Top 15+ Things We Did as Kids That Would Never Be Allowed Now

Growing up in the 1960s and early ’70s was a different world entirely. We had freedoms that today’s kids couldn’t imagine – some for better, some admittedly for worse. Looking back through the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia, here are some childhood experiences that would make modern parents’ hair stand on end. How many of these do you remember?

1. Lawn Darts: The Most Dangerous Game

Lawn darts were essentially heavy, pointed missiles that we’d toss toward plastic rings on the ground. These foot-long metal spears could pierce anything – and occasionally did. Banned in 1988 after numerous injuries and even fatalities, they were a staple at every backyard barbecue. We somehow survived, but looking back, it’s amazing anyone thought giving kids weighted spears was a good idea.

2. Wandering the Neighborhood Until Dark

Our parents’ only rule was “be home when the street lights come on.” We’d leave after breakfast and spend the entire day roaming the neighborhood, riding bikes, playing in construction sites, and exploring vacant lots. No cell phones, no GPS tracking, no hourly check-ins. Just the freedom to discover our world on our own terms.

3. Riding Bikes Without Helmets

Our Schwinn Sting-Rays and banana-seat bikes were our tickets to freedom, and helmets were practically unheard of. We’d pop wheelies, build rickety ramps, and race down steep hills with nothing but our reflexes to protect us. The only protection we had was “don’t tell your mother about this,” and somehow, most of us lived to tell the tale.

4. Drinking from the Garden Hose

On hot summer days, the garden hose was our water fountain. We’d take long drinks from that sun-warmed rubber hose without a thought about lead, bacteria, or whatever chemicals might be leaching into the water. Today’s parents would be horrified, but back then, it was the most refreshing drink in the world.

5. Second-Hand Smoke Everywhere

Adults smoked everywhere – in cars with the windows up, in restaurants, in grocery stores, even in hospitals. Nobody thought twice about lighting up around kids. The family car was like a rolling smoke chamber, and every public space had that distinctive haze. It’s hard to believe now, but that was just normal life.

6. Metal Playground Equipment

Our playgrounds were like torture chambers by today’s standards – tall metal slides that became scorching hot in the summer sun, merry-go-rounds that spun at dangerous speeds, and jungle gyms towering over concrete surfaces. No rubber mats, no safety standards, just pure adrenaline-pumping fun with the occasional trip to the emergency room.

7. BB Gun Adventures

Many of us got our first BB gun around age 10, with only the classic warning: “Don’t shoot your eye out!” We’d spend hours target practicing, hunting sparrows, or engaging in BB gun wars with our friends. Today, even carrying a toy gun in public could trigger a SWAT response, but back then it was a normal part of growing up.

8. Buying Cigarettes for Parents

Believe it or not, parents would regularly send their kids to the corner store with a note and some cash to buy cigarettes. The shopkeeper never batted an eye – if you had a note from your parents, you could buy anything. Try that today, and you might find yourself on the evening news.

9. No Car Seats or Seat Belts

We bounced around freely in the back seat, sometimes lying across the rear window deck of those big old sedans. Babies sat in Mom’s lap in the front seat, and toddlers stood up between the front seats. The closest thing to a car seat was a metal contraption that hooked over the bench seat – basically a death trap by today’s standards.

10. Chemistry Sets with Real Chemicals

Our chemistry sets contained actual chemicals that could explode, burn, or create noxious fumes. We’d mix random substances in the basement, conducting “experiments” that would today require a HAZMAT team. These weren’t the watered-down kits of today – they were real chemistry labs that could actually be dangerous.

11. Hitchhiking Around Town

When we needed to get somewhere and didn’t have a bike handy, we’d stick out our thumbs and catch a ride. Everyone knew someone who knew someone in town, so it didn’t seem dangerous. Parents actually suggested it as a way to get home from school or sports practice when they couldn’t pick us up.

12. Wood Shop with Real Power Tools

Middle school wood shop class put us right in front of band saws, lathes, and drill presses with minimal supervision. No safety goggles required, and definitely no liability waivers. We learned by doing – and sometimes by narrowly avoiding losing a finger. These classes today are either heavily restricted or completely eliminated.

13. Sledding Down Dead Man's Hill

Every town had that one legendary sledding hill that was practically vertical and usually ended near a creek or road. We’d fly down on everything from proper Flexible Flyers to cafeteria trays, with zero thought about helmets or safety gear. The more dangerous the hill, the more bragging rights you would earn for conquering it.

14. Mercury Thermometers in School

Every science classroom had mercury thermometers, and breaking one was almost a rite of passage. We’d watch in fascination as the silver liquid metal rolled across the desk, trying to pick it up with our bare hands. Today, a broken mercury thermometer would trigger a hazardous material response and school evacuation, but back then, we’d just sweep it up with a dustpan.

15. Fireworks Without Supervision

Back then, fireworks weren’t just for the Fourth of July – they were a year-round temptation. We’d buy firecrackers, bottle rockets, and Roman candles from roadside stands, carrying them home in brown paper bags. No adult supervision required – just a pack of matches and a sense of adventure. We’d shoot bottle rockets at each other and throw firecrackers just to watch them explode, never thinking twice about safety.