Every generation goes through a different experience. If you would speak to someone from the baby boomer generation, you can easily see the generation gap there – especially when you start comparing childhood stories. You would not believe what kind of childhood they have!
Source: Memory Prints
Baby boomers happened to have a lot of freedom and at the same time, they were taught to handle responsibility at such an early age. In fact, how kids behaved in their time would be horrifying for the parents of today. Read on to see all the ridiculous things boomer kids had that would be impossible for kids to do today.
No babyproofing
Once a baby is coming, today’s parents would start babyproofing their house. When their baby is born, the baby will get to enjoy a cushy and safe house. As a result, parents will have less to worry about.
Source: Herald Weekly
Back in the 60s, babyproofing was hardly a thing. If a baby wanted to explore and play with something around the house, they are bound to do it. I guess we could see now why baby boomers are so tough with a get-go attitude.
Unsupervised playtime outdoors
It was not uncommon to see young kids playing outdoors without a grownup in sight during the 60s. Back then, the neighborhoods were still safe and most kids often played in groups where there is an older sibling or older neighbor around.
Source: Herald Weekly
There were no smartphones or computers to keep kids indoors. Once a kid was allowed to go outside to play, chances are they would all hang out together until dinner time. Today, some parents have to force their kids to be outdoors.
Family talks in private
Back in the 60s, family life was pretty generic and conservative. Deep conversations and sharing of feelings were never to be discussed in public or in the presence of guests. Back then, only the adults would discuss grownup matters and kids can’t say a thing about it.
Source: Herald Weekly
Today, parents are doing all they can to stay connected and engaged with their kids. Sometimes, almost to the point that kids are comfortable talking back to their parents. Maybe we have not found the right balance just yet.
No seatbelt law
Seatbelts were invented and introduced to society in 1959. And the seatbelt law was not implemented until 1985. So, it is no surprise that parents during the 60s were not so big on the seatbelts when they drive around with their kids.
Source: Herald Weekly
While putting our seatbelts on seems to be second nature to our generation now, back then, it was not the case. Kids would sit in the front seat without seatbelts and if you are an infant, it is most likely that you get to ride on somebody’s lap.
Cereals passed as a decent breakfast
If someone finds out that you served your kid cereal for breakfast, you would be judged as an irresponsible parent. Back in the 60s, people would not bat an eyelash. Cereal was considered to be a great breakfast option back then.
Source: Herald Weekly
Cereals were so popular and the kids love these sugary treats soaked in milk. They eventually realized cereal is not a good thing when the belly aches and toothaches became a constant thing.
Pox parties
Vaccines did not exist back in the 60s so when there was a slew of infectious diseases like chicken pox, measles, mumps, and rubella, kids were intentionally exposed to “get it over with.”
Source: Herald Weekly
People saw that these diseases were inevitable. Fortunately, kids were able to bounce back and recover right away and were able to develop immunities. Thankfully, we now have vaccines.
Spanking
Any form of physical punishment imposed on kids these days would definitely cause some judgment and eyebrow-raising. In some cases, child services would even come knocking on your door. Back in the 60s, discipline was serious and it hurt.
Source: Herald Weekly
If you misbehaved as a kid in the 60s, you will be getting a good spanking. Some kids even get worse – the belt. Thankfully back then, there was less parental supervision so kids still were able to make some mischief but once caught, it would be a world of pain for them.
Fire hydrant showers
Getting a shower from fire hydrants is quite popular for kids in the 60s – especially during summertime. A grownup would often blast open a fire hydrant to give sweaty kids a fun way to cool down and beat the heat.
Source: Herald Weekly
Today, any parent would be horrified if their kid got a fire hydrant shower. The quality of water that you get from them is actually questionable. It could be very risky. Plus, it would be illegal to tamper or use a fire hydrant for unofficial reasons.
Drinking from garden hoses
Summers in the 60s are for kids playing outdoors and running in the yard. Some would even play in the streets with other kids from the neighborhood. And these play and sweat sessions would often end up with the garden hose.
