Looking back, it’s amazing what people got away with in the ’60s and ’70s. From risky toys to questionable habits, so many things that were considered completely normal back then would raise serious alarms today. Whether it was an extreme dare, a poorly designed product, or just a complete disregard for safety, these fads were part of everyday life. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and remember 13 dangerous fads from the ’60s and ’70s that, somehow, nobody thought twice about at the time.
1. Lawn Darts (Jarts)
If you grew up in the ’60s or ’70s, there’s a good chance you had a set of lawn darts—or at least knew someone who did. These weighted metal darts were meant to be tossed toward plastic rings on the ground, but more often than not, they ended up sticking into something (or someone) else. With sharp metal tips and a surprising amount of force, they were basically small javelins disguised as a backyard game. Their disappearance is marked by intense grief, writes Mental Floss.
It wasn’t until the ’80s that the Consumer Product Safety Commission finally banned them after several serious injuries and even fatalities. Today, the idea of handing kids a set of flying spears seems absurd, but back then, it was just another fun summer activity. The craziest part? Parents were usually right there watching—and still didn’t think it was a bad idea.
2. Riding in the Back of Pickup Trucks
Before anyone thought about seatbelt laws, piling into the back of a moving pickup truck was just part of growing up. Whether it was a ride to the lake, a quick trip down the road, or just a fun way to catch the breeze, kids and even adults thought nothing of sitting on the edge of a truck bed with their legs dangling off the side. There was no padding, no safety harness—just a whole lot of blind trust that the driver wouldn’t hit a bump too hard. As for the legality of this practice today, writes Magnum Truck Racks, that’s definitely worth being aware of.
Nowadays, laws in most places prohibit passengers from riding in the back of an open truck for obvious reasons. But back in the ’60s and ’70s, it was so common that seeing a group of kids crammed into a truck bed barely got a second glance. Looking back, it’s amazing that more people didn’t get seriously hurt.
3. Smoking Anywhere and Everywhere
In the ’60s and ’70s, smoking wasn’t just common—it was practically encouraged. You could light up on airplanes, in restaurants, at work, and even in hospitals without anyone batting an eye. Ads featured doctors endorsing their favorite brands, and parents smoked in the car with the windows rolled up, kids in the backseat breathing it all in. Today, notes American Lung Association, the trend is actually unfavorable among many adults anyway.
By today’s standards, it seems unthinkable that smoking was so widely accepted in every corner of life. As health studies became more public, attitudes slowly shifted, leading to smoking bans in most indoor spaces. But for a long time, a cloud of secondhand smoke was just part of everyday life.
4. Chemistry Sets with Real Chemicals
A chemistry set in the ’60s and ’70s wasn’t just some harmless baking soda volcano kit—it often contained real, dangerous chemicals. Some of these sets had uranium ore samples for radiation experiments, highly flammable substances, and acids that could cause serious burns. It was all part of sparking scientific curiosity, but it also gave kids the tools to accidentally start fires or create toxic fumes.
It wasn’t until later decades that safety concerns forced manufacturers to tone these sets down. While modern versions are much safer, they’re also a lot less exciting. Back then, nobody thought twice about giving a child a box of hazardous materials in the name of learning.
5. BB Gun Battles
BB guns were treated like harmless toys, and many kids took part in backyard battles with little to no protective gear. Running around and shooting at each other was considered a rite of passage, even though those little pellets could cause serious injuries, especially to the eyes. Parents often shrugged it off, saying, “Just don’t shoot your eye out!”—a warning that didn’t stop most kids from trying.
Nowadays, most parents wouldn’t dream of letting their kids shoot at each other for fun. But in the ’60s and ’70s, if you had a BB gun, you were bound to end up in an all-out war with your friends. Somehow, most kids made it through with only a few welts—but those who didn’t learned their lesson the hard way.
6. Playing with Mercury
If a thermometer or a light bulb broke, the little ball of mercury inside was practically a toy. Kids loved rolling it around in their hands, watching it break apart and reform like magic. It was so common that some science teachers even let students play with it in class as a “fun” demonstration.
Of course, we now know that mercury is highly toxic, and exposure can cause serious neurological damage. These days, it’s treated as a hazardous material that requires special cleanup, but back then, it was just another fascinating thing to mess around with. The fact that so many kids were exposed to it is honestly shocking.
