13 Things ’80s Parents Let Kids Do That’d Be Outrageous Today
These once-normal '80s parenting practices would cause public outcry or legal trouble today.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
In the 1980s, parenting often leaned into a mix of trust, independence, and “they’ll learn” mentality that feels alien now. Safety standards were looser, kids were expected to tough things out, and hovering supervision was rare. While some might call it the golden age of freedom, others would say it was a lawsuit waiting to happen.
1. Ride in the Back of Pickup Trucks
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On summer days, it wasn’t unusual to see kids bouncing around in the open bed of a pickup truck, hair whipping in the wind, no seatbelts in sight. Parents figured if they held on tight, they’d be fine. Today, that’s a ticket — or a CPS call — waiting to happen.
2. Stay Home Alone at a Young Age
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“Home Alone” wasn’t just a movie — it was a lifestyle. Many ’80s latchkey kids came home, microwaved a Hot Pocket, and watched TV unsupervised for hours while their parents were at work. Now, letting a nine-year-old fend for themselves all day would be met with panic (and possibly legal action).
3. Roam the Neighborhood Without Supervision
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Parents used to say, “Be home by dinner,” and that was it. Kids rode bikes miles away, climbed trees, and got into who-knows-what mischief without anyone checking in. These days, letting a child out of sight for 15 minutes feels reckless to many.
4. Play with Fireworks—Alone
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Sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets — you name it, kids handled it. Often barefoot and unsupervised, they’d light explosives in the street just for fun. Today, fireworks are often banned or strictly regulated, and most parents wouldn’t dream of handing them to a 10-year-old.
5. Watch R-Rated Movies Before Puberty
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Plenty of ’80s kids saw The Exorcist, Aliens, or Robocop before they lost their baby teeth. Video stores didn’t ask questions, and neither did many parents. Now, even PG-13 movies are subject to careful scrutiny over language and content.
6. Ride Bikes Without Helmets
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Kids used to race downhill on banana-seat bikes with zero head protection. Skinned knees and gravel-filled elbows were rites of passage, not safety concerns. Helmets were considered nerdy or unnecessary — now, they’re non-negotiable.
7. Drink Soda Like It Was Water
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Some ’80s parents stocked more Coca-Cola than actual groceries. A can with every meal, including breakfast, wasn’t unusual. With today’s focus on childhood obesity and sugar intake, that kind of habit would raise serious eyebrows.
8. Smoke Candy Cigarettes
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Yes, there was a time when kids pretended to smoke, and parents encouraged it with candy. These chalky sticks or gum-wrapped paper looked just like the real thing, and you could blow fake “smoke.” Nowadays, even toy guns spark outrage, let alone training wheels for nicotine.
9. Ride in Cars Without Seatbelts
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Tucking the seatbelt behind your back or skipping it altogether was common. In some cases, cars didn’t even have backseat belts installed. Today, not buckling up is illegal and borderline unthinkable.
10. Eat Raw Cookie Dough (and No One Cared)
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Licking the mixing spoon was the whole point of baking cookies with Mom. Salmonella warnings were either nonexistent or ignored. Today, we have pasteurized egg cartons and edible “safe” cookie dough in stores because raw batter is practically taboo.
11. Walk to the Store Alone to Buy Cigarettes—for Their Parents
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It wasn’t unheard of for a kid to stroll into a corner store, grab a pack of Marlboros, and say, “These are for my mom.” The cashier wouldn’t blink. Now, even trying that would prompt a viral video and an emergency response.
12. Watch Saturday Morning Cartoons Full of Violence
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Cartoons like G.I. Joe and He-Man featured explosions, laser battles, and intense smackdowns — marketed directly at children. Parents didn’t think twice about letting kids binge on them for hours. Today, animated violence is tightly policed, and content ratings reign supreme.
13. Play Dangerous Lawn Games Like Jarts
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Jarts — giant steel-tipped darts thrown across the yard — were a hit in many ’80s backyards. One wrong move and you could end up in the ER. The product was banned in 1988 after causing multiple injuries, but back then, many parents just told kids to “be careful.”