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!

@anne2650 yes, swings that were so good you could go so high you lifted from the seat - oh I miss that feeling.

[quote nellynellie]@ISpyCobraKai - 'Not thinking to complain about school dinners if you had them. You ate it or went hungry'

Brings back memories of unpitted prunes with cold custard for pudding![/quote]
Now I want prunes and custard.

You predicted the future by counting the stones to a rhyme...Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor..etc

There were loads of things I did in 1970s/80s.

@AliceMcK - my best friend did much of what you did but then when she was about 8 or 9 she had an older brother of about 7-8 years older who got sent to borstal and she often hung around with him and his mates. A lot of what happened to her was probably neglect sadly.

Add in adventure playgrounds made of wood - great for climbing/jumping but no health and safety whatsoever.

my DM was a primary school teacher but still didn't realise half of what we got up to - when we were on holiday there'd be streams where we played and got supervised but other places we would play in would be building sites, streams or ponds out of sight of her.

I went out more when I was 16 then I ever did again in my life. Tuesday nights local indie club til midnight, £1 a pint, up for school next day. Thursday night, out for ladies night in town, last bus home, school the next day, Friday night, everyone out and ended in local night club, taxi at 2am, Saturday night, usually pub crawl down a long road in the town that had 50 pubs on it. God knows how I afforded it, had the energy for it, passed any exams or how my parents and my friends parents allowed it. Not a chance would I let dd (16) do this now even if she could get served, which she couldn't.

My parents had no idea where I was or what I was doing from the age of about 10 onwards. Unfathomable today really.

My friend Jane had CB radio in her bedroom, which was a mind-blowing bit of technology in 1981. She was 13 and me 11 at the time. We'd chat to random people, usually men. Then we'd meet up with them I remember these men would often turn up in cars so would be at least 17+++ Nothing untoward ever happened, but what the hell was that about

@tiredanddangerous

My parents had no idea where I was or what I was doing from the age of about 10 onwards. Unfathomable today really.

I think we were all a bit feral weren't we! Parenting skills in the 1970/80's were questionable to say the least!

@anne2650

Roaming around with friends until it was dark. Eating whatever meal mum had made. No seat belts, also lying across the back seat on long journeys, dad would be smoking. Smoke filled working men's clubs; seafood man coming in with his basket; the bar had those little packets with crackers, cream cheese and pickled onions - l loved them! Being referred to a 'the child' when parents spoke about me. Going so high on the swings you lifted off the seat. Drinking in pubs at 14 Community spirit - everyone knew each other and would chat regularly. It felt like an extended family. Local shops for everything which you needed including furniture. Only takeaways were fish and chips Clean corner shops which would also sell homemade cakes and pies. Stray dogs Rag and bone man (70s) People knocking on the door to ask for a glass of water before carrying on with their journey. Walking for miles Countryside, long hot summers, quiet roads. Sense of peace and excitement about the future. I miss it so much

Aah. Good times

No hair product for my curls, how did I cope. 10p in the back of my purse to call mam from pay phone incase I got into trouble, (missed last bus) staying over at mates.

White dog poo!

forgot about the CB one how utterly dangerous when you think about it
Another one I remember is my friend at about 14 had a boyfriend at least in his 20s but no adult batted an eyelid when he regularly turned up at school in his car at lunchtimes and after school can you imagine anyone letting that go on these days

I don't think the cb radio is any more dangerous than any of the SM apps in terms of communication with strangers

My grandmother had a radiogram and my dad used to tune it to local police radio in the 70’s.

I could understand why if any of them were criminally minded but they weren’t.

From 14 onwards I went camping and youth hosteling with similarly aged friends. We’d bike, train or hitchhike places. Didn’t phone home. Had a great time.

Also drinking in pubs from 15 onwards was pretty much standard. Pubs that would serve a 15 year old were kind of rank though.

Getting myself up, dressed and into school on time (was never late) by myself from age 8 when my mum was working.

Sorted out all my o’levels and a’levels myself. Virtually no parental involvement. As I was leaving they began requiring parents to sign off on a’level choices and some sort of “yes we’ll check they do their homework” agreement. I was outraged!

Not all of it was good. But I gained a lot of resourcefulness and resilience from it. Can’t see how to give the same to my kids though.

live for summer
difference being kids in those days had no idea it was dangerous to go meeting strangers as children we were not told about anything like that stranger danger paedophiles abuse etc.
When we were 10 we suffered sexual abuse by our class teacher and I can remember discussing it in the playground and agreeing we wouldnt tell even though we didnt like it as he was the teacher and it must be ok and we would getting off if we told
I would like to think no child today would ever think like thus and be far more aware of wrong songs etc. Things like this were never discussed in 70s that's why so many paedophiles sadly fot away with it. It wasnt until years later as an adult somebody reported him

*get told off

@orangetriangle

live for summer difference being kids in those days had no idea it was dangerous to go meeting strangers as children we were not told about anything like that stranger danger paedophiles abuse etc. When we were 10 we suffered sexual abuse by our class teacher and I can remember discussing it in the playground and agreeing we wouldnt tell even though we didnt like it as he was the teacher and it must be ok and we would getting off if we told I would like to think no child today would ever think like thus and be far more aware of wrong songs etc. Things like this were never discussed in 70s that's why so many paedophiles sadly fot away with it. It wasnt until years later as an adult somebody reported him

I was born in the late 70's and was absolutely taught about stranger danger etc

Piling into the back of the car with your cousins and no seatbelts and smallest one sit in footwell

Also in the early 80's I was a baby and mum said she used to dunk my dummy in whisky if I didn't sleep well

Also put rusks in my bedtime bottle with milk?!?

I promise I actually had a wonderful childhood !!!

Our primary class aged 8 being taken for swim lessons at the local borstal. The teens at the borstal opened the windows, banged in the bars, exposed themselves and shouted lewd suggestions to our lovely 25 year old teacher as we got back on the bus until she cried. We didn’t go back, but no parent batted an eyelid.

@isitnewyearyet

Also put rusks in my bedtime bottle with milk?!?

Yep me too, at about 2 weeks old.

Telling my parents a little group of us were off to play on the building site and them saying ok then.

Mind numbingly boring Sundays.