Allergy, Schmallergy
Kids swapped sandwiches, cookies, and fruit without a second thought. Peanut butter, tuna, or mystery meat - it didn’t matter. Lunchtime was like a mini market where everyone traded bites. No one asked about allergies - you just trusted your friend’s lunchbox and hoped for something better than yours.
Making Mixtapes
Recording songs from the radio was somewhat of an art form in the ‘70s. You’d sit by the tape deck, finger on the “record” button, trying to catch your favorite song without the DJ talking over it. Copyright wasn’t a thing, and no one worried about it.
Open Doors
Doors stayed unlocked in the ‘70s, which meant kids wandered in and out of homes like family. Parents barely noticed that there was another child sitting, eating cereal, or watching cartoons in their house. Neighborhoods felt like one big backyard.
Hitching Rides
Hitching a ride meant piling into your brother's or his friends' cars. Sure, you ended up sitting on someone’s lap, but it was free, and that’s all that matters. The oldest kid drove while the younger ones hung out the window, enjoying the ride.
‘70s Comic Books
Kids read whatever comics they could get their hands on in the ‘70s. Parents didn’t screen them or worry about their content. Comics were cheap, colorful, and pure magic on rainy afternoons when they couldn’t go outside and play with their friends.
Roller Skates
Sidewalks became racetracks, and driveways became skate arenas for kids on roller skates. Everyone had a pair of skates with metal wheels and super noisy straps. Falling? Well, that was just part of the fun. Bandages were badges of honor.
Carving Initials Into Trees
Carving your initials into a tree in the ‘70s was a kid’s way of saying, “I was here.” All you needed was a pocketknife or a sharp rock. It wasn’t seen as vandalism back then, but rather innocent graffiti. Decades later, those initials still remain.
Arcades
Parents dropped kids off with a few quarters and said, “See you later.” Hours would pass by, and the kids would still be entertained. There were no cell phones and no supervision - just freedom, fun, laughter, and maybe a soda break or two.
Building Go-Karts
Kids built go-karts out of anything they could find - old boards, lawnmower parts, and wheels from broken toys. They spent their afternoons hammering and nailing the pieces together. Brakes were a dream, and helmets didn’t exist. Every ride felt like flying.
Exploring Junkyards
Junkyards were adventure lands for kids in the ‘70s. They climbed over old cars, found broken gadgets, and imagined they’d discovered treasure. Parents didn’t need to panic, because it was just innocent fun as the kids explored to their hearts’ content.
Making Pretend Orders
Do you remember filling out fake mail orders for silly stuff like robots and X-ray glasses from toy catalogs? Kids in the ‘70s did it too. They never expected anything to come; they just liked pretending. The fun was in the joke, not the toy.
Bell Bottoms and Crop Tops
Fashion in the ’70s was wild. Kids showed up to school in big flared jeans, bright shirts, and tall shoes. The louder the outfit, the better. Nobody cared about rules—clothes were about showing off your style and feeling cool, even in math class.
Using Typewriters to Write Fake Newspapers
Before computers, kids used heavy typewriters to write pretend newspapers. Those loud clacking keys made them feel super important, just like real writers. Typos didn’t matter at all - it was about creating something, one noisy letter at a time.
Calling Radio Stations
Kids called radio DJs to ask for songs or to hear their names on air. Waiting for your song to play felt like a big deal. When it finally came on, they’d cheer. There was nothing like hearing your favorite song to make the day feel special.
Lemonade Stands
Kids set up lemonade stands on the sidewalk with just a pitcher, a few cups, and a cardboard sign. There were no rules and no worries. Neighbors stopped to buy a drink, and every coin they earned felt like a win. It was independence at its best.
Watching Horror Movies at Sleepovers
Sleepovers turned serious when someone picked a scary movie for everyone to watch. Everyone huddled together and laughed after every jump scare. Nobody cared about the movie ratings—you just watched it because it was fun and you had your friends to protect you.
Sneaking Into Drive-Ins
Kids loved sneaking into drive-ins for free. Some hid in car trunks while friends paid at the gate. Once inside, they’d crawl out laughing to watch the movie under the stars. The sound was scratchy, sure, but the night felt like an adventure you’d never forget.
