There’s a unique charm to growing up in the ’70s.

It was a time when kids weren’t glued to screens, and they picked up skills that made them into resourceful adults.

The difference here lies in the context: Growing up in the ’70s meant learning to do things for yourself, because there wasn’t an app or a device to do it for you.

These skills, now considered lost, were badges of honor.

They taught us to be independent, creative, and solution-driven.

In this article, I will take you down memory lane, highlighting seven lost skills every ’70s kid learned that have contributed to shaping resilient adults.

We might not have had the world at our fingertips, but we sure knew how to adapt and thrive.

And who knows? You might even be inspired to dust off some of these skills to use in your everyday life:

1) Do-it-yourself mentality

There’s something to be said about the ’70s, a time when Google didn’t exist and solutions to problems weren’t a click away.

’70s kids were masters of the do-it-yourself (DIY) mentality.

When a toy broke, they didn’t just toss it and get a new one—they became little engineers, figuring out how to fix it themselves.

This DIY spirit extended to all areas of their lives, from crafting their own board games to preparing simple meals when parents were busy.

It was all about resourcefulness and creativity.

This ability to ‘make do’ cultivated a problem-solving approach, encouraging them to think on their feet and adapt quickly.

In today’s world, where convenience is king, the DIY mentality of the ’70s may seem like a lost art.

But its essence—resilience, creativity, and problem-solving—is timeless.

Sure, we now have YouTube tutorials for every possible task, but the ability to figure things out independently is still as crucial as ever.

Retaining this ’70s skill could be an interesting way to foster resilience and creativity in a world that often spoon-feeds solutions.

2) Navigating without technology

One of my most vivid memories growing up in the ’70s was a family road trip.

No GPS, no smartphones, just a dog-eared map and my dad’s sense of direction.

I remember my parents meticulously planning the route, marking the map with a highlighter.

We’d set off early in the morning, my siblings and I squashed in the back seat, eagerly looking out for the landmarks my parents had noted down.

If we got lost, it was about asking locals for directions, deciphering their instructions, and finding our way back on track.

There was something incredibly thrilling about it—it felt like a real-life adventure game.

Today’s generation might find it hard to imagine a world without Google Maps or GPS.

But there’s something valuable about learning to navigate without technology.

It sharpens your observation skills, develops your sense of direction, and above all, teaches you to stay calm and think clearly when things don’t go as planned.

3) Basic repair skills

The ’70s were an era of vinyl records, rotary phones, and analog television sets—and when these devices broke down, there were often no specialists to run to for a quick fix.

Children growing up during this time learned how to handle basic maintenance and repair tasks out of necessity.

They knew how to replace fuses, fix a broken bicycle chain, or even troubleshoot a television set with rabbit ears.

While we live in an age where many items are cheaper to replace than repair, basic repair skills still have their place.

They foster self-sufficiency, teach resourcefulness, and give a sense of accomplishment.

Plus, they can save you money and reduce unnecessary waste.

4) Money management

In the ’70s, there was no online banking or digital wallets.

Kids learned about money the old-fashioned way—cash, coins, and piggy banks.

Allowances were given in hard cash, and kids had to learn to budget their spending.

If they wanted that new comic book or toy, they had to save up for it.

This instilled a sense of financial responsibility from an early age.

Credit cards were not as widespread, and the concept of ‘buy now, pay later’ wasn’t prevalent.

This meant living within your means and understanding the value of money.

In today’s digital age, where transactions are often just a click away, teaching kids about money management has become even more important.

5) Cooking from scratch

One of my earliest memories is standing on a chair in our family kitchen, helping my mother knead dough for homemade bread.

The scent of yeast, the sticky dough under my tiny fingers, and the magic of watching it rise are still vivid in my mind.

The ’70s was an era before convenience food took over.

Fast food was a treat, not an everyday affair.

Families cooked most meals at home, and kids were often roped in to wash, peel, stir, and taste.

Learning to cook from scratch not only taught us about different ingredients and flavors but also about planning and patience.

Waiting for bread to rise or soup to simmer was a lesson in delayed gratification.

Nowadays, with the availability of takeout and pre-packaged meals, it’s easy to rely on convenience—but there’s something incredibly rewarding about creating a meal from scratch.

It’s a skill that serves you well into adulthood, promoting healthier eating habits and cultivating patience and creativity.

6) Communication without tech

The ’70s was a time before texting, email, and social media.

Communication was more personal: You either picked up the phone for a chat, wrote a letter, or simply dropped by a friend’s house.

Face-to-face communication taught ’70s kids valuable interpersonal skills, like active listening, empathy, and the ability to read body language.

It also nurtured patience as they waited for responses to their letters or found the right moment to make a phone call.

In our current tech-driven world, where communication is often instant and impersonal, these skills can sometimes get side-lined.

However, they remain vital in personal and professional relationships.

Learning to communicate effectively without relying on technology can foster better understanding and rapport.

7) Appreciating simplicity

Growing up in the ’70s was all about making the most out of the little things.

Life was simpler, less cluttered with material possessions and digital distractions.

Imagination was the best toy, a cardboard box could be a spaceship, and a backyard the wildest jungle.

This simplicity nurtured creativity, contentment, and the ability to find joy in the everyday.

In an age where we are constantly bombarded with information and materialistic desires, taking a step back to appreciate simplicity can be both refreshing and grounding.

It’s about realizing that happiness doesn’t always come from having more, but often from appreciating what we already have.

Embracing the ’70s spirit

The charm of the ’70s lies not just in its vivid memories of bell-bottoms and disco music, but in the enduring lessons learned; the skills acquired during this era fostered resilience, creativity, and resourcefulness that continue to be relevant today.

Reflecting on these lost skills isn’t merely an exercise in nostalgia, it’s an opportunity to recognize the value in simplicity and self-reliance.

It’s a reminder that while technology has made our lives easier, there’s merit in knowing how to navigate life without it.

In a world increasingly dominated by screens and digital solutions, there’s something profoundly grounding about baking bread from scratch, fixing a broken toy, or navigating without a GPS.

Whether it’s fostering financial responsibility in children, encouraging DIY projects, or simply appreciating the joy of simple pleasures, we can all learn something from the ’70s spirit of resilience and resourcefulness.