You Won’t Believe What Kids Got Away With in the 1960s—#7 Will Shock You
Do you ever stare at a crisp photo of grinning 1960s kids and think, “Sure, they look happy—but where are all the helmets, seatbelts, and SPF 50?!” Honestly, it’s wild how much “normal” has changed with a shifting tide of safety advice and, let’s face it, a dash of common sense . Sharing is caring (unless what you’re sharing is secondhand smoke in a station wagon or an afternoon with zero supervision). It’s hilarious and mildly terrifying to imagine recreating a ’60s-style childhood today; half the neighborhood would peek through the blinds with their cell phones ready to dial child services .
As much as we laugh—or wince—at these vintage parenting choices, there’s something magnetic about that old-school freedom, and plenty of nostalgia mixed in with the gasps . From car naps to corporal punishment, and from hitchhiking with a note pinned to your shirt to “playing outside” (sometimes for hours, sometimes until dinner—whenever that was), the rules were…loose . I can’t help but marvel at the collective amnesia around sunscreen or judge the complete absence of helmets, but admit it—a smidge of envy sneaks in, too, picturing all that unsupervised chaos and those wild tales .
So, buckle up (pun intended, since in the ’60s nobody did), and let’s take a funny, thought-provoking tour through 18 things once completely acceptable for children in the age of lava lamps and Jell-O salads. Ready to cringe, chuckle, and maybe rethink your bubble-wrapped modern approach? LEARN MORE
Many behaviors trumpeted as ordinary for children in the 1960s would be mortifying to people today, mostly due to huge shifts in ideas regarding safety and societal expectations. Even though it was the norm back then, if parents from the ’60s were to raise their children in the same manner today, they might find social services running to their doorstep. As time marches on, parenting methods modernize, and the level of supervision required to raise children slowly increases.
This isn’t about looking down on the way things were once done, but rather just a peek into how different childhood was half a century ago. To be fair, parents and kids didn’t know any better—and most of them wouldn’t trade any of it for all the great memories they made.
Nowadays, it seems the world has become less safe, and individuals are more cautious about health and safety than ever before. If you grew up in the 1960s, you’re likely to relate to some of these norms and practices.
1. Unsafe Sleeping Arrangements for Babies
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.com.
Nowadays, parents are given very strict instructions on how to help their babies sleep as safely as possible. In the 1960s, it was a different story, and many of today’s hazards weren’t well-known or studied.
For example, doctors encouraged babies to sleep on their stomachs (a big no-no these days). Plus, cribs were dangerous, with too wide of slats, drop rails, stuffed animals, and bumpers that are suffocation and choking hazards.
2. Corporal Punishment
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.com.
Kids today know their ‘rights’ and may even recite them for you, but most of the 60s kids grew up knowing beating was never an empty threat. And no, we’re not talking about a run-of-the-mill spanking. Many kids of the 60s knew what a belt could make their rear end look like.
Punishment by beating was common, but it was not the best form of discipline as many parents weren’t very reasonable with it. Many kids grew up fearing their parents because of this.
3. Running in the Streets
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.com.
Parents let kids run in the streets as much as they wanted without much supervision, and they were deemed pretty safe. Today, even sending a child to the mailbox is a nerve-wracking errand in some parts of the country.
4. Smoking Around Kids
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.com.
You can barely smoke around non-smoking adults today, but smoking around children was pretty common in the 60s.
Many people didn’t know about secondhand smoke dangers, and even pregnant mothers and new mothers smoked around their children. Crazy!
5. No Seatbelts
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.com.
Kids could ride in the front seat without a seat belt arm. Mom’s arms were enough to hold them in place when she needed to apply emergency brakes.
6. No Car Seats
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.com.
The airbags we swear by today, and the car seats we can’t be allowed to leave the hospital without were not invented until the 70s and 80s.
7. No Nets on Trampolines
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.com.
Trampolines today are like armored vehicles, impenetrable in all ways. Well, the kids in the 60s didn’t enjoy trampolines with netting all around; kids were around to jump around, and hopefully, they wouldn’t break their necks or ankles.
8. Walking to School
Photo Credit: Depositphotos.com.
All those escapades the boomers tell you about their going to-school trips are true (walking 1 hour in the snow uphill); there was barely any being dropped off by a bus, carpool, or a parent.
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