7. Trampolines Without Nets or Pads
Trampolines were a backyard staple, but in the ’60s and ’70s, they didn’t have the safety features we see today. No nets, no padding, just exposed metal springs and a whole lot of potential for injury. Kids would launch each other into the air with no thought of where they might land—sometimes on the trampoline, sometimes on the hard ground.
Sprained ankles, broken arms, and even concussions were just part of the experience. Today’s trampolines are much safer, but they also take away some of the daring fun. Back then, it was all about who could jump the highest—no matter the consequences.
8. Hitchhiking
If you needed a ride in the ’60s or ’70s, sticking your thumb out on the side of the road wasn’t seen as dangerous—it was just how people got around. College students, hippies, and even regular travelers considered it a perfectly normal way to get from one place to another. It was so common that even drivers rarely hesitated to pick up strangers.
Over time, horror stories and true crime reports revealed just how risky hitchhiking really was. By the ’80s and ’90s, it had almost completely faded from mainstream culture. But for a long time, hopping into a car with a complete stranger didn’t seem dangerous—it just seemed convenient.
9. Clackers
These noisy toys consisted of two heavy acrylic balls attached to a string, and the goal was to slam them together as fast as possible. When played correctly, they made a loud clacking sound, but when played too roughly, they had a habit of shattering and sending sharp plastic shards flying. Kids ended up with bruises, cuts, and even broken fingers from trying to master the technique.
After enough injuries, they were eventually pulled from the market or redesigned with softer materials. But for a while, Clackers were everywhere, despite the very real risk of them exploding in your hands. If you had a pair, you definitely walked away with at least one painful memory.
Shooting Off Fireworks with No Supervision
Fireworks were a staple of summer nights, and back in the ’60s and ’70s, kids often had free rein to set them off with little to no adult supervision. Sparklers, bottle rockets, and even full-fledged firecrackers were handed out like candy, and kids didn’t hesitate to launch them from their hands, glass bottles, or even mailboxes. Nobody worried too much about burns, lost fingers, or small fires—it was all just part of the fun.
Today, most states have strict regulations on fireworks, and parents are much more cautious about letting kids handle them. But back then, if you made it through the summer without a singed eyebrow or minor burn, you were probably doing something wrong. Somehow, kids managed to survive, though the occasional firework mishap was just considered a learning experience.
10. Drinking Straight from the Garden Hose
On a hot summer day, nothing was more refreshing than taking a long gulp of water straight from the garden hose. Kids would pass the hose around, quenching their thirst without a second thought about what might be inside. Little did they know, those rubber hoses often contained lead, bacteria, and other nasty chemicals that made the water anything but clean.
These days, parents are much more aware of the risks, and bottled or filtered water is the go-to choice. But back in the day, the idea of worrying about “hose water” was unheard of. It tasted a little funny, but if you were playing outside, it was the quickest way to cool down—and nobody thought twice about it.
11. Lead-Based Paint Everywhere
Homes, schools, and playgrounds in the ’60s and ’70s were covered in lead-based paint, and nobody thought much about it. Kids played on lead-painted jungle gyms, chewed on painted windowsills, and even helped with home improvement projects without realizing the health risks. It wasn’t until the late ’70s that the government finally banned lead paint after studies linked it to serious health problems, especially in children.
By today’s standards, the idea of children being surrounded by lead-based paint is horrifying. But back then, it was just a standard part of life, and many people didn’t realize they had been exposed until years later. If you grew up in that era, chances are you were surrounded by lead paint without ever knowing the dangers.
12. No Helmets While Biking or Skateboarding
In the ’60s and ’70s, wearing a helmet while biking or skateboarding was practically unheard of. Kids raced down the street on their Schwinn Stingrays, performed tricks on skateboards, and wiped out regularly—all with nothing but their heads to break the fall. Helmets weren’t just uncommon; they were considered unnecessary and even a little uncool.
Fast-forward to today, and wearing a helmet is standard safety practice, with laws in many places requiring them for kids. But back then, if you crashed and ended up with a few scrapes or a mild concussion, it was just part of growing up. Somehow, despite all the falls, kids dusted themselves off and kept going—though plenty of them still have scars as souvenirs.
Many of the fads that felt completely normal in the ’60s and ’70s would be considered reckless today. From risky toys to everyday habits that seem shocking in hindsight, it’s amazing what people accepted as part of life. Which of these dangerous fads do you remember, and which ones did you actually take part in?
