Growing up in the 1960s and early 70s was a different world, folks. We had freedoms that today’s helicopter parents would consider downright dangerous—and maybe they were! But those experiences shaped us into who we are today. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and look at some things we did with our siblings that would probably get our parents arrested nowadays.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Riding in the Back of Pickup Trucks
- 2 2. Leaving Kids in the Car While Shopping
- 3 3. Wandering the Neighborhood Until Dark
- 4 4. Drinking from the Garden Hose
- 5 5. Riding Bikes Without Helmets
- 6 6. Playing with Lawn Darts (Jarts)
- 7 7. Sitting in the Front Seat as a Toddler
- 8 8. Making Prank Phone Calls
- 9 9. Second-Hand Smoke Everywhere
- 10 10. Selling Door-to-Door Without Adults
- 11 11. Building Tree Houses Without Permits
- 12 12. Buying Cigarettes for Parents
- 13 13. BB Gun Wars in the Woods
- 14 14. Hitchhiking Around Town
1. Riding in the Back of Pickup Trucks
Nothing could beat the feeling of wind in your hair as you and your siblings bounced around in the back of Dad’s pickup truck. We’d wave at passing cars, feel the rush of air on rural roads, and sometimes even lie down to watch the sky. Today, riding unrestrained in a truck bed is illegal in many states, but back then, it was just another way to get around—no one thought twice about it.
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2. Leaving Kids in the Car While Shopping
Mom would run into the grocery store “just for a minute,” leaving us kids to entertain ourselves in the car. We’d play games, make faces, or just people-watch. Sometimes those quick trips seemed to last forever, but nobody thought it was dangerous. Today, this would prompt a call to the police or child services in many places.
3. Wandering the Neighborhood Until Dark
The only rule was “be home when the street lights come on.” We’d roam for hours, exploring woods, fields, and every backyard in the neighborhood. There were no phones or GPS—just your wits and a strong sense of adventure. Today, letting kids roam unsupervised would be unthinkable in most communities.
4. Drinking from the Garden Hose
On hot days, we didn’t run inside for a drink—we’d gulp water straight from the garden hose. The taste of warm, rubbery hose water is unforgettable to our generation. Today, many parents worry about water quality and chemicals in hoses, making this a relic of the past.
5. Riding Bikes Without Helmets
Our bikes were our ticket to freedom, and we rode everywhere—no helmets, pads, or reflective gear. We’d race, jump curbs, and crash, all with just a few scrapes to show for it. Helmet laws didn’t arrive until the late 1980s and 90s, so we just hoped for the best and kept riding.
6. Playing with Lawn Darts (Jarts)
Lawn darts, or “Jarts,” were essentially metal-tipped missiles meant to be tossed across the yard. We’d try to avoid getting impaled as they landed dangerously close. The Consumer Product Safety Commission banned them in 1988 after numerous injuries, but back then, they were just part of summer fun.
7. Sitting in the Front Seat as a Toddler
Before strict car seat laws, young kids often rode up front, sometimes even standing on the seat. A parent’s quick arm across the chest was the only “airbag” we knew. Car seats for small children didn’t become common or mandatory in most states until the 1980s.
8. Making Prank Phone Calls
Before caller ID and tracing, prank calls were a sleepover staple. We’d ask silly questions (“Is your refrigerator running?”) and hang up giggling. Today, it’s considered harassment and is easily traceable, but back then it was almost a rite of passage.
9. Second-Hand Smoke Everywhere
Smoking was allowed just about everywhere—restaurants, airports, cars, and even hospitals. Many of us recall long road trips in a blue haze. Today, smoking around children is widely discouraged or even illegal in cars in some states, but back then, it was normal.
10. Selling Door-to-Door Without Adults
From Scout cookies to school fundraisers, kids commonly knocked on strangers’ doors, sometimes alone or with siblings. We’d step into living rooms for a drink or to make our pitch. Today, most parents would never let their kids go door-to-door without supervision.
11. Building Tree Houses Without Permits
We’d scavenge leftover wood and nails to build rickety treehouses, sometimes far off the ground. No one checked for zoning or safety—just our own sense of adventure. Today, parents worry about liability and safety codes before letting kids build anything in the yard.
12. Buying Cigarettes for Parents
It was common for parents to send kids to the corner store with a note to buy cigarettes. Clerks rarely questioned a child buying for an adult. These days, tobacco sales are strictly regulated and this would be illegal in all states.
13. BB Gun Wars in the Woods
Many of us got BB guns as kids and, despite warnings, would have mock battles in the woods. “Don’t shoot at the face” was usually the only rule. Today, even toy guns are controversial, and unsupervised play with BB guns is considered highly unsafe.
14. Hitchhiking Around Town
Back then, it wasn’t unusual for teens (and sometimes even younger kids) to thumb a ride across town. Everyone knew everyone in smaller communities, and catching a lift with a neighbor or family friend was just part of daily life. We’d hitchhike to baseball practice, the swimming pool, or just to get to a friend’s house. Today, the mere suggestion of letting kids hitchhike would horrify parents and likely result in a visit from social services.
