20 Childhood Rules From the 1970s That Seem Unbelievable Today

Growing up in the 1970s had a quiet, telltale quality to it, a quality that was reflected in the daily routines and habits that kids developed. Independence, deference to adults, and the strength of family routines were ubiquitous. Kids roamed the streets, unsupervised for hours, with their bicycles and the sidewalk being their kingdoms. They walked to school or the corner store on their own, did chores, and sometimes babysat younger siblings without a second thought. At home, manners governed the way kids behaved at the dinner table, on the telephone, and when adults spoke. There was a sense of decorum and deference that governed the way kids behaved around adults.

1. Children Had to Be Home Before the Streetlights Turned On

In many areas, the streetlights became a strict signal that the day of playing had come to an end. Children spent hours playing outside, riding their bikes, throwing baseballs, or even building small forts with their friends. There were no parents present to watch the children. Instead, there was a simple rule that was followed when it came to the evening routine. If the streetlights flickered to life, every child knew it was time to go home. This was a ceremonial moment. The children could see the humming of the lights before the yellow light appeared. One by one, the bikes headed towards the driveways or the front yards. This was not a rule that had to be spoken out loud every day.

2. Kids Walked to School Completely Alone

Walking to school alone was the norm for millions of kids in the 1970s. On their way to school, the kids, who were at the elementary level, would walk on the sidewalk with their backpacks and lunchboxes. At the same time, their parents would watch from the doorstep. On the blocks, the sounds of the neighborhood would be filled with small groups of kids making their way in the same direction. Some of the kids would have to walk only a few blocks, while others would have to travel over a mile for their round trip. For the parents, the kids’ walking to school was an opportunity for the kids to learn how to grow up.

3. Television Was Only Allowed After Homework Was Finished

Television was like a magnet for kids in the 1970s. There were so many cartoons, adventure series, and family comedies on TV that it was always on, always drawing kids into its world. But there was something that families had to do first, something that ensured the TV stayed dark until all was said and done. Homework had to be finished before TV time. Parents thought that kids should be responsible and finish their chores before they had their free time. So, kids would come home from school, drop their bags on the kitchen table, and then, and only then, would TV come alive in the living room. Homework had to be finished first, whether it was reading, spelling, or math, and then TV would get its green light.

4. Drinking Water Straight From the Garden Hose

On those hot summer days in the 1970s, kids would not bother going inside the house just to get a glass of water. It was quicker to get a drink of water using the backyard hose. After hours of playing with the sprinklers, climbing trees, and riding bicycles on the block, a hose would end up on the lawn. Turning the metal faucet would cause a strong spray of water to come out, sputtering and warming in the sun before it cooled. They would pause a little while to allow the temperature to get just right, and then bend down to drink directly from the hose. It was a simple and refreshing thing to do, a little reward after a day spent playing outside. Parents would not worry about this.

5. Kids Stayed Outside All Day Without Checking In

Back in the 1970s, after the morning chores, kids would stay out until long after lunch. Summer days followed this pattern almost to a science. After breakfast, they would gather their bikes, baseball mitts, or jump ropes, and just head out into the neighborhood. They would jump from yard to yard, or gather at an empty lot, or explore the streams and woods nearby. There was no particular accounting of where they were. There was a simple understanding that they would return when they got hungry or when night fell. This gave way to a lot of unstructured, borderless play. They would construct bike ramps, or spontaneous games would break out on the street, or they would concoct all sorts of adventures.

6. Riding in Cars Without Seatbelts

Family road trips in the 1970s are worlds apart from today’s crash test mania. While seatbelts were present in most automobiles, the kids did not bother to use them. In fact, some cars did not even have back seatbelts, especially the older 1960s models. In long road trips, the kids would stretch out in the back seat against the window or even sleep their way to the destination. In some cases, the younger kids would even sit in the front seat with mom or dad, looking out the windshield as the road went by. This is because the parents did not think about safety; they thought about a comfortable trip to the destination. If a kid was bobbing slightly in the back seat of the car, it was not considered a big deal back then.

