Life for kids today is vastly different from what it was in the 1960s. Back then, childhood was filled with outdoor adventures and simple yet risky games. For those looking for some nostalgia or wondering about what they missed out on, here are activities from this era that are quite alarming by today’s standards.
Hitchhiking
Thumbs out and hopeful, ‘60s kids hitchhiked pretty regularly. This practice was seen as adventurous, practical, and incredibly affordable, but today it’s recognized as highly unsafe. The potential for encountering dangerous strangers makes hitchhiking a frightening concept now, although it is making a comeback.
Playing with Firecrackers
Kids today would be shocked to learn that small explosives, such as firecrackers, were popular toys in the ‘60s. These items were often sold without age restrictions, allowing kids to handle them freely, which the modern safety regulators of today would certainly have something to say about.
Walking to School Alone
One of the most liberating parts of the ‘60s was that most children walked to school, covering significant distances without adult supervision. It gave us a real sense of independence so early in life, although it also exposed kids to traffic and other hazards. Nowadays, parents could never.
Playing Outside Until Dark
Children often roamed the neighborhood freely in the ‘60s, coming home only when dinner was ready. Unsupervised outdoor play was normal, giving us independence while undeniably exposing us to potential dangers. However, as the BBC reports, campaigns such as ‘stranger danger’ put this tradition to a halt by the ‘00s.
Riding Bikes Without Helmets
While bike riding was much more popular in the ‘60s than it is now, helmets were basically non-existent. Kids raced down streets and over hills without any head protection, a risky activity by today’s safety standards. Health and safety just weren’t there yet, leaving children vulnerable to serious head injuries.
Drinking from Garden Hoses
For some reason, grabbing a quick drink from the garden hose was commonplace in the 1960s. No one worried about water quality or potential contaminants lurking in the hose, yet today, concerns about bacteria and chemicals discourage most parents from allowing their children to drink from an outdoor tap.
Riding in the Back of Pickup Trucks
Children often rode in the open beds of pickup trucks, relishing the thrill of wind and speed. In hindsight, without seat belts or any form of protection, this mode of travel was pretty risky. Thankfully, though, strict modern laws prevent this from being a problem anymore.
Playing with Chemistry Sets
Every Christmas in the ‘60s, kids would be gifted chemistry sets, and they’d proceed to use dangerous and accidentally cause explosions. While dangerous, it was very fun, but trends have changed greatly, so we don’t think modern kids would enjoy these sketchy sets as much as we did.
Using Lawn Darts
One of the most dangerous childhood activities of the ‘60s was lawn darts, or “jarts,” which were heavy, pointed projectiles used in outdoor games. Unsurprisingly, these toys caused countless injuries due to their sharp tips, leading to their eventual ban, which was probably for the best.
Watching Scary Movies Alone
These days, parents are protective of what their kids watch on TV, but back in the day, we watched all sorts of crazy stuff. ‘60s horror films were seriously intense, yet we watched them in pain without our parents. Honestly, it was pretty traumatizing, but we wouldn’t change a thing.
Playing on Metal Playgrounds
Nowadays, any playground that you find will be surrounded by rubber ground and soft materials, but not in the ‘60s. Back then, everything was made of metal, making hard falls and burns from hot metal shockingly common. Today’s kids would likely run away in horror.
Exploring Abandoned Buildings
While urban exploration has made somewhat of a comeback, this is primarily among adults. Meanwhile, we were exploring abandoned buildings in the ‘60s when we were just kids; it was thrilling, and we loved every second of it, but looking back, there was so much unsound architecture and other hazards.
Using BB Guns
Kids still love fake guns today, especially Nerf, but the fake guns of the ‘60s were way cooler (and more dangerous). BB guns were everyone’s favorite, which were essentially air rifles, and unsurprisingly, they caused countless eye injuries. Current regulations and greater firearm safety awareness would never let this happen.
Walking Through Storm Drains
The one childhood activity of the ‘60s that still gives us the heebie jeebies was walking through storm drains. This was so stupid; we’d explore sewer systems without a care, and somehow, they never flooded. If they did, we’d have drowned, so it’s good that kids don’t do it anymore.
Climbing Trees Without Supervision
Quite possibly, the most common pastime among ‘60s kids was tree climbing. We’d reach crazy heights without a scratch of safety gear in sight. It was great fun, but falls were inevitable, with everyone knowing someone who broke their leg from a nasty fall.
Building Treehouses
Speaking of climbing trees, our favorite activity at the top was to construct treehouses. We’d use random materials that we’d find along with basic tools, which would be a health and safety nightmare today. Treehouses do still exist today, but they’re certainly not assembled without a risk assessment in place.
Playing in the Street
In the ‘60s, neighborhood streets often doubled as playgrounds for games like stickball and hopscotch. There was far less traffic back then, so it wasn’t actually that dangerous, although if kids tried to do it these days, it would be an accident waiting to happen.
Visiting Neighbors Unannounced
Dropping by a neighbor’s house without prior arrangement was a normal social activity back in the day. We’d wander in and out of each other’s homes freely, sometimes even during meal times. We miss this greatly because, sadly, etiquette and safety concerns have stamped this out completely.
Trick-or-Treating Alone
While Halloween is more popular than ever, trick-or-treating was way more fun in the ‘60s. There was still candy and decorations, but we did it all without adult supervision. We’d be free to roam and terrorize the streets, something that the kids of today will never get to truly experience.
Making Prank Calls
One of the funniest ways to spend time in the ‘60s was to make prank calls. When you were really bored, dialing random numbers and talking nonsense for a laugh just really hit the spot. However, such activities are now considered harassment, so it’s best left in the past.
Playing with Mercury
Shockingly, we used to play with mercury as kids, taking it from broken thermometers and experimenting with its properties. We can’t emphasize how stupid this was; mercury is incredibly toxic and could have killed us. Thankfully, mercury is no longer found in thermometers, so this risk has gone for good.