20 Things Families Did Together All the Time in the 1960s

Family life in the 1960s centered on small, everyday moments that involved everyone in the same activity. Family life, prior to the invasion of personal technology, was a collective activity, and entertainment and everyday life were centered on the living room television time, records played on the record player, and the family dinner table, where storytelling and communication became a nightly routine. Family time outdoors, such as parents and kids fishing, playing ball in the front yard, or strolling through the neighborhood, or attending county fairs and drive-in movies, were also essential components of family life.

1. Watching Television Together

It is a good thing that back in the 1960s, television was at the center of family time together. Most families had only one television, and it was placed in the living room, where the family spent time together. After dinner, parents would finish up their chores, and the kids would rush to wash the dishes so they could get a good seat for their favorite television show. Families spent time together watching television shows such as “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Bonanza,” and “The Ed Sullivan Show.” The nightly routine began with someone adjusting the rabbit ear television antenna to get a clearer picture.

2. Sunday Family Drives

Sunday afternoons meant piling into the family car and simply taking a slow ride, wherever the family happened to be going. In the 1960s, the car was more than just a means of getting from one place to another. It was an entertainment in its own right. On Sunday afternoons, the parents would round up the kids after church or lunch, and say, “Let’s take a little drive.” Where they were going wasn’t particularly important. At one time, they might have headed through the countryside, at another through new parts of town, or perhaps toward one of the local parks or the lake. The kids would look out the windows at the world going by, while the parents would discuss the upcoming week.

3. Backyard Barbecues

Backyard barbecues were the quintessential source of easy-going family joy in the 1960s. For many families in the suburbs, the small backyard provided the setting for a warm family weekend, with the father stepping up to the grill, likely a simple charcoal kettle model that emitted savory smoke into the air. Inside the house, the mother prepared the various accompaniments, while the children contributed to the effort by helping to set up the folding tables and carrying the plates outside. At times, a neighbor would join in, and the backyard barbecue would turn into a casual block party. The traditional fare of hamburgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, and potato salad kept things simple and inviting.

4. Playing Board Games in the Living Room

Board games became an integral part of family nights in the 1960s. After the dishes were washed and homework was put away, the family would sit around a coffee table or the dining room table, with a box of games in the middle. Monopoly, Scrabble, Sorry!, Life, among other games, would sit in the middle of the table with the rules explained to the kids, their eyes shining with excitement as they waited for their turn to roll the dice. The games could go on for hours, especially when the rules of the game were debated or when jokes about bad luck were shared. The playful competition created a room full of laughter, a room full of moments that became one big moment.

5. Listening to Music Together on the Record Player

The 1960s were filled with music, bringing families together through spinning records and listening to the music of the time. In the living room, there was always a record player with its stacks of vinyl, ready to bring music to life with a crackle and a familiar crack as it hit the groove. Teens would search for their favorite tunes by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Supremes, whereas their parents might prefer the old favorites by Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. When the needle dropped and the spinning began, all could feel the music through the air. Children would gather to watch it spin and flip through their favorite album covers, bringing music listening to a small, communal experience.

6. Family Picnics at Local Parks

Family picnics were the norm for weekends during the 1960s. Moms and dads would bring baskets or coolers filled with sandwiches, fruits, and home-baked desserts, and head off to the nearest park. The communities had parks designed for families, with green lawns, picnic tables, and plenty of shade from trees. The children would carry their picnic blankets, while the parents would carry thermoses of lemonade or iced tea. Once the family arrived, the picnic would be set out, and the meal would be ready to eat. The scene was one of peace and openness, a respite from the hustle and bustle of life. After the meal, the park was the play area for everyone.

7. Attending Church Together on Sundays

On Sunday mornings in the 1960s, many families had a routine that was quite meaningful. On Sunday mornings, parents woke their children up early in the morning and dressed them in clean clothes. They would take their children to church, and in many cases, the children would go with their parents in the car. The church was the center of the community, and many people would attend church. Inside the church, the parents would sit in the wooden benches with their children. The children would look at the people inside the church singing hymns from their hymn books. They would listen to the sermons about the importance of kindliness, honesty, and responsibility.

8. Working Together on Household Chores

In the 1960s, daily chores became another way in which the family was subtly brought closer together. Rather than everyone rushing to complete their own tasks, daily chores became a group effort in many families. Both parents would give their children tasks according to their age. The youngest might be assigned the chore of sweeping the floor or setting the table, while the elder children would be assigned the tasks of washing the dishes or cutting the grass. These tasks were usually done in conjunction with one another, meaning the whole family would move from one area of the house to the next. As the whole family worked together, conversation would come naturally.

9. Watching Home Movies on a Projector

In the 1960s, some families had home movie cameras that helped preserve precious family memories. These cameras recorded short movies on little reels that would later rotate around the family projector at home. Some nights, the parents would dim the room lights, position the projector towards an empty wall or a portable screen, and show the family movies. The projector had a soothing hum as the film rolled through the reels. Children sat cross-legged on the floor, while the parents made final adjustments to the focus, bringing the movies into sharp, clear detail. Movies included birthday parties, family outings, or the kids playing in the yard. Watching the movies allowed the family to reminisce about the experiences they had all shared.

10. Gardening Together in the Yard

Gardening became a quiet, meaningful family ritual for many families in the 1960s. Parents had small vegetable gardens at the back of their homes, and the kids contributed to their upkeep throughout the year. The children assisted their parents in keeping the plants healthy and thriving. The season started with the preparation of the soil, where the fathers took their shovels and dug through the soil, accompanied by their children, who contributed to the creation of neat rows of seeds. The mothers sometimes assisted the younger children in the planting of tomatoes, beans, carrots, or lettuce.