7. Older Kids Were Expected to Babysit Younger Siblings

In the 1970s, the roles that older kids had to take care of at home would probably raise some eyebrows in today’s households. However, one of the main responsibilities that the oldest kid had was to take care of the younger ones. If the parents had to step out for some errands, shifts, or even for some social events, the oldest kid had the responsibility of keeping an eye on the younger ones. For instance, the oldest kid, who was twelve years old, had the responsibility of making snacks, settling any possible conflicts, and keeping an eye on the younger ones at bedtime. However, this was not considered an odd thing to do, especially considering that the neighborhood was usually filled with families that had several kids.

8. Every Adult in the Neighborhood Could Discipline You

The neighborhood in the 1970s resembled an extension of the family. Children spent the majority of their time outdoors, and the neighbors knew each other well. Because of how close-knit everyone was, parents knew other adults would step in if a kid was acting up. A kid might be told by a neighbor to slow down on a bicycle near parked cars or to stay off a fence if it wasn’t theirs. The message had power, and if the kid chose to ignore it, they might face the wrath waiting for them when the grown-ups found out. This was the unwritten rule for kids in public places. Children’s respect for adults wasn’t confined to their own families, as many parents encouraged other neighbors to correct their kids if need be.

9. Kids Rode Bicycles Without Helmets

Bicycles were one of the strongest symbols of childhood zip and independence in the 1970s. Every street had the constant accompaniment of spinning tires and chains as kids sped from house to house. Helmets, however, were not exactly an issue in those days. Most kids hopped on their bikes wearing nothing but their sneakers and their sheer excitement, their feet somehow finding their way to the pedals as they sped by on the sidewalk. They sped along, building little ramps out of rough wooden planks and racing each other through short battles of speed on their respective blocks. Parents took it all with a relaxed air of caution, since bike helmets had yet to be made into a safety must-have.

10. Children Had to Answer the Home Phone Politely

Back in the 1970s, it was quite common for a household to have only a single telephone, which was usually kept in a convenient location, such as the kitchen or the hallway. When the telephone rang, anyone who was in the vicinity was supposed to answer it. This was especially true when it came to children, who would usually answer the telephone since mom or dad might be too busy cooking, working, or out in the backyard. From a young age, children learned a simple principle when it came to answering the telephone. This principle was to always be nice when answering the telephone. The way a child answered the telephone was quite formal-sounding.

11. Children Had to Finish Everything on Their Dinner Plate

In the 1970s, home etiquette had an underlying, unstated rule that kids quickly learned: clean your plate before you get up from the table. Parents justified this by saying it was important to show respect and responsibility, as it was an insult to all the work that went into preparing each meal to waste food. To kids who complained about vegetables or spun their forks without eating, the classic retort was, “There’s less to eat than this in the world.” This wasn’t just an excuse to silence kids; it was meant to be a tool for teaching kids gratitude and responsibility as they ate their evening meals together.

12. Kids Played in Empty Lots and Construction Areas

Throughout many cities in the 1970s, a playground of possibilities awaited children to explore. The undeveloped land provided a sense of freedom for children to let their imagination run wild. Kids would gather at the undeveloped land to hammer together a fort, play in the dirt, or climb the wooden beams left behind by construction workers. This land seemed to have a sense of freedom associated with it, beyond the boundaries of the traditional playground. The wooden beams were used to build a castle, a secret hideout, or a pirate ship during the long days of play at the undeveloped land. Adults did not closely supervise the children at the undeveloped land.

13. Milk Was Expected at Almost Every Meal

Milk was the background of many 1970s households, always present at the table and seeming like a staple of childhood. Milk was thought to make strong bones and keep the body in good health, and so it was always included in breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Refusing milk was never an option, even if the child did not want to drink it and would rather have something like juice or soda. Milk was always included, even if the child did not want to drink it. Milk was included in simple glasses and placed next to the cereal bowls, sandwiches, and dinner plates. This was such an expectation that schools even included milk cartons with the lunch trays, further solidifying the idea that milk was included in meals.