Using Walkie-Talkies
Walkie-talkies were a huge part of having fun as a kid in the ‘70s. They made kids feel like secret agents as they whispered to each other. The range barely reached the next street, but that didn’t matter when you were playing spies with your friends.
Playing Detective
Kids came up with their own games to keep themselves entertained. One of the best was playing detective. All you needed was a notebook, a pair of Dad’s binoculars, and your imagination. Even an ordinary street was full of secrets and adventure.
Jumping Into Leaf Piles
When fall hit, kids raked huge piles of leaves just to jump in them. You didn’t look for bugs and sticks - you just went for it and dived right in. That messy hair afterward was worth every bit of discomfort you felt when Mom combed it all out later.
Making Up Games
Kids made up games as they went. The rules changed every few minutes, and no one cared who won. There were no referees, just kids running around, laughing, and arguing until the streetlights came on. Man, the ‘70s were fun!
Riding Bikes to the Corner Diner
All you needed to have fun in the ‘70s was a bike, a few coins, and a sunny day. Kids would bike to the diner with a few friends to grab fries, a milkshake, or a burger. No parents, no rules, just the open road and having fun with friends.
Using Vending Machines
Kids felt super grown up dropping coins into a vending machine all by themselves. They’d watch their candy fall and celebrate like they’d won the jackpot at a casino. Who said you needed Mom or Dad to help you get a treat?
Reading Mad Magazine
Mad magazines were goofy, weird, and totally not what parents wanted their kids to read in the ‘70s. The jokes were wild, and the drawings were crazy, but every page made you laugh your head off with your friends. Kids learned about the funny side of growing up early on.
Making Potions in the Garden
Little kids loved nothing more than mixing dirt, water, and random plants and leaves to make potions in the garden. They stirred them with sticks, poured water from jars, and called it science. Yes, it smelled awful, but that didn’t matter when you were having fun.
Playing in Sprinklers
On hot days, ‘70s kids ran through sprinklers and splashed around in the garden. It was cheap, simple fun that cooled them off quickly. You didn’t need a water park or fancy pool to have fun - just a hose, a sprinkler system, and a pair of swimming trunks.
Using Polaroid Cameras
Instant cameras were pure magic in the ‘70s. You’d snap a photo, shake it, and watch the picture slowly appear. Kids took photos of everything, including their friends, pets, and funny faces. There was no delete button, so every shot mattered.
Writing Graffiti With Chalk
Kids decorated sidewalks and fences with chalk in the ‘70s. From suns and hopscotch squares to smiley faces and flowers, this was just fun in its purest form. It wasn’t about vandalism, and a bit of rain quickly washed it away.
Climbing School Fences
When a ball went over the fence, kids didn’t wait for help—they climbed. Scrapes and torn jeans were part of the job. It felt like a mission, and getting the ball back was a huge win. Nobody needed permission; they just did it.
Using Coins for the Jukebox Machine
Dropping a shiny coin into a jukebox machine felt special. You picked the song, and everyone had to listen to it. The flashing lights, loud music, and clinking coins made everything exciting. If you had the guts, you’d get up and dance, too.
Making Daisy Chains
Kids made necklaces from flowers. It was slow, peaceful fun that filled those lazy spring afternoons. You didn’t need screens or noise, but a patch of grass, a few daisies, and your imagination to keep you entertained. It was bliss!
Mood Ring Magic
Mood rings were magic to kids in the ‘70s. The colors changed with the heat of your skin, and everyone swore they could tell your feelings. Blue meant calm, black meant angry. No one really knows whether it worked or not, but it didn’t matter because it was fun.
Telling Ghost Stories
Sleepovers were all about telling ghost stories with a flashlight under your chin. Everyone screamed and hid under the blankets, then laughed like crazy. No one said it was too scary, and everyone had so much fun they begged for more stories.
Secret Handshakes and Codes
Every kid wanted a secret club in the ‘70s. You made up passwords, handshakes, and codes that no one else knew what they meant or what you were saying. It was all about friendship, secrets, and keeping grown-ups out of your clubhouse.
