We went around the Time Out Singapore office and quizzed our colleagues on one thing they miss most about their childhood.
Radiah Rahmat, 46
Office manager
‘Being wild and free! I miss playing with my neighbours in the playground and around our neighbourhood. We had so much fun and adventure, regardless of our race and the language we spoke.’
Shamil Abidin, 33
Senior sales director
‘My grandmother, carefree adolescence, and the ability to buy chewing gum at the local convenience store.’
Sofiana Ramli, 23
Online editorial assistant
‘Celebrating birthdays back seemed to be the most exciting thing ever. And it was tradition for the birthday kid to pack goodie bags for your classmates, too – plus, who else wished for a McDonald’s birthday party every year?’
Thomas Wee, 36
Marketing executive
‘Playing with sand was always fun. You used to be able to build sandcastles at the playground beside my block. But now you gotta head to the beach to even find sand.’
Michelle Ng, 25
Staff writer
‘I miss my primary school days, when we didn’t have mobile phones. We – at least the girls – would write notes with glitter pens, fold them into squares and pass them to one another during class. I even kept some of them in a box!’
Cavan Tan, 29
Account manager
‘I miss my confident self – I had no qualms approaching that cute girl in the playground and introducing her to my parents while helping myself to her Happy Meal. They’d all weep with joy.’