Anyone who was around during the 1980s will know it was a very different time to today, filled with habits and practices that were completely normal back then. However, bringing these things back today, especially parenting norms, would seriously raise eyebrows. To show you what we mean, here is a list of things your parents probably did in the ‘80s that are now strictly forbidden.
Letting Kids Ride Without Seatbelts
Back in the ‘80s, wearing a seatbelt wasn’t always enforced, and many children rode in cars unrestrained; in fact, it wasn’t uncommon to see kids standing between the front seats or even lying across the back window. However, as the PACTS remembers, strict seatbelt laws and car seat regulations were introduced back in 1983, eventually making such behaviors unthinkable. That was definitely for the best.
Smoking Indoors
Kids today would be shocked at how smoking indoors was widely accepted in the ‘80s, regardless of whether you were at home, in offices, or even on planes. The idea of designated smoking areas was still taking hold, and non-smokers often had little choice but to put up with it. Eventually, smoking indoors was banned in 2007, and we’re all more healthy for it.
Allowing Kids to Play Outside Unsupervised
Children in the ‘80s often roamed the streets and parks without direct supervision, trusted to come home when the streetlights turned on. Parents didn’t worry as much about constant oversight; this wasn’t because there was less crime, but we were just a lot more naive. These days, modern parenting emphasizes safety and supervision, and while it comes at the cost of freedom, it’s still probably a good thing.
Leaving Kids in the Car
It wasn’t unusual in the ‘80s for parents to leave kids in the car while running errands, even if it took a while. The car was seen as a safe place for short stops, but today, leaving children unattended in vehicles is illegal in many places and widely viewed as dangerous, especially during hot weather.
Drinking and Driving
Believe it or not, drinking and driving were not taken as seriously before the ‘80s as they are today. People would often drive home after a few drinks at the pub, with less emphasis on designated drivers or calling a cab. Stricter laws and increased awareness have made this a strictly forbidden practice now, and we can all agree that this is for our own safety.
Using Lead-Based Paint
Shockingly, lead-based paint was still in use in the ‘80s despite its known health risks, especially to children. Homes built during that time often contained lead paint, posing potential dangers. These days, lead paint is banned, and significant efforts are made to remove or seal it in older properties.
Ignoring Sun Protection
Sun cream wasn’t as commonly used or as effective in the ‘80s, so a lot of people would spend hours in the sun without protection. Getting a tan was often seen as a sign of good health, without much thought to skin damage. Outrageously, some people even used oil to speed up their tan, which would be considered awful behavior today.
Letting Kids Ride in the Back of Pickups
If you grew up in a rural location in the UK, you’d know that riding in the back of a pickup truck was a thrill for many children in the ‘80s, seen as a fun and breezy way to get around. It was legal in many places despite the obvious risks. Nowadays, though, safety regulations strictly prohibit passengers from traveling in the back of trucks like this.
Giving Babies Watered-Down Drinks
Back in the ‘80s, diluting drinks like juice, coke, or even adding a little water to milk was common for young children in the ‘80s. It was often done to stretch supplies or reduce sugar intake, so the intentions were in the right place. However, current guidelines discourage this practice, particularly for infants, due to concerns about nutritional needs and potential water intoxication.
Allowing Kids to Walk to School Alone
As you can probably remember, walking or biking to school alone was a daily routine for many kids in the ‘80s, starting at a relatively young age. Parents trusted them to manage the journey safely, and this continued into the early ‘00s. Sadly, though, heightened concerns about child safety mean that fewer parents are comfortable allowing young children to walk unsupervised today.
Riding Bikes Without Helmets
Even though they existed, bike helmets weren’t a standard piece of equipment in the ‘80s, and children often rode without any head protection. Crashes and falls were a part of growing up, with less emphasis on injury prevention. However, these lessons really weren’t worth the risk, so now, helmets are considered essential safety gear, and most kids wear them as a matter of course.
Using Baby Walkers
Once popular for helping infants get around, baby walkers are now frowned upon by many parents and heavily regulated due to safety concerns. They were linked to falls and other injuries, leading to stricter guidelines and recalls. Parents today are advised to avoid walkers and use stationary activity centers instead for their little ones.
Leaving Front Doors Unlocked
The ‘80s were a time when many people felt safe leaving their front doors unlocked, even when they weren’t home, as there was a general sense of trust within neighborhoods. These days, security concerns and increased awareness about home safety mean that most people keep their doors locked at all times, and leaving them unlocked overnight would be unthinkable.
Driving With Kids on Laps
Another ridiculous parenting norm from the ‘80s was how common it was for parents to let young children sit on their laps while driving or to hold them in the front seat. As we mentioned earlier, seatbelt and car seat laws were less stringent, so this casual approach to child passenger safety was widespread. Today, though, we know all about the dangers that this could lead to.
Leaving You to Play with Explosives
If you were a kid in the ‘60s, you probably played with explosives at some point, and your parents were none the wiser. Many kids purchased bangers or even more powerful explosives over the counter, putting them in all sorts of places that they shouldn’t be. It was certainly amusing to watch cow pats explode, but it would never fly these days.
Sharing Cigarettes
This might sound hard to believe for younger readers, but if you grew up in the ‘50s or ‘60s, you probably remember stealing your parents’ cigarettes or potentially even taking them consensually. We simply didn’t understand the risks of smoking at this time, so our parents were a lot more relaxed about it. This is precisely why you hear so many stories of older Brits starting smoking when they were just eight years old!