony is a mini jungle of its own — perfect for early morning nature walks, spotting butterflies, or even just lying under a tree with a picnic mat and a storybook. Some families even take little sketchbooks along, letting kids draw what they see: a mongoose darting through the bushes, a curious egret, or the canopy of gulmohar trees in full bloom.

Oshiwara Joggers’ Park in Andheri is another gentle escape with a little lake, ducks waddling around, and space for scooter rides and quiet family conversations. Over in Borivali, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a summer staple, with its canopy trails, toy train rides, and the peaceful Kanheri Caves trek for the more adventurous.

If you’re in the central suburbs, Powai Lake Promenade is a quiet gem during early mornings, where kids can watch waterbirds and families often sit for sunrise breakfasts with idlis and thermos chai. And Bhandup Pumping Station, lesser-known but rich in birdlife, has become a favourite with families who love a bit of nature spotting.

Activity tip: For a nostalgic treat, take your kids to try the malai kulfi at Parsi Dairy Farm, a Mumbai classic located on Princess Street (Call: +91 22 2208 1769).

Want to make your own instead? Turn it into a family activity at home — and then head to Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Byculla, which often hosts weekend art and craft workshops for children and families. You can call +91 22 2373 1234 or check with the museum desk for upcoming sessions.

‘I was just telling Aarvi yesterday about the ‘barf ka gola’ we used to eat…’

Hema from New Delhi finds herself reminiscing about the joy of eating barf ka gola — a colourful, icy treat that defined many of our childhoods. “That was my favourite thing! I was just telling Aarvi about it, and she got excited to try it too,” she says.

And in Delhi, the gola culture still survives — especially around India Gate, Dilli Haat, and Old Delhi. Parents are now introducing their kids to these delights while narrating stories of summer vacations without air conditioning, with water coolers humming in the background, and afternoons spent under ceiling fans with comic books in hand.

Over in Gurgaon, Aravalli Biodiversity Park offers a more rugged slice of nature, where families walk the trails and talk about how the land looked before all the high-rises came up. On the weekends, some even carry sketchpads or nature journals to document what they see — bird calls, native plants, or the changing light across the rocks.

And for those in East Delhi, Yamuna Biodiversity Park is a quiet but magical escape. The pathways here are lined with wild grasses and flowers, and it’s a lovely spot to end a day with homemade lemonade and conversations about childhood summers without screens.

Whether it’s the barf ka gola, the sound of koel calls, or just lying on a mat watching the clouds pass, Delhi’s summer still has room for nostalgia — if you know where to look.

Activity tip: Try barf ka gola at Bengali Market or take a trip down nostalgia lane at Dilli Haat followed by a storytelling session at home.

‘Reliving the 90s with my tiny tots… has been a nostalgic bliss!’

For Soumya from Dehradun, reliving summer with her kids is all about music, games, and laughter.

“Reliving the 90s with my tiny tots, Ruddransh and Kiyansshii, has been a nostalgic bliss! We engage in epic pen fights, reminiscent of school days, laughing and having a blast. Playing the classic ‘Name, Place, Animal, Thing’ game with Ruddransh brings back memories. Sing-alongs to iconic 90s tunes by Lucky Ali, Euphoria, Backstreet Boys, and Boyzone have become our special bonding time. These moments create new memories while revisiting the good old days, filling my heart with joy and gratitude.”

Beyond cafés and music, Dehradun has plenty of serene corners where families can slow down and reconnect. For instance, the Forest Research Institute (FRI) isn’t just a heritage building — it’s a vast green expanse perfect for frisbee, hopscotch, or lying under the trees listening to old tunes together. 

If you’re near Pacific Hills or Mussoorie Road, take a drive to Sahastradhara, where the cool spring water and cave formations still draw families for a quiet dip and afternoon picnics. Pack some samosas, bring a speaker for your favourite retro playlist, and you’ve got a summer memory in the making.

Activity tip: If you’re in Dehradun, make it even more special by heading to a retro-themed café like Orchard Café on Rajpur Road that plays old-school music and offers a relaxed setting for family sing-alongs. 

You can also pick up vintage music CDs or vinyls at The Vintage Record Store (Call: +91 78959 27652) to bring home the magic of 90s tunes. For classic game time, set up a picnic at MDDA Park or Robber’s Cave, and bring along notepads and pens for an unplugged, old-school family game day.

Bringing the 90s back, one memory at a time

Whether it’s tree climbing in Goa, cycling in Mumbai, chasing golas in Delhi, or singing Lucky Ali tunes in Dehradun, parents across India are digging into their childhoods to create new memories with their kids.

In a world of OTT content and endless screen time, maybe the secret to keeping our kids engaged is to simply look back at a time when joy came in gulps of Rasna, stained fingertips from aam papad, and long games of Ludo on the floor.

This summer, why not take your kids back with you?

Edited by Khushi Arora

News