If you grew up in 70s/80s what things did you do which would be unimaginable these days.

[newlabelwriter]

Just thinking about this. When I was about 9 my friend and I used to go around knocking on our neighbours doors to see if we could pick dandelions (or something similar) for her pet rabbits. Seems such a random thing to do and obviously v v young to knocking on doors to go into their gardens!

Buying cigarettes for my Nan. I must of been 9 at the time.
Sitting in my Father's car without a Seat belt.
Playing out over the woods opposite where we lived when I was aged around 8. I had friends in our street the same age so we would play and make camps, climbing trees etc.
Babysit my younger siblings from the age of 10/11. I was very capable at the time.

Grandparents being naively (but not nastily) racist!! Eg when I went out with a Japanese guy she said “can’t you find a white one”?!
We could easily challenge it.

Being rewarded at junior school with getting our teachers mr Williams cigarettes from the nearby newsagent at morning break. Yes to crossing roads!

School Jam roly poly - nom!

@Annabelle69 White dogshit too! What was that all about?

Basically my childhood was unrestricted freedom !!Out all day from age 7-8 playing n woods and friends houses.Can remember being dropped off to get school coach as a 5 year old and I cannot recall my Mum waiting with me..but all was OK!!Our house was a fun place because it was huge and the garden had a barn. As a young adult I was a student and there was not any fear for our safety wandering around Brighton at all kinds of hours...different world!

And they bought us a coke!!

I thought white dog poo was because of feeding dogs bones?

Totally!! Imagine seeing someone clean it up in a little plastic bag!!

Buying sweets from the shop in quarters.

We didn't have much money so no central heating when I was very young and I remember my Mum used to vigorously towel me down 'to get your blood going so you'll warm up' once out of the tub. Never warmed up, just a rough towel.

Being forced to be naked in front of other girls in the PE class as you had to go into the communal showers naked, PE teacher made sure of it. Rarely did I do much washing, a quick splash and out!

'Get out from under my feet' was a saying you heard in a lot of houses, hence we were out a lot.

TV was terribly limited. Three channels and Saturday daytime was dominated by sport Used to love the chance to watch black and white films on BBC2 if Dad was busy. I hated the news as I wanted to watch Happy Days on BBC 2 but no, if my parents were home it was 'NEWS!'

Everything on TV stopped for football. It dominated the schedules, didn't matter what was on. I loved it when games were sold to Sky when I was older as it stopped the infernal changing of the TV schedules.

Some teachers were truly awful. Spiteful against kids they didn't like but for no good reason, your face just didn't fit

Kids today statistically are still far more at risk of harm by a family member than the random psychopath we think of. Shame! Worry on road crossing real so I spent ages training them properly before letting them walk to school 1 mile at age 8/9..easier with elder siblings.

[quote TheWeeDonkey]@Annabelle69 White dogshit too! What was that all about?[/quote]
@TheWeeDonkey I can tell you exactly what white dog shit was about. Back in the day dog food had lots of cheap bone meal added to it, which isn't easily digestable, hence the white dog shit.

MYSTERY SOLVED.

Driving overnight to go on holiday to Scotland and sleeping in the boot while DF and DM took turns driving. It was a Volvo Estate so plenty of room for two kids to camp with sleeping bags and pillows.

Smoking everywhere. DM smoked while she was pregnant with me. DF chain smoked and often had two cigarettes on the go. One in the kitchen and one in the sitting room.

Going out all day on our bikes with the other kids in the village. DPs had no idea where we were going just so long as we were home by supper.

Ahh, now it makes sense!

@sadpapercourtesan

I thought white dog poo was because of feeding dogs bones?

@sadpapercourtesan Yes! Explanation above.

I was born in 1980, so grew up in the 80s/early 90s.

At the time, I thought my mother was verging on the neurotic compared to some of my parents' friends, but I was still allowed to do certain things (out on bikes with my friends from pretty much dawn 'til dusk unless I was home at a certain time, walking to school alone etc) that a lot of modern parents would find reprehensible.

