Plan A 90s Slumber Party And We'll Pick The Perfect Romantic Comedy To Watch
- by Dylan Dembrow
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Anyone who grew up during the '90s is likely learning just how repetitive and never-ending adult life can be. This no doubt has them nostalgic for a childhood of simpler times. Like when one had to walk to the local video store to rent a movie. Or when the Internet had to be logged on to. Or when the best nights were spent with just a couple best friends who ended up spending the night
Sounds pretty amazing, right? And we're sure we're not the only ones who wish we could go back and do it all over again. So let's take a break from all the adulting and take a trip down memory lane.
While the '90s may not be as prominent in popular culture as the '80s, the decade is bound to enjoy its time in the sun very soon. Not only was the decade filled with iconic kids shows and a slew of exciting new toys and snacks, it was also the last decade where technology didn't dominate children's lives.
Sure, '90s kids still had video games. But the massive availability of computers and cell phones was still a thing of the future, meaning that a sleepover with friends didn't just involve everyone staring at their phone all night long.
So let's plan a '90s sleepover and see which romantic comedy would be the best to pop in before bedtime!
What time does the sleepover start?
For some people, sleepovers were pretty much an all day event — which started up immediately after school activities and lead straight into the weekend. But for others, meeting up when it was already dark and popping in a movie was more than enough time to hang out. So when is the ideal time for you?
How many friends are coming over?
Unless someone was the most popular kid in school, chances are that their sleepover only involved a handful of friends coming over. After all, the more isn’t always the merrier, especially when you’re packed into a house with the rest of your family as well. Plus, all it takes is two close friends for a good conversation.
Pick a snack.
One of the best parts about being a kid is you can eat pretty much whatever you want with little to no side effects. And the ‘90s brought a number of classic snacks like Dunkaroos, Lunchables, and Fruit by the Foot. Of course, there are always those classic snacks like popcorn balls that mothers continue to make for their children.
What's the best hangout spot?
Did you have one of those houses with a basement that was perfect to hang out with your friends? Or maybe you just had to stick to the more conventional sleepover in the living room or a bedroom. Whereas sleeping outside might sound like a fun idea until you’re stuck dealing with bad weather and bugs.
Pick a board game to play.
The prospect of playing some of these simpler games today may seem a little boring. But take a moment to remember what it was like being a kid — when you could play almost anything for hours on end. No matter how basic or repetitive the game might have been, there was always new ways to make it fun.
What kind of toys are around?
If you grew up in the ‘90s, there’s little to no chance that you didn’t own at least one of these toys. In fact, we wouldn’t be surprised if you owned all of them at some point or another. But which ones would be better to have on hand in the instance of a sleepover with friends?
Rather listen to Backstreet Boys or N’SYNC?
Every good party needs a soundtrack, and there were few bands more popular amongst tweens during the ‘90s than Backstreet Boys and N’SYNC. While many who listened to these boy bands may have been embarrassed about their childhood taste of music, these groups have since enjoyed a newfound love as nostalgia has taken ahold of ‘90s kids.
Pick a cartoon to watch.
The ‘90s had no shortage of excellent cartoons to enjoy. While this might be better viewing for the morning after, there’s certainly nothing wrong with having one of these shows playing in the background while you do other stuff with your friends. So which one of these classics would you opt for?
Tiger Beat or Bop?
While these two magazines were ostensibly the same, there was probably one you gravitated toward more while growing up — if they were even your thing at all for that matter. But sometimes the best sleepovers involve something as simple as flipping through magazines with your friends while playing a movie in the background.
Pick a video game console to play.
Even if video games weren’t your ideal form of entertainment, there’s a good chance you favored one of these consoles more than the other. And what that usually means when you’re a kid is that your favorite ended up being whichever one your parents agreed to get you for your birthday or the holidays.
Build a fort or put up a tent?
One of the best things about a sleepover for many is that their parents would actually give them permission to destroy the living room under the pretense of building a fort. This means rearranging the furniture and using ever couch cushion at your disposal to build an epic sleeping chamber.
Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera?
Both Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera were two of the biggest female stars of the 1990s, who have continued to have successful careers even until this day. There’s no denying that either singer/ songwriter has talents, so which one would you want to put on during your sleepover is simply a personal preference.
Makeovers or fashion show?
Of course, these two activities go hand-in-hand nicely, but which one would you rather do out of the two? Since it's your sleepover, there might not be much fun in trying on your own clothes. But think about it from your friends' point of view, as they have your entire wardrobe now at their disposal.
Pick an outdoor game.
Before you settle down into a pile of blankets, pillows, and couch cushions for the night and pop in a movie, it might not be a bad idea to get outside into the fresh air and play a game. These types of games certainly aren’t specific to the ‘90s, but they’re sadly not being playing be kids as much these days.
