Itis often hard for young people to imagine what life was like beforethe Internet, computers, DVDs, and cable television. They wonder whatkids in their parents’ generation did for fun. Well, amazinglyenough, they did many of the same things people do today.

The1950s saw the beginnings of many trends and fashions that are stillwith us. For example, Barbie dolls were first released in 1959. Theydidn’t have tattoos then, but apart from that, they looked justlike they do now.

Inthe 1960s, boys also started to play with dolls—with a soldier dollnamed G. I. Joe. They also enjoyed the car-racing sets and modeltrains. All these toys are still popular with today’s kids.

Howabout hula hoops? These came out in the 1950s as well, and they’restill around now. In the 1950s, you could have bought your hula hoopat one of the new shopping malls that were just starting to springup. Of course, shopping malls are still common today.

Thenthere are amusement parks—also nothing new. They have been aroundfor over a century, and since the first theme park, Disneyland,opened in California in the 1950s, the world has never been the same.

Speakingof California, skateboards first appeared there in the early 1960s.The next time you see a cool skateboarder going by, remember that hisgrandfather might have been doing the same thing when he was young.

Asfor yo-yos, these toys were first enjoyed at least 3,000 years ago.Chances are they will still be around when the Internet is ancienthistory.