Staying Home Alone
Sometimes, latchkey kids in the ‘70s were left alone at home even when their parents weren’t working. The parents would run errands or meet friends while their kids amused themselves. Now, there are strict guidelines about the minimum age at which a child can be left alone.
Drinking From the Hose
Running around on hot days is thirsty work, but instead of getting a cold drink from the kitchen like today’s children, ‘70s kids would drink from the garden hose instead. Nobody worried about germs, bacteria, or chemicals, and it was actually a fun pastime for siblings to share.
Lax Media Rules
Age-restricted movies and TV shows were around in the 1970s, but many parents didn’t worry about them. Children had far freer access to violent or scary content, with minimal parental controls. Nowadays, parents monitor the media that their kids consume far more strictly.
Riding Without a Seatbelt
It would be unthinkable today, but back in the 1970s, it was normal for both children and adults to ride in cars without a seatbelt. Some kids would even ride in pickup truck beds! Nowadays, strict seatbelt laws would make that unthinkable and illegal for most parents.
No Curfew
Curfews may seem like something created by overbearing parents, but imagine your kids playing out until the early hours of the morning? Back in the ‘70s, parents just trusted that their children would eventually return. That would be unimaginable now.
Lack of Babyproofing
Babies have always been mischievous, but in the 1970s, parents relied more on supervision than safety products. It would be relatively uncommon to find baby gates, cabinet locks, or outlet covers in houses 50 years ago, though most parents wouldn’t go without them now.
Unprotected Playgrounds
Playgrounds are always a risk, but children are far less likely to get hurt on today’s soft rubber surfaces and plastic apparatus than the concrete-and-metal contraptions of the 1970s! The slide burns alone would be enough to have today’s parents campaigning for better safety.
No Allergy Awareness
Allergies, what are those? At least, that’s what many parents might have said 50 years ago. They didn’t have our widespread allergy awareness, so kids freely shared treats without knowing what they were allergic to. Now, schools and parents alike check for everything.
Unlocked Medicine Cabinets
Unlocked medicine cabinets are recognized as a recipe for disaster now, but that wasn’t always the case. ‘70s parents were more hands-off in general, so they might not have noticed their children getting hold of pills or other dangerous products.
“Walking Off” Injuries
Anybody who was young in the 1970s or ‘80s likely heard the phrase “walk it off” at least once. If there wasn’t any blood or broken bones, it wasn’t a cause for concern, and the kids kept playing. Nowadays, parents would probably seek medical attention just in case.
Poor Nutrition
Sugary cereals, TV dinners, and soda were staples in many ‘70s homes. Nutrition wasn’t as widely preached as it is now, and schools weren’t exactly health-conscious, either. But now, healthy snacks, organic produce, and sugar limits ensure that children have better diets.
Latchkey Kids
Gen X is known as the “latchkey generation” for a reason! Their parents were often still at work when they finished school, but instead of arranging babysitters, they gave the kids keys and encouraged independence. Now, it’s unthinkable for a young child to go home alone.
Babysitting Younger Siblings
Babysitting your siblings isn’t abnormal nowadays, but having kids as young as 8 babysit multiple other children would be a cause for concern. In the 1970s, there were few laws discouraging this, so it was normal to leave minors in charge of the house.
Children Cooking
All children should learn to cook, but not quite like they did back in the ‘70s! Latchkey kids would often make their own dinners while their parents were out, even though this risked causing injury or house fires. Today, parents are firmly in control of the kitchen.
Walking Home Alone
Our ideas about safety have changed dramatically since 1970 because parents never used to worry about their young children walking home alone. In fact, they encouraged it. Today, parents either accompany their young kids anywhere outside or arrange for supervision.
Climbing Trees
Climbing trees was a classic ‘70s pastime, even if it meant scrapes, cuts, or broken bones. Parents encouraged their kids to get outside and explore nature. But now, parents are more risk-averse, fearing injuries and lawsuits, so most discourage risky play.
