Kids today don’t know how good they have it when it comes to household chores. Before technology made life easier, many tasks were tedious, time-consuming, and sometimes downright exhausting. Whether it was rewinding VHS tapes, manually washing clothes, or adjusting rabbit-ear antennas for a clear TV signal, children were often expected to pitch in—whether they liked it or not. While some of these chores might spark nostalgia for older generations, others serve as a reminder of just how much daily life has changed. Here’s a look back at the chores every kid once had to do before tech took over.
Rewinding VHS Tapes
Before streaming services and DVDs, kids had to manually rewind VHS tapes before returning them to the video rental store. Failure to rewind often resulted in an extra fee! Many households even had a separate VHS rewinder to speed up the process. If you wanted to watch your favorite scene again, you had to hold down the rewind button and wait. Unlike digital content, skipping ahead wasn’t instant—fast-forwarding took time and precision. If the tape got tangled inside the VCR, it required careful unwinding and sometimes a pencil to fix. Kids often had to be careful not to wear out their favorite tapes. Nowadays, with everything available on-demand, rewinding anything is a thing of the past.
Tuning a TV with Rabbit Ears
Before cable and digital streaming, kids had to adjust the metal “rabbit ears” on top of the TV to get a clear picture. Sometimes, wrapping aluminum foil around the antenna helped improve reception. If the picture was fuzzy, kids had to move the antennas while someone else yelled when it looked better. Storms often knocked out reception, requiring more adjustments. Some kids even had to stand in specific spots to maintain a good signal. If the antenna broke, replacing it wasn’t always easy. Now, with high-definition digital TV and streaming, nobody worries about antenna positioning anymore.
Sorting and Rolling Coins
Before Coinstar machines and digital payments, kids had to sort and roll loose change for deposits. This involved separating pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters into paper rolls. Banks required coins to be rolled before accepting them, making accuracy important. Sorting through large jars of change could be a time-consuming task. Some kids were responsible for rolling coins to exchange them for paper bills. Counting mistakes meant starting over, which was frustrating. Now, machines handle coin sorting, and digital banking has significantly reduced the need for cash.
Hanging Laundry on a Clothesline
Before dryers became common in homes, kids were responsible for hanging clothes outside to dry. This involved carrying heavy, wet laundry baskets and carefully clipping each piece onto the line with clothespins. If it rained unexpectedly, kids had to rush outside to save the laundry from getting soaked. The clothesline method also required strategic placement to ensure quicker drying—sheets needed to be spread wide, while socks and undergarments went on the inner lines. Some kids dreaded the scratchy feel of air-dried towels compared to the soft ones from a dryer. In the winter, clothes could freeze solid if left out too long! Now, most homes have efficient dryers that do the job quickly, eliminating this time-consuming task.
Cleaning Chalkboards and Erasers
Before whiteboards and digital screens, kids had to clean chalkboards at the end of the school day. This included wiping down the board with a damp cloth and clapping erasers together outside to remove chalk dust. The dust often got on clothes, making it a messy task. Some kids took pride in getting the board spotless, while others dreaded the dry, squeaky feel of chalk. In classrooms with multiple boards, this job could take a while. Teachers sometimes assigned it as a punishment for misbehaving. Now, dry-erase boards and smart screens have made this chore nearly obsolete.
Taking Film to Be Developed
Before digital cameras, taking pictures meant using film that had to be developed at a store. Kids often had to run errands to drop off or pick up film rolls, sometimes waiting days to see how the photos turned out. Blurry or overexposed shots couldn’t be fixed, leading to disappointment when prints came back. Losing a roll of film meant losing irreplaceable memories. Some stores offered one-hour photo development, but it was more expensive. Parents often reminded kids to be careful with the negatives, as they were the only copies. Now, instant digital photography has completely replaced film processing.
Typing Reports on a Typewriter
Before computers, kids had to type school papers on typewriters, requiring precision since mistakes were difficult to fix. One typo meant using correction tape or starting over completely. The loud clacking of keys filled classrooms and home offices. Formatting was tricky, with no easy way to adjust margins or spacing. If the ribbon ran out of ink, replacing it was messy and inconvenient. Typing quickly without errors was a valuable but difficult skill to master. Now, word processors with spell check and easy editing have made typewriters obsolete.
Delivering Newspapers
Many kids once had paper routes, waking up early to deliver newspapers on their bikes. This often meant getting up before sunrise, no matter the weather. On rainy days, newspapers had to be placed in plastic bags to keep them dry. Folding and organizing the papers before delivery was a daily task. Some kids had to collect subscription payments from customers, which could be awkward. Missing a delivery could lead to complaints and upset subscribers. Now, with digital news and online subscriptions, traditional paper routes have almost disappeared.
