Growing up in the past was a different experience compared to today. Kids had more freedom to explore, take risks, and learn from their mistakes. The world has changed a lot since then, and many things you did as a child are now considered dangerous or inappropriate. In this article, I’ll share 25 childhood antics that would raise eyebrows in today’s world.
1. Riding in the Back of a Pickup Truck
Riding in the back of a pickup truck used to be a common sight on roads. Children would feel the wind rushing past them as the truck moved. Some would wave at passing cars or play games with friends during the ride. Today, this practice is illegal in many places due to safety concerns.
2. Walking to School Alone
In the past, many children walked to school by themselves, even from a young age. It allowed kids to meet up with friends and experience some independence. Parents generally worried less about strangers or traffic. Now, most parents drive their children to school or closely supervise their walk.
3. Staying Out Until the Streetlights Came On
A common rule for children was to be home when the streetlights came on. Kids would spend hours playing outside without constant adult supervision. They’d explore the neighborhood and play games, only heading home when it got dark. Today, parents often prefer to know where their children are at all times.
4. Drinking from the Garden Hose
On hot summer days, children would often drink water straight from the garden hose. It was seen as a convenient and refreshing way to quench thirst. Now, it’s known that hose water can contain harmful bacteria and chemicals, making this practice discouraged.
5. Riding Bikes Without Helmets
Bike rides were once synonymous with helmetless heads feeling the breeze. Children would zip around neighborhoods, sometimes performing stunts or racing each other. Today, helmet laws and increased safety awareness have made riding without a helmet unthinkable for many parents.
6. Playing with Lawn Darts
Lawn darts were once a popular backyard game with heavy, pointed darts thrown at a target on the ground. Families would spend hours playing this game at gatherings. The game was later banned in many countries due to severe injuries and deaths, especially among children.
7. Buying Cigarettes for Parents
It wasn’t uncommon for parents to send their children to the store to buy cigarettes. Kids would complete this grown-up errand, sometimes even keeping the change. Today, strict age restrictions and awareness of smoking dangers make this practice illegal and socially unacceptable.
8. Making Prank Phone Calls
Before caller ID, making prank calls was a popular pastime for mischievous children. Kids would ask if someone’s refrigerator was running or if they had Prince Albert in a can. Now, with technology tracking calls, this once-harmless fun could lead to serious consequences.
9. Leaving Kids in the Car While Shopping
Parents used to leave children in the car while running quick errands. While waiting, kids would play games, listen to the radio, or nap. Today, this is considered dangerous due to risks of overheating, kidnapping, or accidents, and it can even result in legal trouble for parents.
10. Using Typewriters for School Work
Typing school assignments on a typewriter was once the norm. Students carefully planned their words to avoid mistakes and used correction fluid for errors. The satisfying “ding” at the end of each line was part of the experience. Now, computers and tablets have made typewriters obsolete in schools.
11. Playing Outside Unsupervised All Day
Children used to leave the house in the morning and not return until dinner time. The day would be spent exploring, playing games, and having adventures without adult supervision. Parents trusted their kids to be safe and return when they were supposed to. Today, constant supervision is more common due to safety concerns.
12. Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking was once seen as an adventurous way to travel. Teens and young adults would stick out their thumbs, hoping for a ride to their destination. It was a way to meet new people and save money on transportation. Now, the dangers of getting into a stranger’s car are well-known, making hitchhiking rare and often illegal.
13. Smoking Areas in High Schools
Many high schools used to have designated smoking areas for students. It was a place where older teens could openly smoke between classes. Teachers sometimes even joined students for a cigarette. Today, smoking is banned on most school properties, reflecting changed attitudes about youth smoking.
14. Using Phones Attached to the Wall
Home phones were once attached to the wall by a cord. People would stretch the cord as far as it would go for privacy, often sitting on the floor or hiding in a closet for long chats. Today’s kids with smartphones would find this limited mobility strange and inconvenient.
15. Writing Checks at the Grocery Store
Going grocery shopping often involved overseeing adults writing out a check at the checkout. Children would learn about balancing checkbooks and managing a budget. Now, with debit cards and digital payments, writing checks at stores is rare and might even hold up the line.
16. Playing with Mercury
In science class, students sometimes got to play with mercury, watching it form fascinating silver beads. They’d touch it and marvel at how it moved. Today, the severe health risks of mercury exposure are known, and it’s no longer allowed in schools.
17. Seat Belts Were Optional
Riding in a car without a seat belt was once common. During long trips, children would bounce around in the backseat or even lie down for naps. Now, strict seat belt laws and awareness of car safety have made this unthinkable for most families.
18. Door-to-Door Selling
Many children participated in door-to-door selling for school fundraisers or organizations like Boy Scouts. Kids would go around the neighborhood alone, knocking on doors to sell cookies, candy, or magazine subscriptions. Today, safety concerns have largely ended this practice for children.
19. Making Mixed Tapes
Creating the perfect mixed tape was an art form. Hours would be spent recording songs from the radio or other tapes, carefully planning the order and timing. It was a popular way to express feelings or make a gift for someone special. Digital playlists have replaced this time-consuming but beloved practice.
20. Using Encyclopedias for Homework
Before the internet, encyclopedias were the go-to source for school research. Students would flip through heavy books, looking for information on their topics. Sometimes, a trip to the library was necessary if a full set wasn’t available at home. Now, online resources have made physical encyclopedias almost obsolete.
21. Playing with Toy Guns That Looked Real
Toy guns that looked remarkably like real firearms were once popular playthings. Children would have cops and robbers shootouts or play war games in the backyard. Concerns about gun violence and tragic misunderstandings have led to stricter regulations on realistic-looking toy weapons.
22. Waiting for Film to Be Developed
Taking photos meant using up a roll of film and then waiting days or even weeks to see the results. The anticipation of picking up developed photos was exciting, even if some pictures didn’t turn out well. Digital cameras and smartphones have made this wait a thing of the past.
23. Using Physical Maps for Road Trips
Family road trips often involved big, folded paper maps. Children would help navigate, tracing routes with their fingers and learning to read map legends. Getting lost meant pulling over to consult the map or ask for directions. GPS and smartphone apps have largely replaced this hands-on navigation experience.
24. Slam Books
Slam books were popular in schools, filled with questions that classmates would answer anonymously. They’d be passed around, with students eager to see what others wrote about them. While fun at the time, these books could also be a source of gossip and hurt feelings. Today, concerns about bullying have made slam books unacceptable in most schools.
25. Making Cleaning Solutions in Chemistry Class
Chemistry classes often involved making various solutions, sometimes even creating things like invisible ink or small explosions. Students would mix chemicals under minimal supervision, learning through hands-on experiments. Stricter safety regulations now limit the types of experiments students can perform in school labs.
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