These blasts from the past are full of childhood nostalgia
From Disney to Harry Potter and everything in between, these moments will take you back to the good old days
Some of of Gen Z's most nostalgia-inducing books and movies. (Claudia Culley)
Everyone’s childhood was filled with pop culture moments they will never be able to forget.
Whether it be the boyband frenzy, Disney channel icons, or books that allowed you to grow with its character, these moments of nostalgia bring us all back to the good old days — the days where stress was minimal and the most you had to worry about was doing homework for about an hour before you got to snuggle up on the couch and watch T.V.
Even now, when a meme resurfaces or an old T.V. show regains recognition on streaming platforms, I always find myself grateful when a blast from the past welcomes me with open arms.
My childhood was defined by quite a few pop culture moments. From songs and movies to books, the defining moments in my childhood were definitely a monumental foundation and creation to what made me into the writer I am today. Without these moments in my childhood, I wouldn’t have the imagination and desire to tell stories like I do now.
Disney has to be at the top of influential childhood comfort for me. From the classic movies like The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Hercules, to shows like Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, and That’s so Raven, Disney shaped the light-hearted after-school escape.
It would occupy me until my mom forced the T.V. off and pulled me to the dinner table for food and homework. It was a necessary balance. However, despite this, I found myself daydreaming at school about going back to those movies and shows that I could watch again and again.
No matter how old I am, my friends and I always find ways to rewatch the classics to boost morale when adult life gets us stressed and feeling down. They remind me of the carefree days, and despite these movies being made for kids, there are so many messages in these stories for adults to pick up and gain hope from amidst the tumultuous world we live in today.
Books were another influential aspect to my childhood. I was the girl with her nose always in a book, whose favourite errand was a stop at the library on the way home.
I would borrow roughly five books per week and devour them. Book series like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and the famous Geronimo Stilton were some of my favourites. It was my first experience with the fantastic, alongside the Disney movies, of course. I still fondly think of the mouse going on adventures, or the young orphan who was told he was a wizard.
It is these characters and stories that made me want to write for kids as an adult and create a world for them to escape and find meaning in, the way I did when I was one. It is something I strive to do in my own creative work.
No matter how old you are, find moments in your life to think about the influential childhood media that made you feel joy. It not only heals the inner child but opens you up to being a kid again. This is something I think a lot of us fail to do as we grow older. It is the little things that bring us joy and sometimes we need to remember that.
