16 Things Parents Allowed in the ’70s That Would Never Be Allowed Today

The 1970s seemed like an era where kids could be let loose somewhat and parents could adopt an easygoing attitude. Children had an awful lot of freedom, at least by today’s standards: riding in the back of pickup trucks, roaming the neighborhood for hours, drinking from garden hoses, and buying cigarettes for parents. There were no strict safety regulations, and few dangers were even understood. Over the years, research, public education, and legal changes gradually changed how people viewed keeping kids safe. Memories of those innocent childhood moments remained, but parental expectations quietly changed. What was once viewed as innocent freedom gradually came to be viewed as situations in which kids might need more caution and protection.

1. Riding in the Back of Pickup Trucks

In the 1970s, many families would use the open bed of a pickup truck as extra seating for the ride. Children would get in the back of the pickup truck before leaving for the grocery store, the beach, or a picnic. A family would throw a blanket or a lawn chair into the back of the pickup, and the children would sit there as the pickup truck rolled along the highway. The wind would blow through their hair as the pickup sped along the highway or through the country roads. It was a common sight to see several children with their hair blowing in the wind, holding onto the side of the pickup as it rolled along at full speed. In the 1970s, it was considered safe and a lot of fun for a family that wanted freedom and practicality.

2. Leaving Kids Alone in the Car

Going back to the 1970s, it was common for parents to leave their children in a parked vehicle while they ran a few errands. A quick trip to the grocery store or drugstore could mean the kids inside the parked vehicle are left there for a few minutes. The parents would simply roll down the windows, remind their children to stay inside the vehicle, and then proceed to their errand. Most of the time, the children inside the vehicle would simply read comic books or play with their toys. Nobody seemed to think that something was wrong with this scenario, as most people simply walked by parked vehicles without a second thought about who was inside.

3. Children Roaming Neighborhoods All Day

Back then, in the 1970s, kids went out at dawn and stayed out till the sun went away. The instruction from their parents was simple: be home when the streetlights flickered on. The day drifted by with bike rides, tree climbs, and visits to friends, without an adult present. Small groups of kids went to the park, the lots, or the creek and invented their own stories as they went. The feeling of freedom was almost primal. There was a rhythm to the neighborhoods that were teeming with kids and adults who trusted that the older kids would take care of the younger ones. It wasn’t uncommon for parents to be unaware of their children’s whereabouts for hours.

4. Riding Bicycles Without Helmets

In the 1970s, kids rode their bicycles everywhere, helmet-less. A bicycle was the primary means of locomotion for kids in a neighborhood. Kids rode their bicycles to school, the store, the park, their friends’ homes, and elsewhere with very little safety equipment in sight. A typical summer afternoon would see kids racing their bicycles along the sidewalk, building and riding homemade ramps, and riding their bicycles long distances across town. Parents did not push for their kids to wear safety helmets, as bicycle safety equipment was not common. Kids would simply get on their bicycles and ride off, enjoying the speed and freedom that came with it.

5. Drinking From Garden Hoses

Kids back in the 1970s would run out and take a drink from the garden hose. After a long day playing, they would hardly take a moment to grab a glass and sit down to take a drink. They would simply turn on the hose and take a quick drink before running back out to continue the adventure. While the taste might be a little rubbery if the hose has been lying in the sun all day, it was just a normal part of growing up for kids back in the 1970s. As parents, they didn’t have a care in the world. However, later, health experts raised concerns about the chemicals and bacteria in the hoses. Many hoses from years ago were not even intended for use with drinking water.

6. Sitting in the Front Seat of a Car at a Young Age

In the 1970s, many kids rode in the front seat with their parents, sometimes far too young. It was common for families to have a child sitting in the front seat beside the driver on a daily routine of going to school, going to the shop, or visiting friends and family. Seat belt regulations were not clearly defined in most areas at the time, and car seats were not used either. For most children, sitting in the front seat of a car was a thrill in itself because of the view of the road, the shiny dashboard, and all the buttons and dials. Some kids would even stand up or kneel on the seat to get a clearer view of the road and press their noses flat against the windshield of the car.

7. Walking to School Alone at a Young Age

It wasn’t all that unusual back in the 1970s for kids to make their way to school by themselves, even if they were pretty young. A typical morning would find kids stepping out with their backpacks, meeting friends on the sidewalk, and gradually a group would form as they meandered about the neighborhood. Crossing busy streets and traversing empty lots was just part and parcel of the daily grind. Schools were usually close enough to home that the walk was just a normal rite of passage, a way to push kids toward becoming independent. These days, however, parents take a much more cautious stance.

