Fashion ABCs
H is for these ultra-short shorts of the 1970s.
Hot pants
Unlike their denim counterparts, called Daisy Dukes, hot pants were made from a variety of fabrics and often worn at discos.
Parenting advice from the 1990s included exposing your child to this type of music at an early age.
Classical
A study showed a connection between Mozart listening and higher test scores, leading to the Baby Mozart craze.
This piece of clothing was first made of wool in the 1800s and became the iconic uniform for baseball players.
Baseball cap
The New York Knickerbockers were the first team to wear baseball caps in 1849.
“Bonjour” is the word for “hello” in this language.
French
More than 300 million people speak French around the world.
In 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered this life-saving antibiotic.
Penicillin
Penicillin has saved millions of lives and started the age of modern antibiotics.
D is for blue cotton fabric has been a wardrobe staple since the Gold Rush.
Denim
Denim jeans were invented by Levi Strauss in 1873 for miners — tough enough to handle heavy work!
An incredibly popular book series for parents began in the 1980s, when Heidi Murkoff published What to Expect When… this.
You’re Expecting
The advice book still tops bestseller lists for its useful and straightforward advice.
Early soccer balls were made from this animal part before rubber was introduced.
Pig’s bladder
Before vulcanized rubber, many sports used inflated animal bladders as the base for their balls.
This fruit keeps the doctor away “if eaten once a day,” according to a saying.
Apple
There are over 7,000 types of apples worldwide.
S is for these structural pads, often seen in women’s tops and blazers during the ’80s.
Shoulder pads
The power dressing craze of the 1980s put an emphasis on serious business wear.
Parents in the 1980s were inundated with advice on how to get your baby to do this restful activity. (Good luck!)
Sleep
Infant sleep guides at the time included Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems (1985) by Dr. Richard Ferber.
Known as “Air,” this basketball legend played for the Chicago Bulls and won six NBA championships.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan’s shoes, “Air Jordans,” became so popular they launched a billion-dollar industry.
This U.S. state is known as “The Sunshine State.”
Florida
Florida gets more lightning strikes than any other U.S. state.
B is for these athletic-inspired fitted shorts popular in the ’80s and ’90s.
Biker shorts
One notable celeb known to sport biker shorts was Princess Diana.
Known as the “terrible twos,” this stage often involves children asserting independence through frequent use of this two-letter word.
“No”
Saying “no” is a normal part of child development — it shows they are learning autonomy and testing boundaries.
This winter Olympic sport comes in two forms: “slalom” and “giant slalom.”
Skiing
Alpine skiing first appeared in the Winter Olympics in 1936.
Water freezes at this temperature in Celsius.
0 degrees
The Celsius scale is named after Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius.
S is for sparkling material, often used in gowns and costumes, is made by sewing shiny discs onto fabric.
Sequins
Sequins were originally made from actual coins — people in ancient Egypt wore them for luck and to show wealth.
Pediatricians recommend this vitamin to support bone growth, often added to milk.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. In the 1930s, milk was fortified with it to prevent rickets in children.
Known as “The Great One,” this Canadian hockey player still holds the NHL record for most career goals.
Wayne Gretzky
Gretzky scored 894 goals in his career — a record still untouched.
This is the most spoken language in the world.
Mandarin Chinese
Over 1 billion people speak it as their first language.
K is for this sneaker brand, whose simple canvas lace-ups were a staple of every ’90s closet.
Keds
The popularity of Keds is tied to the sportswear trend that began in the 1980s.
This French word means “nanny” and is often used for professional childcare providers.
Au pair
Traditionally, au pairs were young people from abroad who lived with families and provided childcare in exchange for room, board, and cultural exchange.
Early golf balls, known as “featheries,” were stuffed with this material.
Feathers
It could take hours to make one feathery ball, and they didn’t last long.
The human body has 206 of these.
Bones
Babies are born with around 270 bones, but some fuse together as they grow.