Remember the Good Old Days?
If you so happen to be a Boomer, you probably have memories that would make today’s parents faint in horror. Cars, bikes, toys, everything was dangerous, and there was much less supervision. Today’s safety standards and technology are godsends in many ways, of course, but that doesn’t mean the old ways weren’t kinda fun. Here’s 35 things Boomers did that today’s kids never would.
Riding in Cars Without Seat Belts
Back in the day, it wasn’t against the law to not wear a seat belt. Kids piled into the back seat - or even the back of pickup trucks - with zero restraints and were left to bounce around. It’s probably quite obvious why this one changed fast.
Drinking From the Garden Hose
Boomers didn’t need fancy reusable bottles. When they were thirsty, they’d run to the nearest garden hose, turn it on, and drink straight from it. It tasted like rubber, according to those who tried it. Today’s parents would never in a million years allow their children to do this.
Playing Outside Until the Streetlights Came On
Boomer kids disappeared after school and didn’t come home until the streetlights told them it was time. No texts, no nothing! Parents trusted kids to roam the neighborhood. Now, most wouldn’t let their kids out of sight for that long, the world got too dangerous.
Riding Bikes Without Helmets
If you had a bike, you rode it everywhere… but helmets weren’t a thing yet. Now, of course, people are much more aware that a bike accident can cause brain damage and kids aren’t allowed out without helmets. But many have fond memories of the wind in their hair.
Playing With Fireworks
Backyard fireworks were just part of growing up. Kids lit firecrackers, bottle rockets, and sparklers with barely a glance from the adults. Let’s not romanticize this one too much, though: it was seriously dangerous. A misaimed firework can easily kill a child.
Enjoying Candy Cigarettes
It sounds ridiculous now, but candy cigarettes were all the rage once. Kids would "smoke" them while mimicking adults, pretending to look cool. Nobody batted an eye. Today, the idea of normalizing smoking for kids would cause a social media storm, and rightly so.
Hitchhiking or Picking Up Hitchhikers
Need a ride? Just stick out your thumb. Hitchhiking was pretty common in the 60s, and plenty of teens did it to get around. Some adults even picked up kids without thinking twice. These days, the idea of letting a child ride with a stranger is horrifying, as is the idea of getting in a car with someone you don’t know.
Running Errands Alone at a Young Age
Boomers were trusted with a five-dollar bill and sent off to the corner store - sometimes as young as seven or eight. They’d grab whatever their parents wanted and walk back alone. Sometimes the thing they were sent to buy was cigarettes, by the way.
Playing With BB Guns or Slingshots
BB guns and slingshots were just regular toys for Boomer kids. Target practice on cans, fences, or whatever else was around was totally normal, and no-one wore goggles. Several eye incidents later and we know better now.
Riding in the Front Seat as a Little Kid
Boomer kids didn’t wait to be 12 to ride shotgun. As soon as they were out of a booster (or even before), they were riding up front. Airbags weren’t even a thing! These days, front-seat rules are much more strict.
Walking to School Alone
It wasn’t unusual back in the day for a five- or six-year-old to walk themselves to school and even cross busy streets. They were told to look both ways and that was about it – no crossing guards in sight. Today, most schools wouldn’t even allow it.
Playing With Lawn Darts (Jarts)
Remember lawn darts? They were heavy, pointy, and wildly dangerous - but they were marketed as toys! Boomer kids played with them all the time. But eventually, some painful tragedies led to their banning.
Drinking Soda Like It Was Water
Back in the 50s and 60s, cola was just part of childhood. Nowadays, sugary drinks are heavily frowned upon due to their contribution to obesity and tooth rot, and many schools have banned them outright. Some parents have, too!
Climbing Trees Without Supervision
If a kid wants to climb today, they have to go to an activity center, get attached to a rope and wear a helmet at all times. But that wasn’t the case once upon a time – kids were constantly climbing trees. And yep, they frequently fell out and broke their arms or legs.
Watching TV Shows With Zero Parental Guidance
There were no content ratings or parental locks once upon a time. If it was on TV and you were still awake, you could watch it. That’s how come multiple children would up being traumatized by adult content or horror movies late at night.