Caffeine For Babies
If you feel hyped-up after a sip of coffee, imagine what it would do to a baby! In the 1970s, doctors prescribed caffeine for babies who struggled to breathe, but some parents saw no harm in giving sips to otherwise-healthy kids. Modern parents wouldn’t dream of doing that.
Not Knowing Where Kids Were
Decades ago, parents often had no idea where their kids were all day, and they didn’t have phones to call them. Instead, they trusted that the children were safe and knew their way home. Today, many kids have phones, and some parents even track their locations.
Playing Out at Night
Once school was done, evenings in the 1970s were for playing with friends. Except, this would mostly happen out of the house, and continue on into the night. Modern safety concerns keep most kids indoors once the sun has set, unless they’re closely supervised.
Using Tools
We all like our kids to “help”, but most people nowadays wouldn’t let them wield a hammer, drill, or saw! Although some older individuals view it as a valuable learning experience, current parents prefer to keep dangerous tools locked away from their children to prevent accidents.
Unsupervised Sleepovers
Sleepovers are still common now, but they’re almost always supervised by a parent. Back in the ‘70s, parents let their children sleep over at other houses unsupervised, sometimes without even meeting the parents. Today, that would be seen as highly irresponsible.
Minimal Sunscreen
Skin protection is a huge deal nowadays, with a wide range of sunscreens marketed for kids. But back then, many parents didn’t think twice about children playing in the sun all day with no sunscreen. Luckily, we have much more awareness about the long-term effects of sun damage now.
Hitchhiking
Modern parents regularly tell their kids about “stranger danger”, but it wasn’t a concern for most ‘70s families. Kids would hitchhike to catch rides home from strangers, and it was seen as adventurous. Nowadays, it would be seen as incredibly dangerous parenting to allow that.
Playing With Lawn Darts
‘70s kids must remember lawn darts in all their sharp, metal-tipped glory! The risk of being impaled by one didn’t stop parents from buying them for their kids. Nowadays, they’re banned in many places, with parents preferring softer, less dangerous toys.
Partying With Kids
When we say “partying”, we don’t mean family-friendly barbecues or brunches. ‘70s parents would take their kids with them to bars or other houses, where they’d drink and smoke while the children played nearby. Today, such behavior would be shamed by society.
Babies on Motorcycles
Just like some people would hold their babies in cars instead of strapping them into seats, parents would also carry them on motorcycles. Safety wasn’t a priority, or even a concern. Nowadays, laws prohibit this practice, and most parents would never even consider it.
Tough Love
The classic 1970s “tough love” approach to parent-child relationships meant that mental health was hardly ever acknowledged. Children were to be seen, not heard, and their emotions weren’t validated. It was a far cry from today’s open communication and emotional support.
Lighting Fireworks
Children love fireworks, but most modern parents wouldn’t let them handle or light them! But ‘70s parents lived more on the edge, so it wasn’t unusual for kids to take a starring role in Fourth of July festivities. Today, fireworks are heavily restricted for kids.
Playing on Construction Sites
Ask any ‘70s kid, and they’ll tell you that anything can be a playground! That’s because many of them played on empty construction sites, and danger was part of the fun. Nowadays, parents wouldn’t let their kids play on any potentially hazardous sites, and these areas are mostly fenced off.
Unsupervised Swimming
Drowning is one of the biggest dangers to children, so parents today make sure they supervise their kids any time they’re in water. But things were more lax in the 1970s, and many children swam alone in pools, lakes, or the ocean without floatation devices.
Going Out Barefoot
‘70s parents didn’t exactly encourage going out barefoot, but they also saw no issue with their kids roaming streets and fields without shoes. Today’s parents would find stress about cuts, splinters, and poor hygiene, but ‘70s kids embraced the feeling of their bare feet on the ground.
Biking With No Helmet
Almost every kid had a bike in the 1970s, but that doesn’t mean they were wearing helmets! In fact, it was the norm to ride without any safety gear. Head injuries were an unacknowledged risk, unlike today, when they’re used as cautionary tales to promote helmets.
