20 Strict Rules Kids Had to Follow in the 1950s

Childhood in the 1950s was heavily defined by a set of expectations that directed the way children lived their lives and conducted themselves socially. Children were expected to conduct themselves with discipline, etiquette, and respect for authority figures. Children were expected to live their lives within a set of rules at home, at school, and in society at large. The rules were defined by the culture of the time, which emphasized politeness, responsibility, and obedience. Mealtimes, homework, greeting people, and doing chores were all opportunities for children to practice their etiquette and discipline.

1. Speaking Only When Spoken To

The children of the 1950s were taught that the only time to speak was when an adult asked them to. This is evident when considering the dinner table conversations of the time. Parents would discuss their jobs, money, and neighborhood news while the children sat silently, listening and rarely contributing to the conversation. Speaking up in the middle of an adult conversation was viewed as impolite. Many parents viewed their children’s silence as a sign of proper rearing and discipline. This is also evident in the classroom. A child speaking out of turn would face stern looks, detention, or a note sent home to their parents. This led to a quiet classroom where children would raise their hands to contribute to the conversation.

2. Being Home Before the Streetlights Turned On

For many kids growing up in the 1950s, the twinkling streetlamps signaled the end of the day’s freedom. There was an understood rule from the parents: home before the streetlights come on. After the school day, the street was alive with kids outside, playing tag, baseball, and hide-and-seek, making the time of day and the pavement disappear into chaos. The air took on a different quality as the sun began to set, the horizon an uncertain blue. And then the streetlamps would flicker to life, the rule applying once more: home at the time the streetlamps awaken. If you didn’t, consequences awaited at the front door. The parents believed the restriction kept the kids safe, the streets safe, and the rule of law in force.

3. Finishing Every Bite at the Dinner Table

The dinner tables of the 1950s had a hard and fast rule, one that kids of the time remembered quite well, and that rule was, of course, eat everything on your plate before you got up from the table. This, of course, was driven by parents who demanded every last bite of the meal be consumed, no matter how unpalatable it might be to the adult in charge. This, of course, was driven by memories of the Great Depression and World War II, and the rationing of food and other goods that many families had to endure, and the fact that food had to be appreciated, as it had not been readily available for many years.

4. Wearing Proper Clothes in Public

In the 1950s, kids lived under a code of dress that went all the way out the front door. “We thought what we wore reflected on our family,” says one woman. “We didn’t go out looking sloppy.” Boys wore clean, ironed shirts, always buttoned and tucked into their pants or shorts. Girls wore dresses, with clean socks and shoes. Even going to the store required kids to be dressed properly: no pajamas, no sloppy outfits. Parents wanted their kids to look neat and respectful at all times: going to school, going to church, going to the store. Clothing was not just something kids wore; it was something they learned.

5. Asking Permission Before Leaving the House

Children in the 1950s were not simply free to go out the door whenever they wished. There was one basic rule that was woven into the fabric of daily life in many households. This was the idea of asking for permission to go out the door. Grown-ups always wanted to know where their children were going and who they would be with. This was the case even though the neighborhood was considered quite safe. Before leaving the house to play, children would go into the kitchen or living room and ask their parents for permission. This would be answered in the affirmative, but with certain conditions. Grown-ups would want to know when they would be coming back and who would be with the children.

6. Keeping Bedrooms Perfectly Clean

In the 1950s, having a spotless bedroom wasn’t just the norm, but also an expectation. Children had to ensure that their bedrooms remained clean and organized every single day. Their beds had to be made neatly every morning, with the blankets tightly pulled up, and the pillows arranged perfectly. Toys, books, and clothes had to remain in their designated spots. For parents, an untidy bedroom meant that their children lacked proper discipline. As such, children had to begin their day by making their beds, either before breakfast or before heading to school. While the practice wasn’t just about the present, it also had to prepare the children for adulthood, with housekeeping being an important learning experience for young children.

7. Addressing Adults with Proper Titles

In the 1950s, children were taught to converse with adults in a way that was slightly formal. First names were rarely ever used. Parents taught their children to greet adults with titles such as Mister, Miss, or Mrs., followed by the last name of the individual. This etiquette was applicable to everyone, from teachers and neighbors to family friends and even relatives. The rationale behind this was that titles were associated with respect and courtesy. If children were to greet an adult informally, the child would definitely face a swift correction. This lesson was also applicable at home, where parents would practice this etiquette before attending any event or party.

8. Completing Chores Before Playing

Free time was a luxury that did not come until the work was done in most homes in the 1950s. There was a strict policy in most homes that said kids had to get their chores done before they could go and play outside. While the chores differed in different homes, most of them were simple tasks. For instance, kids would wash the dishes, clean the floor, take out the trash, or help with the younger kids. In other homes, the boys would mow the lawn or clean the garage, while the girls would help with the laundry or help with the food preparations. This was a common practice in most homes. Once the kids came back from school, they would change and get on with the tasks assigned to them.

9. Writing Thank-You Notes for Gifts

When one received a gift in the 1950s, they had an unstated obligation as a kid: to write the proper thank-you note. Being grateful was to be communicated in an unmistakable way. Following birthdays, holidays, or other special events, kids would sit around the table with their pen and paper to put their gratitude into written form. These letters usually mentioned the gift received and expressed gratitude for it specifically. Timeliness was also important, as waiting too long to communicate gratitude was considered impolite. Such an emphasis on timely, well-mannered gratitude was characteristic of the strong social etiquette of the 1950s.

