1. Letting Kids Wander Until Dark
Back in the ’60s, it wasn’t uncommon for parents to send kids outside in the morning and only expect them back by dinnertime. There were few phone calls to check in, and certainly no tracking devices. Today, this would raise serious safety concerns—not to mention the risk of a few panicked calls to the police!
2. No Seatbelts? No Problem!
Believe it or not, seatbelt laws weren’t around in the ’60s, and it was pretty common for kids to pile into the car without being buckled up. Some parents even let kids sit on their laps in the front seat! Today, car seat laws are incredibly strict, with regulations for each age and weight bracket.
3. Smoking Around Kids
In the ’60s, it wasn’t unusual to see parents lighting up in the car with their kids in the backseat or puffing away in the house. Nowadays, we’re well aware of the dangers of secondhand smoke, and this would be considered highly irresponsible and unhealthy.
4. Letting Siblings “Sort It Out”
Sibling fights were often dismissed with a quick, “Go work it out yourselves.” Parents believed this toughened kids up and taught them to solve problems independently. Today, we take bullying and physical altercations more seriously, stepping in to mediate and teach conflict resolution skills.
5. Corporal Punishment
It was fairly normal for parents (and even teachers) to use a quick smack or swat as a form of discipline. Today, physical punishment is generally discouraged, and many places have even banned corporal punishment in schools, emphasizing positive reinforcement and open communication instead.
6. The “Kids Are Seen, Not Heard” Mentality
Many parents in the ’60s expected children to be quiet and obedient, often discouraging them from speaking up at the dinner table or in adult conversations. These days, parenting encourages kids to express themselves and participate in family discussions.
7. Spending Hours Alone in the House
Latchkey kids were a staple in the ’60s. Many parents saw nothing wrong with leaving children home alone for hours, often after school while they were at work. Today, rules around child supervision are much stricter, and unsupervised time is usually minimized, especially for younger kids.
8. Letting Kids Watch Whatever Was on TV
With fewer restrictions on media, children often watched whatever was on television—even if it was meant for adults. Parents weren’t as concerned about filtering out mature themes, which is a sharp contrast to today, where parental controls and kid-safe programming are the norm.
9. Early Exposure to Alcohol
Back then, it wasn’t unusual for kids to take a sip of their parents’ wine or beer at a family gathering. Today, parents are much more conscious about limiting children’s exposure to alcohol, understanding the developmental risks and reinforcing age-appropriate boundaries.
10. Expecting Kids to “Tough Out” Injuries
In the ’60s, many parents expected their kids to brush off injuries and avoid the doctor unless it was really serious. A sprained ankle or cut might get a quick Band-Aid, but that was it. Today, we’re more attentive to even minor injuries, often seeking medical attention for issues parents might have ignored back then.
11. No Emphasis on Emotional Health
Talking about feelings and mental health wasn’t a focus in the ’60s. Kids were expected to handle their emotions on their own, often with phrases like, “Stop crying” or “Toughen up.” Today, there’s a much greater emphasis on children’s emotional well-being, with parents teaching emotional literacy and seeking help for mental health concerns.
12. Bribing with Candy or Sweets
It wasn’t unusual for parents to offer candy as a reward for good behavior or a way to get kids to comply. Nowadays, health-conscious parenting discourages bribing with sugar, focusing instead on non-food rewards or praising kids in ways that don’t involve treats.
13. Hands-Off in School Matters
In the ’60s, if a child had an issue at school, parents would usually leave it to the teacher or principal to handle. Parent involvement in school was minimal, with the assumption that the school knew best. Today, many parents are deeply involved in their children’s education, attending school events, meeting with teachers regularly, and advocating for their kids’ needs.
