A lot has changed since the end of the 1990s, and those changes are so common now that kids don’t even think of them. So this November, take a minute to remember all the things that they might take for granted, and maybe even remind them about some the advantages of modern life.

Cell Phones that Remember Your Contacts

True, most kids don’t have cell phones, especially below a certain age, but they’re still a big part of their life. Do you remember memorizing numbers and calling two or three places to track down parents or friends? Fortunately, today’s kids have to memorize one or two numbers at most.

Actually Valid Internet References

The Internet of the 1990s was nothing like the internet of today. Website references were sketchy at best, and never accepted for actual research. If you wanted a digital reference, you had to buy physical discs of Encarta, Britannica, or other encyclopedias.

Today all of these resources are online. Need the right word? Check out dictionary.com or thesaurus.com. Even the Encyclopedia Britannica is all digital now. Want to access old newspapers or articles? Forget about microfiche. Sites like the New York Times have archives going back to the early 1900s.

There’s ALWAYS Something On

Those of us who grew up in the 20th century watched plenty of M*A*S*H or I Love Lucy reruns. While these were great shows, it was usually because there was nothing else on. That’s not the case anymore. Hundreds of cable channels and streaming services like Hulu or Netflix mean there’s always something on. And that’s not including YouTube.

Ready-Made Food is SO Much Better

Think back to the sorry excuses for TV dinners of the 1980s and 1990s. Compare that to the enormous number of choices we’ve got today. Whatever happened to cooking and freezing techniques made it possible to get frozen meals that are not only tasty, but actually healthy.

Things are easy even without freezing. Just look at things like Easy Mac. Gone are the days of boiling water, cooking the pasta, and making a huge mess mixing everything together. All you have to do is add water and microwave. Easy mac, indeed!

Toy Aisles Have Gotten Enormous

It’s not your imagination. There are a lot more toy options out there. Just take a look at two favorite brands: Nerf and Lego. Back in the 1990s, there were only a handful of specialized Lego pieces, and perhaps ten different Nerf weapon choices. Walk down the toy aisle now and it’s a different story. There are Lego sets for any fandom out there, and a veritable arsenal of Nerf weapons to fit any battle plan.

It’s Not Just Kids, Though

Don’t forget that every advantage they have, adults have, too! When was the last time you memorized a phone number? Or had to settle for an infomercial on TV? And one of the biggest reasons for that huge variety of toys is because adults buy them to play with their kids. Or, for that matter, buy them to play with on their own.

So while you let the children in your life know how much easier it is, remember that it’s easier for you, too. And that’s something we can all be thankful for.