Source: Herald Weekly
Kids would often line up to take a drink from a garden hose. Back then, water regulation was not a thing. People thought drinking from the garden hose was safe. Today, we definitely would not allow kids to drink from the hose.
Gender-defined toys
Back in the 60s, kids could only enjoy toys specifically made for their gender. This means anything blue and can shoot stuff would go to a boy while girls are to play with pink and soft toys.
Source: Herald Weekly
Today’s kids are free to choose and play with whatever toy they want. We are now more open-minded and gender-sensitive. Boys can wear pink and girls can indulge in sports and shooting-related toys.
Boys don’t cry
Back then, boys matured at a very young age. They were expected to act like young men and they were not encouraged to cry. When young boys fall and get hurt, they had to suck it up like a real man.
Source: Herald Weekly
Today, the expectations are more relaxed now. Boys are allowed to be kids. Thankfully, little boys are free to express their emotions, and crying is now perceived as a natural reaction for them.
Girls should be prim and proper
If boys were not allowed to cry, young girls were expected not to run around and be loud. If you were a young girl in the 60s, you would be wearing dresses and expected to play with dolls and easy-bake ovens.
Source: Herald Weekly
A girl running around, climbing a tree, or simply talking loudly would definitely get a scolding from her mother back then. Thankfully today, we can see girls being able to act and play around freely.
Cheap candy
Candy stores were very common during the 60s. Back then, candies were so cheap that kids could get a couple of sugar-loaded goodies for just a nickel! Kids would often come in and get out with a brown paper bag full of treats.
Source: Herald Weekly
Of course, parents are more conscious of the dental hygiene of their kids today. You can barely see a store solely dedicated to candies and chocolates. Plus the good candies and chocolates do not come in cheap anymore.
Walking to school
Back in the 60s, it was normal for kids to walk to school and walk back home. The very young kids would usually have an older sibling or have an older kid from the neighborhood walk with them.
Source: Herald Weekly
Of course, times back then were different. Crimes were not as rampant and there was less danger on the roads compared to today. Today, letting your kids walk to school would be a terrifying thought.
Latchkey kids are common
Mothers started joining the workforce during the 60s. This meant some households had both parents working when kids go home from school. But this was not a problem – the kids did not need a babysitter.
Source: Herald Weekly
If parents allowed their kids to roam the streets with minimal supervision, they definitely can do fine by themselves alone in their home. Usually, the eldest sibling is in charge around the house until the parents get home.
Bubblegum balloons
Bubblegum was a hit in the 60s and kids could not get enough of it. They had fun blowing those bubblegum balloons. You can often find kids having a competition about who would blow the biggest balloon.
Source: Herald Weekly
The obsession with bubblegum came with a price – cavities. Bubblegum back then was loaded with so much sugar that teachers and parents started to discourage kids from eating them because of constant dentist visits.
Trampolines had no safety net
In the 60s, having your own trampoline in the yard is one of the best ways to make friends in the neighborhood. Every kid who sees it would definitely want to give it a try. Which is a scary thought considering trampolines had no safety nets back then.
Source: Herald Weekly
As expected, countless kids have suffered from broken arms, sprains in various parts of the body, and bumped heads. If you were lucky, you’d just get off with a limp and some bruising. Today, safety nets are required if you want to use a trampoline.
Friendships were close and tight
Friendships formed in the 60s were very tight. Best friends were inseparable and often have secret communications, and secret handshakes, and would even buy the same stuff so they would match.
Source: Herald Weekly
While circles were small back then, today, kids seem to think that they need to be in a big group. The more people who know you, the better. Add the pressure of social media and kids these days have friends from all over without making a pure connection.
Community parenting is a thing
Back in the 60s, it is normal for parents from the neighborhood or community to discipline another person’s child for misbehaving in their presence. They could give this child yelling or in some cases, even a form of punishment.
Source: Herald Weekly
If this happened today, it would be a major issue. No one has the right to discipline a child except for that child’s parents. If you try to discipline someone else’s kid, you may even find yourself facing a lawsuit.