11. Family Storytelling Around the Dinner Table

Dinner tables in the 1960s were more than simply a place to eat. They were the heartbeat of the family. After the meal, everyone would linger, but not because of a deadline. They would talk. Television would be off, and conversation would take center stage. The parents would ask the kids about their school days, and the kids would tell little anecdotes about their friends and teachers. These would sometimes grow into little mini-stories, complete with humor, exaggeration, and quick, enthusiastic responses. Through the medium of storytelling, the family would learn to read each other better. They would use memories from their own youth, from their past days, and these would be laced with little lessons about life, honesty, and responsibility.

12. Visiting Local Drive-In Theaters

Drive-in movies provided a unique type of family entertainment in the 1960s. This type of outdoor movie theater allowed families to enjoy a film from the comfort of their cars. On a warm summer evening, parents would pack up the kids and head to a large open field, where a large screen dominated the front of the lot. Cars would be neatly lined up in rows, with a speaker attached to the window to broadcast the sound of the film. Pajamas would be worn by the kids, since the movies would go on until quite late at night. This was a thrilling but also cozy experience. The younger children would fall asleep in the back of the cars, while the older ones would get to watch the entire story.

13. Going Fishing Together

Fishing trips, for instance, became a gentle way for families to slow down and be together. They would take their kids to a nearby lake, river, or small pond at dawn, when the air was still and full of possibility. They packed the essentials, such as fishing rods, a tackle box, bread for snacks, and a cooler with drinks. After arriving at the water, parents assisted their kids in threading the bait onto the fishing hooks and taught them how to cast, with the fishing line cutting through the still air. Patience is essential, and the waiting gave families time to talk. After putting the fishing lines into the water, parents and kids talked about their hopes and dreams for the future, moving away from discussions of household chores and schoolwork.

14. Baking and Cooking in the Kitchen

The kitchen was also a warm center of family connection in the 1960s. Weekends and holidays were all about involving kids in the new world of meal production, from mixing the batter to rolling out the dough. The mother encouraged kids to participate in simple activities, such as measuring the flour, stirring, and making cookies, as the aroma of freshly baked bread and warm cookies wafted through the air. While working alongside their parents, kids learned the basics of cooking and felt proud of contributing to the family table. Thus, cooking together gave way to a new and exciting family activity filled with joy and enthusiasm.

15. Playing Catch in the Yard

Simple outdoor games provided families with a simple and quiet way of connecting with each other in the 1960s. Catching in the yard, either with a baseball or softball, was a favorite game for many families. As the temperature of the late afternoon air began to cool, parents would go outside with their kids. Not much equipment was needed for the game, and parents needed only a ball and a couple of gloves. The parents taught the kids how to throw and catch, and they offered encouragement and tips along the way. The game went on for much longer than anyone anticipated, as the talk went back and forth with the ball. They talked about school, friends, and other events, all while the ball went flying back and forth.

16. Building Model Kits Together

In the 1960s, model kits were a popular family leisure activity. In local hobby stores, the family would find detailed plastic kits of mini airplanes, cars, ships, and military vehicles, which they would work on together at home. Parents would buy them for their children if they enjoyed working with their hands. On a quiet afternoon or a quiet weekend, the dining table would become a mini workshop, with tweezers, glue, and paints at the ready. Inside the box, the model pieces would come securely packed, and the instruction book would guide the family through the entire process. For the younger children, the parent would help them read the instruction book and carefully place the pieces out of the plastic frames.

17. Taking Family Photo Albums Out to Relive Memories

Family photo albums were cherished family keepsakes in the 1960s. These kept company on the shelf or the coffee table, within easy reach of the family members. On quiet nights or when the family members visited, the parents would open a thick photo album. The photos showed scenes of birthdays, school activities, holidays, and other moments from the past. The kids gathered around the parents as they went through the album with care, relating the story behind each photo. This brought the family closer to the past. The parents pointed to the location of the photo, relating the events that occurred that particular day. The kids listened closely, even giggling at their small figures in the photos or the funny moments they had caught.

18. Walking Through Neighborhoods in the Evening

Evening walks around the neighborhood became a simple, meaningful family activity in the 1960s. After having supper, mom and dad might suggest, “Let’s take a short walk to enjoy the cool air outside.” The family would walk together, slowly moving along the sidewalks or down the street. Children might ride their bicycles alongside their parents or walk ahead, looking for interesting things to point out along the way. The neighborhood was so peaceful, with little traffic and neighbors who often knew one another. These short walks provided time for casual conversations, as if no time for such talk had been available during the busy daytime hours. Parents might ask about school or upcoming events, and children might share stories of their day.

19. Attending Local County Fairs Together

County fairs were the highly anticipated events of the year, bringing together families by the dozen to experience something unique. Many towns in the US held their fair share of fairs throughout the year, bringing together displays of cattle, twirling rides, food stands, and local competitions. The wait was long, but the moment the gates were opened, the parents would take the kids in the car and spend the evenings roaming the grounds of the fair. The children would stare in awe at the colorful rides, while the parents would take the kids to the prize-winning cattle displays of the local farmers. The aroma of popcorn, peanuts, and fried treats would fill the air as people moved from one booth to the next.

20. Reading Books Together Before Bedtime

Reading together became a gentle thread that wove families closer in the 1960s. Parents made it a routine to end the day with a reading of a tale before bedtime. For some families, a parent would snuggle up with their child and read from their favorite book. The popular children’s books of the 1960s were “Charlotte’s Web,” written by E.B. White, and “The Cat in the Hat,” written by Dr. Seuss. The children would listen attentively as the parent read each page of the book aloud, sometimes stopping to explain the meaning of a word or asking the child a question about the story. The reading experience at the end of the day provided a sense of calm and security for the children.

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