There’s a stark contrast between growing up in the ’80s and being a kid today.

That contrast boils down to resilience. Being an ’80s kid meant learning to roll with the punches without the safety net kids have today.

Growing up in the ’80s, we developed a thicker skin, thanks to unique experiences and life lessons. And believe me, those of us who lived it know that there are specific reasons for this.

Here are seven reasons why growing up in the ’80s gave us thicker skin than kids today.

1) No internet

There’s something to be said about the pre-internet era.

For us ’80s kids, we didn’t have the luxury of smartphones and Google to solve our problems instantly. We had to rely on our wits and resourcefulness, and yes, often figure things out the hard way.

It wasn’t easy, but it taught us to think on our feet. We learned patience in waiting for answers and resilience in dealing with uncertainty. We knew that not everything was a click away, and we learned to navigate life without a safety net.

This lack of instant information made us tougher, more resilient. It’s one of the reasons why growing up in the ’80s gave us thicker skin than kids today.

2) Absence of helicopter parenting

Speaking from personal experience, us ’80s kids had a lot more freedom.

I remember vividly, the afternoons spent playing outside with neighborhood friends until the streetlights came on. Our parents weren’t hovering over us every second. We rode our bikes, scraped our knees, settled our own disputes, and learned some tough life lessons.

We were encouraged to be independent and solve our own problems. If I fell off my bike, I dusted myself off and got right back on. If I had a disagreement with a friend, we had to work it out ourselves.

These experiences made us resilient and resourceful. We developed a thicker skin because we were allowed to make mistakes and learn from them – a key reason why growing up in the ’80s made us tougher than kids today.

3) Limited screen time

In the ’80s, television was a luxury and not an all-day affair. The concept of binge-watching wasn’t even in existence.

Most families only had one TV, and with no DVR or streaming services, you watched what was on when it was on, or you missed it. This limited screen time meant more time for outdoor play, interpersonal relationships, and imaginative games.

Interestingly, a study from the Child Mind Institute suggests that excessive screen time can lead to lower psychological well-being in children, including less curiosity, lower self-control, more distractibility and difficulty making friends.

Growing up in the ’80s, we naturally had less screen time, which actually contributed to our thicker skin and better resilience.

4) Analog childhood

Growing up in the ’80s meant growing up in an analog world. We didn’t have digital distractions, but we did have tangible, hands-on experiences.

We played with physical toys, read printed books, wrote in notebooks, and listened to music on vinyl records or cassette tapes. These experiences trained us to be present, patient, and appreciative of the simple pleasures in life.

Moreover, our interactions were face-to-face. We couldn’t hide behind a screen or use emojis to express our feelings. We learned to communicate effectively and handle real-world situations, which made us more resilient and gave us a thicker skin than kids today.

5) Tough love

Back in the ’80s, parents were not afraid to say no, and they didn’t swoop in to save us from every little failure or disappointment.

I remember wanting to quit my piano lessons because I found them too challenging. Instead of letting me give up, my parents encouraged me to stick with it, saying that things worth doing often come with a challenge.

This was a lesson not just in perseverance but also in dealing with disappointment and adversity. It taught me that it’s okay not to be perfect or the best at everything. What matters is the effort and learning from the experience.

This ‘tough love’ approach taught us ’80s kids the value of hard work and persistence, contributing to our thicker skin.

6) The value of money

In the ’80s, kids learned early the value of money. We didn’t have online shopping or digital wallets. Money was tangible, and once it was gone, it was gone.

Many of us had our first jobs as teenagers, earning our own pocket money. We learned the value of hard work and the importance of budgeting and saving.

This early understanding of money, its value, and how to manage it, taught us important life skills. It made us more resilient in facing financial challenges and gave us a thicker skin when dealing with life’s ups and downs today.

7) The school of hard knocks

Quite simply, the ’80s were a less cushioned time. The world didn’t revolve around us kids. We were a part of it, learning to adapt to its rules and rhythms.

We learned that life wasn’t always fair, and not everyone was a winner. We faced disappointments, failures, and challenges head-on. We learned to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and move forward.

This early exposure to the realities of life instilled in us a resilience that has carried us into adulthood. It’s the ultimate proof that growing up in the ’80s gave us a thicker skin than kids today.

Final reflection: It’s about resilience

The tapestry of human resilience is woven from a myriad of experiences, challenges, and lessons learned.

For those of us who grew up in the ’80s, this tapestry is particularly rich. Our upbringing, devoid of the conveniences and safety nets of today’s world, equipped us with a thicker skin that serves us well even now.

We learned early that life is not always easy or fair. We discovered the joy of small victories and the lessons hidden in setbacks. We understood the value of hard work, patience, and perseverance.

The ’80s may have been a simpler time, but it was this simplicity that made us tougher. The lack of internet, the limited screen time, the analog childhood – each contributed to our resilience.

As we move forward in an ever-changing world, it’s this resilience that helps us navigate life’s challenges with grit and grace. It’s this resilience that proves growing up in the ’80s gave us a thicker skin than kids today.

So here’s to the ’80s kids – may our stories inspire resilience in generations to come.