8. Playing with Lawn Darts

Going all the way back to the 1970s, lawn darts were a popular family fun activity during family gatherings and summer barbecues. People would throw these large darts through the air and try to hit plastic rings placed on the lawn. These darts were designed with a pointed tip that would go into the ground when thrown. Children would participate in the lawn dart game with the adults by taking turns throwing the large darts across the lawn. A quick look at the game may reveal that it is not a harmful game and does not require much equipment. Families would include lawn dart games in their picnics, barbecues, and camping trips. However, as the years went by, lawn darts were being flagged for serious injuries.

9. Buying Cigarettes for Parents

It was not uncommon in the 1970s for a kid to stop by the local store and pick up a pack of cigarettes for their parents. A parent would write a note to the kid indicating the brand of cigarettes they wanted. The kid would go to the local store and pick up the cigarettes. The store owner would not suspect a thing. The kid would go home with the cigarettes and the money tucked away in their pocket. It was a different time when cigarettes were a way of life. There were commercials on TV and billboards promoting cigarettes. You could smoke a cigarette anywhere. It was not uncommon to see people smoking in a restaurant, on a plane, and even in a public building. It is not uncommon now to think about a kid buying cigarettes for their parents.

10. Hitchhiking Short Distances

Hitchhiking was a common occurrence in the 1970s for teens and even younger children on short trips. You would see people on the road with a thumb up, a common sight on highways and quiet town roads. Parents would allow children to hitchhike to places where buses were not available or to a town just a short distance away. Drivers would be happy to pick up these hitchhikers because they were helping someone get to where they needed to go. This was a product of a time when people were more willing to trust strangers. A person on the road offering a ride would not be seen as a problem to parents.

11. Playing with Fireworks Without Close Supervision

Fireworks have long been a common feature at family gatherings, especially during national holidays. In fact, during the 1970s, it was common for kids to get their hands on some fireworks like sparklers, firecrackers, and bottle rockets with minimal supervision. In fact, a typical summer evening could see some young kids lighting fireworks while adults chatted around them. The excitement of watching sparks fly into the night sky is a memory that has stuck with many families. Fireworks were readily available at most stores during that time, and there was minimal enforcement of safety guidelines. Most parents believed that a little common sense was enough for their kids to use fireworks safely.

12. Playing in Construction Sites

During the 1970s, deserted construction sites were used as a playground for kids living in the neighborhood. After the workers left with their time clocks punched out, kids would enthusiastically enter these sites—digging into woodpiles, climbing up scaffolding, and roaming through unfinished rooms. These sites looked like a big playground for kids, with ladders placed everywhere, unfinished frameworks, and building materials stacked high. Parents were aware of where their kids were during these times, but they did not seem to be in a hurry to retrieve them. The appeal of these unfinished sites was quite strong—a place to think about building forts, hideouts, and adventures.

13. Riding in Cars Without Seat Belts

In the 1970s, kids were often driven in cars without seat belts, and some back seats had none at all. Many parents would be more concerned with keeping kids quiet and in their seats rather than keeping them safely belted in. Long trips in the family car often had kids lying across the back bench seat or on the floor behind the front seats. Kids would also move around in the car while it was in motion. There was a general lack of awareness about the dangers of riding in a car without seat belts. As information on research about car accidents came out, people began to make a shift in their attitudes toward seat belts.

14. Babysitting Younger Siblings at a Very Young Age

Back in the 1970s, it was not uncommon for older kids in a family to take care of their younger siblings, even if the older kids were still pretty young themselves. A 10 or 11-year-old kid might spend hours keeping an eye on a bunch of younger brothers or sisters while mom and dad went off to run errands or go out in the evening. It was a common practice in a lot of families. Older kids would cook meals, help with homework, and generally keep everyone safe until the parents came home. It was a practice that helped kids develop a sense of independence at a pretty early age. In a lot of families, there was no concern at all about leaving siblings in charge.

15. Letting Kids Play with Real Tools

Kids would hang out in garages and workshops where real tools were available and easily accessible. They were often allowed to play with these tools, like a hammer, a saw, a screwdriver, and others, while adults were working on projects. A kid might try to assemble a wooden crate, build a treehouse, or make a homemade go-kart using whatever materials were available. Adults would often believe that kids would learn some practical skills by playing with these tools. A few minor injuries, like cuts and splinters, would be considered part of the learning process. As long as kids were careful, parents would rarely keep them away from these tools.

16. Children Traveling on Public Transportation Alone

In the 1970s, kids would get on a bus or train on their own and travel to school, visit relatives, or run errands for the family. It was a common sight in cities across the country for kids to travel on public transport without an adult. A kid might have the bus fare in their pocket, board a bus, and travel through a series of stops with no one else around them except their own sense of direction. Parents would trust their kids with the idea that they would follow simple instructions and get there safely. Kids would grow up with a sense of independence with regard to traveling on public transport lines at a very early age.

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