10. Showing Perfect Manners at the Dinner Table

Dinner hour in the 1950s was a rigid, almost ritualistic form of etiquette that kids had to follow without questioning. Families ate their meals at the same hour every day, and the way one conducted oneself at the table had significance. Children had to sit up, keep their elbows away from the table, and above all, chew with their mouths closed. Slurping, loud chewing, or reaching over the table was immediately corrected with scolding from the parents. The placement of the napkin in the laps of the diners was another quiet aspect that remained constant through the entire meal. For many parents, table etiquette was an indicator of the kind of upbringing their children had received.

11. Going to at a Strict Hour Every Night

Bedtime in the 1950s was a regular, unspoken ritual that children rarely questioned. Parents were confident that their children were healthy and well-adjusted when they had a regular bedtime routine. This is why many families had a set bedtime for their children. Young children went to bed at eight or nine at night. The rules were the same for the older children, although they could stay up a little later. As the time drew closer to bedtime, the children stopped their play activities at once. The toys were put away, teeth were brushed, and the pajamas were put on instead of the clothes the children wore during the day. The children were expected to comply quietly and go to bed on time, with no questions asked.

12. Standing Up When an Adult Entered the Room

There was a strange practice in many 1950s households where, when an adult entered the room, children were supposed to stand up. This was similar to the old days when children were supposed to show real respect to their elders. Parents were supposed to teach their children to stand up when greeting someone, a teacher, or an elder. This practice was also common in many classes, where children were supposed to stand when the teacher entered, signifying they were ready to listen. This practice was common during family gatherings or when someone visited the house.

13. Never Talking Back to Parents

In the 1950s, kids knew that when their parents spoke, their mouths should always be closed. Backtalk was not allowed, as it showed disrespect. Obedience and quietness, always, were the way to go. If a parent told their kid to do something, there was no room for arguing or debating; the kid did it. Arguing or raising their voice when told to do something by their parents could even get the kids punished. This was a learned behavior that kids picked up early in their lives, as “Yes, Mother” or “Yes, Father” became the way to respond when told to do something. This was evident in small situations in the house.

14. Greeting Guests Politely When They Visited

When people visited a home in the 1950s, there was a simple rule kids learned about how to properly greet the visitors. “A parent would want the kids to stop whatever they were doing, look up, and notice the visitor. Saying a polite hello was first, and then the kids could resume their playtime activities. In some instances, kids would shake hands or say ‘Hello’ in a polite tone of voice. Going to another room or avoiding the person was considered impolite.” For the parents, a greeting was a way to show the values and manners of the family. “A greeting was not just polite; it was part of the social skills kids were supposed to learn.

15. Finishing Homework Before Leisure Activities

Back in the 1950s, schoolwork was not an idle thing at home. The principle was simple: finish your homework before any play. When the school bell rang, the kids would sit at a kitchen table or a desk, attending to their schoolwork. The parents believed that schoolwork would open doors to success in the future, so it was a top priority to finish it. With this attitude, games, radio shows, and outdoor activities would be enjoyed only after the homework was completed. The kids knew that if they left their homework undone, they would be denied privileges later in the day. Some parents would even check the schoolwork, making sure it was completed correctly.

16. Asking to Be Excused Before Leaving the Table

In the 1950s, it was common in many homes to have a policy that forced kids to stay seated around the dinner table until they had permission to get up. It was necessary to ask nicely before getting up, and this was the case even after the dishes had been cleaned. According to the parents, this was a way of teaching the kids to be patient and respectful during this time. It was a place where communication was essential, and getting up in the middle of the meal was considered rude. Thus, kids had to stay seated and wait patiently for the right time to get up. A simple phrase was a ritual in many homes. Most kids would say, “May I please be excused?” and the parents would pay close attention to the tone.

17. Keeping Quiet During Adult Conversations

In the 1950s, kids had to remain quiet while the adults talked. Cutting into grown-up conversations was considered impolite and impertinent. At times, parents would gesture for the kids to remain quiet, reminding them to wait their turn if they needed something. The idea behind this rule was that the kids would learn to listen, and the rule emphasized the significance of the grown-up conversation. At times, when the guests were over or the family members had gathered, the kids played quietly around the adults, who were engaged in conversation. If the kids had something to say, they usually waited until the conversation stopped. Some kids would approach their parents softly and stand around, waiting for their turn.

18. Helping with Family Errands

Children of the 1950s had a rule, and when a family errand needed to be run, they were always called upon to help out with the errand. Children were expected to contribute to the family, and this included errands other than the regular ones. A child might be sent to the corner store to buy some bread, milk, or postage stamps, among other things. The corner store made it easy for the child to accomplish this errand, as it was not too far away and the child could walk there to buy whatever the person sent him or her to buy. The parents relied on their kids to accomplish the errands, and doing so gave the kids a sense of independence and responsibility.

19. Sitting Properly in School Classrooms

In the 1950s, the classrooms had a suit-and-tie kind of discipline. The students followed strict rules regarding their posture and behavior. They had to sit at their desks, keeping their posture up. If they slouched, leaned back, or rested their heads on the desk, they would be looked down upon. The classroom was all about order and keeping the mind focused. Most teachers believed that good posture reflected good manners towards the learning environment. The desks had to remain clean, and the students had to refrain from making unnecessary movements. The rule ensured that the classrooms remained quiet and disciplined in all schools. If the students had any questions, they had to raise their hands.

20. Respecting Neighborhood Adults

In the 1950s, kids lived by an unspoken code that demanded respect for every adult in the neighborhood. This was driven home by the parents, with politeness demanded towards every person that the child happened to meet. If an adult in the neighborhood spoke to the child, the child was expected to respond politely, with the adult’s every word and gesture carefully listened to. If the child misbehaved, it could spread fast enough to reach the parents back at home. This was a tight-knit community where everyone looked out for everyone else. This instilled in the kids the idea that their actions outside the home reflected back on their family. This created a collective sense of accountability among the people in the neighborhood.

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