what do kids nowadays not have that others think is normal?

[8268768xc]

Piggybacking on the other thread about childhood — what do children today not have that we all considered completely normal growing up?

I sometimes feel that my kids have a lot, but we do live in a flat, and they seem a bit embarrassed about that. For us, it was a conscious choice. However, I wonder whether in the future they might feel that it singled them out or made them feel different.

They don't have people smoking everywhere inside... Walking through the haze of smoke to get the n"non smoking section" in cafe's etc

Travelling in the boot of a car.

Privacy to make mistakes and not have them played back to you on social media platforms for the rest of your life.

Raves.

They don't just go and "play out" when they feel like it, call for their friends, and knock about in the estates riding bikes and playing manhunt! Everything's structured and bound - prearranged playdates in enclosed gardens and parental lifts home.

Landlines. Having to phone your mate's house and make small talk with their mum til they come to the phone!

Libraries. We used to have to take a trip with our mum, and either get the book that you wanted out, or put your name on a waiting list if it was for school and someone else had it. Now they can just look at their phone.

Proper tape players and radios. The absolute delight of waiting with a blank cassette in the stereo, ready to press play and record when your favourite song came on the radio, and then the DJ would talk all over it!

Might be easier now, but I preferred the sheer excitement of waiting for the song to come on. Or if your fave singer appeared on Top of the Pops. It was such fun. Where's the sense of fun and appreciation now? It's all just handed to them.

Mine do, I would most kids that live In estates do this no?

Freedom of movement until much later in childhood. I walked to school on my own from age of 7. I used to play out in the neighbourhood from a similar age. People find it hard to believe now but it was normal in the 80’s.

Walking home from school with your mates
Waiting until TOTP on Thursday night to find out what was #1 song .
Going to an actual shop to buy tickets for events
Weekly magazines

Bad things were smoking everywhere
No health and safety at work
Shit attitudes towards disabilities
Few options on TV although quality seemed better

Delayed gratification.

The jelly aliens in the plastic eggs (and the rumour of putting 2 aliens back to back overnight would make a baby alien) are they still around?

Tuck-shops at school that sold nothing but sweets and junk.

Walkmans.

Having to turn the internet off if your parents wanted to make a phone call.

MSN and MySpace.

Fairground rides that clearly had no health and safety/risk assessments.

Several kids crammed into the back of cars, no booster seats, no seatbelts.

Think I’ve missed the point of the thread🤣

Sorry if this has been mentioned already.
Every parent is different of course but I feel that today a lot of young children don't have their parent's undivided attention as I think for the most part children did before everyone had, and used, a mobile phone.
I always feel sorry when I see a parent taking their DC out in a pushchair, and instead of taking the time to engage with their child, especially in quiet areas, pointing out flowers, birds, little things that they can enjoy together, they're totally focused on the phone in their hand.
Both parent and child have lost the opportunity to engage, to share smiles and to learn about their surroundings, I think it must be quite lonely for the LO in the pushchair, and the parent can't be getting much out of the relationship either.

Freedom

Not where I live! Loads of kids play out, and we have a constant stream knocking on our door.

Affordable activities

Walls that you didn't hear everything through - cheers new builds

Sunshine

Woolworths.
CD collections.
Tamagotchis

Rubella. German measles was completely ordinary when I was younger. I’ve got no idea why it was called German though.

That's nice to hear, for my nostalgia 😊 I have such fond memories of it, but my kids don't do this, and I don't know anyone else whose kids do it! Maybe I just don't live in the right area - but I think I would struggle with letting them, if they asked.

Freedom from social media and the internet

My parents house, built in the 1950s was not very soundproof. I could hear exactly what our neighbours were discussing in their living room from the comfort of my bedroom. The sound went up the chimney.

But, the gardens were huge. Practically a small holding

Me neither, but it was the only common childhood illness I got. No mumps, whooping cough or chicken pox just German measles

TV shows at set times not people watching when they choose or binge watching.
I can remember excitement building up at school for Scott & Charlene Neighbours wedding.

Tizer from the fizzy drinks at school lunch. And spam fritters for lunch. Those were the days