Polishing Shoes
Before sneakers and casual wear became acceptable for all occasions, kids had to polish their dress shoes regularly. This involved using a brush, shoe polish, and a rag to buff them to a shine. The polish often had a strong smell and could stain clothes or carpets if spilled. Some schools required kids to have spotless shoes, making this chore unavoidable. Scuffed shoes needed extra attention, sometimes requiring reapplication of polish multiple times. Now, with more casual footwear trends, shoe polishing is rarely necessary for kids.
Sharpening Pencils with a Manual Sharpener
Before mechanical and digital devices took over, kids had to use handheld or wall-mounted pencil sharpeners. A dull pencil meant stopping everything to twist it repeatedly inside the sharpener. Wall-mounted versions were found in classrooms, requiring students to take turns and often making a loud grinding noise. If a pencil tip broke mid-assignment, sharpening was necessary again, sometimes leading to over-sharpening and wasted pencils. Many kids also dealt with sharpeners clogging up with shavings, which required messy cleanups. Nowadays, most students use mechanical pencils or tablets, making manual sharpening almost obsolete.
Replacing the TV Channel Manually
Before remote controls became common, kids were the official “channel changers” in the house. This meant walking up to the television and turning the dial to change channels. Some TVs had two dials: one for regular channels and another for UHF channels, which required fine-tuning. Parents often called kids over just to change the channel for them. If the knob broke, using pliers to switch channels was the only option. Late at night, channels would go off the air, leaving only static. Now, with smart TVs and voice commands, manually switching channels is a thing of the past.
Dialing on a Rotary Phone
Kids once had to dial each digit manually by spinning a rotary dial, which took patience and precision. If you messed up a number, you had to start over from the beginning. Long phone numbers were a hassle, especially if the number had lots of 8s or 9s, which required extra time to rotate. Calls couldn’t be made quickly, and there was no redial button—if the line was busy, you had to dial everything again. Calling a friend meant hoping their parents didn’t answer first. If you needed privacy, stretching the cord into another room was a challenge. Now, with smartphones and voice dialing, rotary phones are practically museum relics.
Recording TV Shows on a VCR
Before DVRs and streaming services, kids had to set up a VCR to record their favorite TV shows. This involved inserting a blank VHS tape and manually programming the correct time and channel. If someone changed the channel during recording, the tape would capture the wrong content. Running out of tape meant missing the ending of a show. Fast-forwarding through commercials was a chore in itself. Sometimes, tapes were accidentally recorded over, erasing precious memories. Now, with streaming and on-demand services, recording shows is unnecessary.
Ironing School Clothes
Before wrinkle-free fabrics and casual dress codes, ironing school uniforms was a daily or weekly task. Kids were often taught how to use a heavy iron and carefully press their clothes without burning them. Creases had to be sharp, especially for dress shirts and pleated skirts. Some kids hated the smell of scorched fabric when the iron was too hot. Starch sprays were sometimes used to keep clothes extra crisp. Now, with synthetic fabrics and tumble-dry settings, ironing is rarely necessary.
Replenishing the Wood or Coal Stove
Before central heating, homes relied on wood-burning or coal stoves for warmth. Kids had to fetch firewood or shovel coal to keep the fire going. This meant frequent trips outside, even in freezing weather. If the fire went out, restarting it was a time-consuming process. The stove also needed to be cleaned out regularly to remove ash buildup. Some kids dreaded the soot that got on their hands and clothes. Now, modern heating systems have eliminated the need for this task.
Memorizing Phone Numbers
Before smartphones stored every contact, kids had to memorize phone numbers or write them down in an address book. Forgetting a number meant looking it up in a phone book or asking someone for help. Emergency numbers, relatives’ numbers, and best friends’ numbers were all stored in memory. Some kids carried small notepads just for important numbers. Dialing a wrong number meant having to start over, which was frustrating. Now, contacts are stored digitally, making memorization unnecessary.
Checking Maps for Directions
Before GPS, kids had to help parents read paper maps during road trips. Folding and unfolding large maps correctly was a skill on its own. Getting lost meant pulling over and rechecking the route, which sometimes led to arguments. Writing down directions from a phone call was necessary before online navigation existed. If a road was closed, finding an alternate route required careful planning. Some families kept a glove box full of outdated maps just in case. Now, GPS and smartphones handle all directions instantly, making paper maps nearly extinct.
Manually Rolling Down Car Windows
Before power windows became standard in cars, kids had to crank a handle to roll down the windows. This task was sometimes a workout, especially if the window was stubborn or if the car was old. On hot summer days, kids were expected to roll down the windows to let air in since many cars lacked air conditioning. Parents often assigned one child to manage the windows for younger siblings. If it started to rain, everyone had to hurry to roll them back up before the seats got soaked. On long road trips, this process repeated itself multiple times. Now, with automatic buttons, rolling down windows is effortless and can even be done with a single click.