Most people remember the 1960s as a time of cultural revolutions and free-spirited youth, but maybe we should remember this decade for its lack of child safety. Today, we’re looking at 25 things that were completely normal for kids to do back then, yet most of us would be horrified at them today. Things sure were different back then.
No Seat Belts
Back in the ’60s, seat belts were more of a suggestion than a need, and most kids would jump into the back seat without buckling up. Thankfully, the laws have changed, and now, kids have to strap in tight. There was definitely freedom in not wearing a seatbelt, but we’d much rather be alive than feel the wind in our hair.
Teen Smokers Lighting Up
Seeing teenagers with a cigarette wasn’t unusual in the 1960s, and it was almost like a rite of passage. It wasn’t a big deal for kids because many of them thought it was actually pretty cool. Today, we know all about the dangers of smoking. We try to keep our kids as far away from cigarettes as possible.
Indoor Smoking
Speaking of smoking, it was pretty normal to see a house full of smoke, especially during family gatherings or parties. There was nothing strange about smoking indoors because everyone did it, and we didn’t realize how bad it was. But today, smoking indoors, let alone around kids, is pretty much against the law in most places.
Playing Outside All Day
Kids used to leave the house right after breakfast and wouldn’t come back until those streetlights came on. There were no cell phones, which didn’t seem to worry anyone because this was everyday stuff. It’s a whole world away from how we are today, where letting our kids out of sight for a second is enough to get the whole neighborhood talking.
Open School Doors
It’s hard to imagine schools without security cameras or buzz-in systems, but they did used to exist. Most schools were as open as a community park, meaning that practically anyone could walk in. Honestly, this is a change that we’re grateful for, as all the safety measures we’ve got mean you can’t just walk off the street and into a school without a second thought.
Asbestos Galore
In the ’60s, we didn’t know any better, and that meant we put asbestos in practically everything. You could find that deadly white stuff in building insulation and even oven mitts. Now, you can barely find a home or school with the stuff since we know it’s not exactly good for our health. The more you know, right?
Lead Paint
Similarly, if things didn’t have asbestos in them, then they’d probably have a ton of lead paint instead. We didn’t know about the dangers, so nobody thought twice about those brightly colored toys that kids were chewing on. Every corner of a kid’s room was a huge hazard, and we all just lived without realizing the risks.
Tailgate Parties in the Truck Bed
Riding in the back of the pick-up truck was the best seat in the house, especially on a warm summer night. The roads were a playground, and the rules were much looser back then, making this seat just another way to enjoy the ride. But today? It’s a huge no-no, and you’d probably get a ticket or two for letting kids ride back there.
No Helmets
Helmets? Who needed helmets? It didn’t matter if you were on your bike or rollerskates because the wind in your hair was all part of the thrill, and safety gear wasn’t on anyone’s radar back then. Kids cared about speed and spills, not helmets and safety drills. Today, no parent in their right mind would let their kids out without wearing full safety gear.
Painful Punishment
Corporal punishment was the standard in schools, and a little spanking for misbehaving wasn’t a big deal. Almost every sort of discipline led to a quick smack since we thought it was just a part of growing up tough. Thankfully, we’ve realized the error of our ways and swapped the paddle for time-outs.
Casually Childproofing
Childproofing wasn’t exactly a priority back then, so medicine cabinets were open to everyone, and cleaning projects were just under the skin. Back then, if you weren’t getting yourself into some trouble, you weren’t exploring well enough. Fast-forward to today, and we’ve done a full 180 on how we protect our little ones.
Simply Sunburnt
Remember when sunscreen wasn’t on the shopping list? Kids would play in the sunshine all day long, which made getting a sunburn just part of the summer fun. It was a time when a peeling nose was the sign you’d had spent your day well. These days, we wouldn’t dream of letting our kids out without slathering them in SPF, and for a good reason.
The Latchkey Kid
Back then, kids often came home to an empty house because both their parents would be out working, and babysitting during the daytime wasn’t a thing. These kids had their own keys and made their own snacks since they had a sense of independence unimaginable today. Leaving kids unsupervised is enough to make anyone concerned.
Daily Soda Pop
In the 1960s, there was nothing wrong with guzzling down soda like it was water, and nobody worried about its sugar content or effects on our teeth. Soda was the center of pretty much every meal and snack time. These days, we’re trying to keep things healthy by pushing our kids towards water and fruit juices.
Mercury On the Loose
If you were lucky enough, you got to play with mercury in science class, and spilling mercury from a thermometer felt like a treat. It was just another element to explore hands-on, as we had no idea of the dangers. Nowadays, we’re sensible enough to know that we should keep toxic substances securely out of reach.
Swim At Your Own Risk
In the 1960s, you’d see plenty of warnings at pools that just said, “Swim at your own risk,” and there wasn’t usually a lifeguard in sight. You were supposed to learn things the hard way by just diving in. But today, most parents expect safety measures and for their kids to do a Swimming 101 training course before even sticking a toe into the water.
Real Guns for Real Fun
Our nation’s love for guns has always existed, but back in the day, kids would use real guns for target practice because it was just part of growing up. We weren’t stupid, as there were always family members to supervise, but they were still real guns. In today’s world, even toy guns are sure to start a debate on safety and appropriateness.
Hitchhiking as a Hobby
Catching a ride by sticking out your thumb used to be as normal as catching a bus is today. After all, there weren’t many other ways for kids to travel, so we just accepted hitchhiking as a way to get from point A to B. Thankfully, the idea of anybody hitchhiking, even if they’re an adult, is enough to give us a heart attack.
Media Free-For-All
Kids back then watched whatever was on TV, and it didn’t really matter if it was appropriate or not. After all, there weren’t many channels, and parental controls weren’t even a thing. These days, we’re far more careful about what our kids watch, and rightly so. We understand we should shield them from things that are too intense or inappropriate.
No Online Worries
Since there was no internet, the idea of online safety just didn’t exist. Of course, as technology evolved, so did our awareness and use of protective measures to keep our kids safe. But even when going online did start to become a thing, most parents saw it as a new frontier and didn’t give safety much thought.
Tough and Toxic Toys
If they didn’t have toxic materials in them, ’60s kids’ toys were determined to hurt you in other ways. It was completely normal to have ones that had sharp metal edges or plastics soaked in chemicals. Now, manufacturers have a bunch of safety checks to put their products through before they even hit the shelves.
Going Solo
Did we mention how kids had a lot more independence back then? For teens, that meant handling their own health issues and follow-ups by going to the doctor alone. Parents trusted the doctors and their kids to manage things themselves. Personal health was just that, personal, for both teens and adults alike.
Pretty Much Processed
Microwave and canned goods were all the rage, and we loved them because they were much more convenient. Nutrition was just an afterthought as TV dinners became the ultimate sign of modern living. Nobody worried much about what was in those foil trays, just as long as it was quick and filled you up.
Life as a Litterbug
Throwing trash out the car window wasn’t something anyone would bat an eye at because it was just how things were done. Environmental awareness was barely on our radar. Nowadays, we’ve got a much better understanding of recycling, and we teach our kids about proper disposal from a young age.
Manual Labor As Chores
Kids in the 1960s usually had chores that we’d think of as being hardcore today, like chopping wood or fixing fences. They’d teach the little ones about responsibility, yes, but they were also very important to keep our household running. Now, chores tend to be a lot simpler, like tidying up or taking out the trash.
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