Pick a show to watch.
While Friends might be one of your all-time favorite shows now, depending upon how old you were in the ‘90s, it might not have been the most appropriate series for a sleepover. In which case, certainly tween classics like Boy Meets World and Clarissa Explains It All might be more the group’s cup of tea.
Rather play with a Lite-Brite or Pogs?
These toys may seem a bit pointless now, but to a kid growing up in the ‘90s, these were some of the most coveted possessions a child could have! While playing with a Lite-Brite was pretty self-explanatory, few people actually ever played a real game of Pogs, and they were more than happy just to collect as many as possible.
What happens if a friend suggests something that wasn’t planned?
Of course, hanging out with your friends doesn’t always go according to plan. And even if you plan out a perfect sleepover, there’s a good chance that a friend might suggest something that you didn’t have in mind. So are you someone that always needs to stick to an itinerary, or are you happy to accommodate the group’s wishes?
Rather play Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh?
It’s easy to forget now how much Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh dominated the childhoods of many ‘90s kids. Maybe you were one of them. Much like Pogs, these anime-inspired cards games were less about playing the actual game to many. Instead, it was about how many rare cards they could collect and show off to friends.
Best way to eat pizza?
If your a kid having a sleepover, there’s about a 99% chance that you're going to consume pizza. But when you’re a kid, there’s far more than just one way to eat a pizza. So would you prefer to order out for your friends? Or are you happy with just popping something frozen in the oven?
Rather play with Floam or Gak?
Of course, Play-Doh was for kids. And by the time you were old enough to have a sleepover, it was all about playing with Floam or Gak. So which one of these icky, sticky substances did you keep around the most when you were a kid? Or which one would you rather have around for friends to play with?
Disney Channel or Nickelodeon?
Chances are that both of these stations were a part of your daily TV watching routine when you were a kid. But there were definitely kids that gravitated more toward Disney, and kids that gravitated more toward Nickelodeon. So would you rather be watching something like Boy Meets World or All That?
Rather play Bop It or Skip It?
Bop It was by far one of the most popular devices of the 1990s, and the handheld game has remained fairly prevalent even today. Whereas something like Skip It — a device that required far more skill and physical activity — definitely reached its peak popularity throughout the ‘90s. So which one would you rather play with?
Rather tell funny or scary stories before bed?
Who knows why it’s a tradition to tell scary stories before bedtime whenever you’re with friends. Maybe it just makes people more willing to get cozy and feel safe in their beds. However, telling funny stories can be equally as dangerous, as it can result in everyone bursting into laughter while trying to fall asleep.
Pick something to snack on during the movie.
We’re certainly running the gauntlet on snacks, but that’s exactly what being a kid and having a sleepover was all about. While both Bugles and Doritos were massively popular throughout the ‘90s, they had actually been invented decades before. Meanwhile, Teddy Grahams actually made their debut in 1988. But which is the best to munch on before lights out?
Rather play Truth Or Dare or Never Have I Ever?
After all the board games and toys are put away, it’s a good time to play a verbal game like Truth or Dare or Never Have I Ever. While these games can be pretty awkward amongst others at middle and high school parties, they’re usually a good deal of fun when you’re comfortable and amongst friends.
Where does everyone sleep?
So it’s time to finally get ready for the sleeping part of the sleepover. Is there enough space for everyone to crash comfortably? Will you be crashing in the living room where there is ample couch space, or would you rather just throw every cushion and blanket on the floor and bundle up alongside each other?
Pick a time to go to sleep.
If there’s one thing that kids hate it’s their bedtime. This is yet another one of the beauties of having a sleepover, as your parents would likely let you stay up until the wee hours of the night. There was no way they were getting all your friends to stay quiet and turn out all the lights anyway.
But what time does everyone actually fall asleep?
Let’s be honest — even if everyone gets into their sleeping bags by 11 PM, there’s no way that a group of kids is going to sleep right away. Chances are you’ll still be up for another hour or two cracking jokes and telling stories in the dark. Sometimes, this is the best and most memorable part of any great sleepover.
Pick a breakfast for the morning after?
You may have snacked all night, but you’re a kid and when you wake up there’s a good chance you’ll immediately want something sugary. The ‘90s had no shortage of sweet cereals — many of which they don’t make anymore unfortunately. But maybe you’re more than happy with a stack of fluffy pancakes or waffles.
What time does everyone head home?
You may love being a great host, but at a certain point, you’re going to want your friends to head home. But the thing about being a kid is that you may have little control over what time you’re friend’s parents pick them up. But if you could pick an ideal time, when would the sleepover officially end?
