If you grew up in the ‘60s, you’ll know that it was a completely different experience compared to today. The combination of fewer rules, less supervision, and a slower pace of life meant that ‘60s kids had a unique kind of freedom that’s very hard to find today.
Here are some of the ways childhood in the 1960s differs from today.
Playing Outside Until Late
In the ’60s, it was completely normal for kids to spend entire afternoons playing outdoors without any check-ins. While it’s hard to imagine today, many parents simply trusted that their kids would come home when the streetlights turned on.
Nowadays, with heightened safety concerns, this kind of unsupervised outdoor play has become extremely rare.
Riding Bikes Without Helmets
Any ‘60s kid could tell you that wearing a helmet wasn’t even a thought for most children riding their bikes back then. Kids would speed down streets and sidewalks with no protective gear in sight. Things have really changed since then, as safety regulations and awareness have made helmets a must-have.
Drinking From the Garden Hose
If you were alive in the ‘60s, you might remember quenching your thirst with a drink straight from the garden hose. It made sense at the time, as there were no bottled waters or hydration reminders. These days, though, concerns about bacteria and contaminants make drinking from a hose unthinkable for most parents.
Walking to School Alone
In the 1960s, kids as young as six or seven could frequently be seen walking to school by themselves or with friends, rain or shine. Back then, whether it was right or not, parents trusted their neighborhoods to be safe.
Today, things are pretty different, as fears about traffic and stranger danger mean most kids are either driven or closely supervised on their way to school.
Driving Without Seatbelts
Car safety standards, what are those? Many cars in the ‘60s didn’t even have seatbelts in the backseat, and if they did, they often went unused. People were much less aware of just how dangerous this habit could be back then. It goes without saying that kids piled into cars without seatbelts or boosters would horrify modern parents.
Roller Skating Without Pads
Safety standards were also pretty lax when it came to other activities, like roller skating. This was a popular pastime in the ‘60s, and kids would zip around sidewalks without wearing any protective gear like pads or helmets. Most people would see it as unnecessarily dangerous today, but back then, skinned knees and scraped elbows were just part of the fun.
Hitchhiking Without a Second Thought
If you were a ‘60s teen who needed a quick way to get from point A to point B, hitchhiking was an easy solution. While not all parents were on board, it wasn’t unusual to see kids catching rides with strangers. Nowadays, the idea of hitchhiking is unthinkable for most teens and parents alike.
Playing with Fireworks
Rules around fireworks weren’t so strict a few decades ago, and in the ’60s, kids often had easy access to fireworks, which they lit off all by themselves during holidays like the Fourth of July. Sparklers, firecrackers, and even bottle rockets were also handed out freely.
Eating Whatever Was in the Lunchbox
As ‘60s parents and kids will remember, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, sugary sodas, and snack cakes were all staples in a kid’s lunchbox. There were no concerns about food allergies or strict nutritional guidelines back in those days. It’s probably for the best that allergies are taken a lot more seriously today, and schools will often monitor what kids bring to school.
Watching Saturday Morning Cartoons Only
Modern children would be appalled at the idea of waiting until the weekend to watch their shows, but that’s exactly how it was in the ‘60s. You’d have to wait all week to see your favorite Saturday morning cartoons. While the wait could feel like it lasted forever, it was still a cherished ritual to gather around the TV for a few hours of Bugs Bunny or The Flintstones.
Climbing Trees Without Supervision
Tree climbing was simply a rite of passage back in the ’60s, and you’d always see kids scaling branches as high as they dared. Parents rarely worried about falls or broken bones, which has changed a lot since then. These days, climbing trees often requires adult oversight—or is outright discouraged.
Bringing BB Guns to the Backyard
As you may remember, BB guns were a common toy for boys in the 1960s, and many learned how to use them with little to no adult supervision. Today, many parents consider BB guns dangerous, with many authorities warning that they can even be life-threatening under some circumstances. It’s no surprise, then, that they’re far less common among kids today.
Trick-or-Treating Without Parents
Back in the good old days, Halloween meant roaming the neighborhood with a group of friends, knocking on doors, and filling up pillowcases with candy. Parents didn’t usually tag along for the journey, as there was little concern about safety.
Now, the vast majority of kids are accompanied by adults or go to controlled events like trunk-or-treat.
Swimming Without Lifeguard Supervision
Yes, lifeguards were a thing in the ‘60s, but that doesn’t mean they were always as present as they should’ve been. Many ‘60s kids spent their summers swimming at local pools where lifeguards weren’t present or paying close attention to younger children. Older siblings or friends were left in charge, and the “deep end” was less of a big deal.
Making Their Own Toys
There was something incredibly empowering and fun about making your own toys in the ‘60s. Imagination was king back then, and kids often created their own toys from household items, like using a stick for a sword or a cardboard box for a castle. While some kids still do this today, most have access to an abundance of ready-made toys and gadgets, so it’s simply not as enticing.
Running Errands Alone
In the ‘60s, it certainly wasn’t uncommon for kids to be sent to the corner store to grab milk or bread, even if it meant crossing busy streets. Today, it makes sense that this would be seen as too risky, which is why the vast majority of errands are handled by adults.
Doing Chores Without Complaining
If you were a ‘60s kid, you’ll remember that doing chores wasn’t an ask: it was a command. Back then, you were expected to pitch in with household chores without any fuss or moaning. Today, while parents do still assign chores, there’s a lot more supervision and negotiation involved.
Spending All Day at the Arcade
Teens in the 1960s commonly spent their weekends at hangout spots like bowling alleys or arcades, playing and talking for hours without much adult supervision at all. Now, though, many parents would see this as risky and prefer more structured activities where they can make sure their kids are safe.