14. Children Had to Share Toys With Anyone Who Came Over

Play in the neighborhood in the 1970s was based on an understood premise that toys became the property of the group the instant a playmate stepped across the threshold. Once inside, the toys in the home instantly became part of the play of the group, shared bicycles, games, action figures, dolls, and whatever other toys were in the home. Children were supposed to share what was in the home with their friends without much complaining, and a parent would sometimes remind them that their playmates deserved the chance to play with the toys just as well. If a youngster did not want to share, a gentle but firm nudge could come from a parent to encourage the youngster to share the toys with the playmates.

15. Daily Household Chores Were Non Negotiable

In the 1970s, kids were often raised with the understanding that chores were not optional. For many families, each child was assigned chores, even when they were small children. Doing the dishes, sweeping the floor, taking out the trash, mowing the lawn, etc., came before having any fun, before having the time to go play outside or turn on the TV to watch their favorite shows. Parents wanted their children to understand the importance of having chores, of having each family member contribute to the household, and of learning the discipline needed to become productive members of society when they grew up. The chores were age-adjusted, depending on the maturity level of the children.

16. Kids Were Told to “Go Play Outside” Instead of Staying Indoors

In the 1970s, many households had a stern disapproval of spending too much time locked up inside the house. Fresh air and physical activities were considered integral to growing up. When children wandered inside the house out of sheer boredom, the usual answer was always to gently prod them out into the fresh air and play. This was the guiding principle that encouraged children to take up games outside the home, games of physical movement. They would ride their bikes, climb up the trees, play tag with their friends, or come up with their own games in the neighboring yards and streets. Spending time inside the house was not the norm for the majority of the afternoon, especially for children.

17. Children Were Expected to Show Formal Respect to All Adults

There was a strong undercurrent of respect for adults in the 1970s, particularly within every household and every neighborhood. Kids were brought up to call adults by their appropriate title, along with their last name. Even a casual conversation with an adult, such as a neighbor or a teacher, was seen as a violation of respect. Every parent taught their children that adults had to be treated with formal language, even when speaking casually. This was particularly evident in our everyday lives. When going to a friend’s house, it was essential to greet their parents politely, answering any questions they might ask with appropriate, respectful language.

18. Kids Were Expected to Walk to Nearby Stores Alone

Corner shops in the neighborhood were once the pulse of life in the 1970s. Parents would send their children out for quick errands to buy basic commodities like bread, milk, and candy. They knew their children would accomplish the tasks because they were normal tasks and not stunts. Even the smallest children would be sent out to buy the necessary items, carrying a handful of coins or a small piece of paper outlining the purchases to be made. These were simply tasks of growing up, and the children looked forward to the independence. Once the children had procured the necessary items, the remaining change could be spent on chewing gum and other treats.

19. Children Had to Stay Quiet During Adult Conversations

Family hangouts in the 1970s had one rule for kids: to steer clear of adult talks. When parents or other family members got into deep conversations, kids were expected to remain silent. If a kid joined the talk, there would be a subtle reminder about good manners and when to remain silent. Therefore, the general practice was to listen attentively in silence or go to another room when parents or other family members talked about their work, family issues, or what was happening in the neighborhood. This rule was based on older values of respect and proper social conduct, as adults believed kids should remain silent and not join adult talks.

20. Kids Were Expected to Be Home for Dinner Every Evening

Dinner time was something that had genuine gravity in many families well into the 1970s. Regardless of the events of the day, children knew that they were to go home when the dinner bell rang. This was something that parents recognized as an important time for connection and communication, a daily time to “tune in” to one another. When one of the kids was lingering outside, their name would be called out from blocks away as the parent would announce that the meal was ready. Once inside, the children would wash their hands, and the group would sit down with the parents and the rest of the children. This was an important time to find a space to eat and discuss the events of the day.

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