I had a lovely childhood and nothing bad ever happened to me - as an adult, I realise that's because my mother was quite risk-averse.

I do sometimes wonder (full disclaimer: I am childfree by choice and have no dog in the fight) if today's parents - most of whom are the same age, if not younger, than me - are a wee bit TOO risk-averse, though.

Travelling in the boot of the car or sitting on my grandma's lap in back seat no seat belts obviously, going to paper shop by myself age 5/6.
Walking to junior school with a friend from 7, was a 15 /20 min walk.
Going to park with friends, no adults, riding my bike and , playing in the road ( literally lol) all from about age of 7. Doing " penny for the guy" at bonfire night. Playing " knock down ginger" good job ring door bells didn't exist then

Me and my mates (all boys) lived on a dead end street. We used to scrape all the weeds out of the kerb guttering and pick up the litter! I remember having blisters on my hands from the broom.

Driving my Dad’s Automatic Wolsey 16/60 car when l was 10years old, mostly around pub car parks, but sometimes on quiet roads around the new local industrial estate whilst it was being built!
My Driving experience actually started when l was only 5 years old, sitting on my Dad’s best mates Lap behind the wheel of his Hilman Imp, whilst he operated the peddles, as I could not reach the peddles properly!
I ended up with a real passion for cars and Driving, and went on to Drive 4x4 Rallies, Tow a few Caravans over the years, and help out at Caravan Club Rallies towing Caravans off muddy Rally fields when they became stuck! Being Female, l got a few surprised looks and questioning by owners before they surrendered their Pride and Joy to me for rescue out of the mud!

From being about 6 my Mum would leave me in the town library for a couple of hours while she shopped. I disliked shopping but loved reading so everyone was happy.

At my (private) school a teacher, in a rage, once threw a boy down a flight of stairs, then stormed back into the classroom, picked up the boy's desk and threw it down the stairs after him

DH still has a scar from when a teacher threw a blackboard rubber at his head and split his eyebrow open. It needed stitching. At home FIL bollocked him for misbehaving at school.

Going into hospital in Leeds for a simple op and - age 7. Being wheeled into theatre by Jimmy Saville. Fortunately, my mum was told by a nurse who she knew, don’t worry “I’ll make sure she’s safe”. Mum never understood why.

Put baby oil on my skin to sunbathe. Ate sandwiches made of white bread, margarine and sugar. Found my friends older brothers porn mags under the bed and read them.

@BraveMumOf4Explorers

Smoking in the office

Our primary school teacher in year 6 would invite groups of us - four at a time - to his home on Saturdays to take photographs and develop them in his home dark room!!! Nothing happened (to me or friends at least) and we had a fab time but noooo way that would happen now.

No, definitely not! Your anecdote reminded of an occasion when I was about 13/14 and was in a small school choir with a small group of others, mostly girls, aged 11-16. We were invited- and went- to a private recording studio at the large country home of a wealthy local middle aged guy who was mates with our music teacher and who had had some success in music. He had tech people and others there, all middle aged men. We went accompanied with our parents’ permission, recorded a single and had a great time! As far as I know, nothing untoward happened to anyone and it was a great experience but sounds dodgy as fuck looking back on it and it wouldn’t happen now without some sort of official organisation of it, which there wasn’t.

I remember the staff room door being opened at High School and there just being a fog of cigarette smoke and the waft of strong instant coffee.

I'm guessing it's smoke free with a coffee machine and some reed diffusers these days?

@BraveMumOf4Explorers

Going into hospital in Leeds for a simple op and - age 7. Being wheeled into theatre by Jimmy Saville. Fortunately, my mum was told by a nurse who she knew, don’t worry “I’ll make sure she’s safe”. Mum never understood why.

Oh God, what the hell was he doing wheeling kids into theatre? Rhetorical question. I'm glad you were safe.