Cycling without helmets
Bicycles were very big during the 60s. Back then, parents do not drive their kids around. They either walked or rode their bikes. Every father made it a point to teach their kid how to ride a bike back then. And helmets were not yet a requirement.
Source: Herald Weekly
Every kid went through all the falling and scraping their knees phase while learning to ride. And they rode their bikes off on the street without any helmets to protect their heads. Those who happen to wear one are usually teased to be dorks.
Sending kids to the store for errands
Back in the 1960s, the community gets to witness how kids grow up through the years because they are taught to go around to run errands at a young stage. Young kids are often sent to the store with a note to hand to the store owner.
Source: Herald Weekly
The store owner, in turn, will gather everything needed and give the package to the kids. Today, it’s hardly possible to send a young kid out in the store with cash in their hands. The world is no longer as safe as it was during the 60s.
Running free on the beach
In large, open places like the beach, we have been trained to always keep an eye out for the kids. But back in the 60s, parents stayed true to letting kids run free without supervision. After all, they had lifeguards all over the place to make sure everyone is safe.
Source: Herald Weekly
In fact, if the family lived nearby, the parents would even go ahead home if the kids do not want to leave just yet. That’s how confident they were about their community. Can you imagine doing the same these days?
Bowl haircuts
The baby boomer generation was the first to be tortured with what we call “bowl haircuts.” Some parents are still doing this haircut style to their kids on this very day to save a trip to the salon or barbershop.
Source: Herald Weekly
The bowl haircut is when a parent would simply put a bowl over their kids’ heads, ask them to keep still and trim the hair according to the bowl. The result is bowl-shaped hair and bangs that framed the face.
Playing in the streets
In the 60s, if there were no parks or backyards nearby, kids literally played their games out on the streets. Back then, cars were not as fast and there was not much traffic going on. And sometimes, passerbys would even stop by and watch.
Source: Herald Weekly
Kids would usually play hockey, marbles, hopscotch, and many more on the streets. That is practically impossible to do now with all the speeding and heavy traffic going on in the streets.
Lab kits were dangerous
Kids were encouraged to consider a career in science back in the 60s. One of the ways to encourage this is to conduct science experiments so they can find out at an early age how fascinating the subject is. And this is done by selling lab kits.
Source: Herald Weekly
However, most of the lab kits are actually using actual hazardous and flammable chemicals such as ammonium nitrate and potassium permanganate. When not used properly, it could lead to explosions!
Kids visited each other’s houses
During the 60s, parents get to know their children’s friends because they would visit each other’s houses to hang out. Then they would probably stay there the whole day and sometimes even have dinner there.
Source: Herald Weekly
Back then, kids would simply tell their parents which house they will be hanging out in and provide the telephone number of their friends. Today, modern parents have playdates where planning and scheduling are involved so kids can socialize together.
Spinning too fast on the playground
Playgrounds were a form of paradise for kids in the 1960s. The playground version of the merry-go-round is always a hit but what everyone does not realize back then is how dangerous it really is.
Source: Herald Weekly
Spinning the merry-go-round can be fun but back then, kids were encouraged to even go faster. This can be harmful as it can make kids feel nauseous, or worse, they could be flying off the merry-go-round if they are unable to hold on tightly.
Kids can use the stove and oven
When both parents are working, kids in the 60s would find themselves home alone for hours. Unless their mothers were able to find time to prepare their dinner ahead of time, these kids often had to learn at a young age how to cook their own dinners.
Source: Herald Weekly
It is not surprising to find a little kid knowing how to cook back then. Today, it would be a real surprise to have a kid that knows how to operate a microwave at a very young age or a kid who could survive making their own dinner.
Swirlies are real
We’ve seen movies where the school bullies would pick on the biggest nerd and dunk his head in the toilet. The sad thing is that this really happens in most schools during that time. If you were a nerd in the 60s, you would be most likely bullied.
Source: Herald Weekly
Although bullying is still pretty much around, thankfully, the methods of bullying have changed over the years. It is still cruel but not as cruel and humiliating as a swirlie. Students and schools are no longer tolerating it.