Climbing trees as if you were Tarzan himself, riding your bike without even considering wearing a helmet, or turning an abandoned building into a playground—these are just a few examples ofthings kids do—or used to do back in the day, at least—that would make the hairs on parents’ necks stand up. (Though, these were arguably also some of the best childhood memories to some.)
Below you will also findBored Panda’sinterviews with the OP himself, as well as with the Professor and Department Head at the Department of Human Development & Family Studies at Colorado State University,Dr. Julie Braungart-Rieker, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about the importance of childhood adventures.
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Unsupervised play deep in the woods. It was glorious.
Anyone remember the scalding hot metal playgrounds in the summer, as kids?
Played with my friends on construction sites after the workers were gone.From about age 8-10, they built a bunch of new homes in my neighborhood. We had so much fun playing in peoples houses when they were just wooden frames!
In an interview withBored Panda, the user who started the thread, Ron, shared that he often finds himself reminiscing about hischildhoodin the ‘70s and noticing how drastically things have changed. “The carefree and adventurous spirit of those days seems so distant now, and I was curious to see if others shared similar memories,” he said, explaining the reason behind the question posed to the online community.“I wanted to spark a conversation about the stark contrast between the freedom we had as kids and the more cautious approach to parenting today.”
In an interview withBored Panda, the user who started the thread, Ron, shared that he often finds himself reminiscing about hischildhoodin the ‘70s and noticing how drastically things have changed. “The carefree and adventurous spirit of those days seems so distant now, and I was curious to see if others shared similar memories,” he said, explaining the reason behind the question posed to the online community.
“I wanted to spark a conversation about the stark contrast between the freedom we had as kids and the more cautious approach to parenting today.”
Riding in the bed of a pickup truck.
Going to the public pool all day with a couple of my friends, minus any adults. We’d either ride our bikes or one of the moms would drop us off there at opening time and then pick us up late that afternoon at a pre-arranged time.We all somehow survived it.
The freedomkidshave, or used to have, allows them to explore the unknown, which, according to Dr. Julie Braungart-Rieker, is an important part of kids’ development.
“There is an interesting balance between fear and excitement when it comes to facing something new or challenging. When children encounter something novel that they haven’t seen or done before—stumble upon a squiggly salamander in the mud, for example—they can feel a little unsure about this creature and they can be curious about it: ‘What is it? Can I catch it and hold it? Will it hurt me?’ So they might be drawn to something like this because it’s exciting,” she explained.
Being left home alone & entertaining myself.
I grew up in a small town in Indiana. My sisters were 7 and 10 years older than me, and mom’s rule was they couldn’t leave me alone at home, so I tagged along with them and their boyfriends all the time.Indiana is littered with abandoned quarries, and they’re the best swimming holes you can find.10 to 100 acres big, 200 to 500 feet deep, or more. They’d fill with rainwater over the years, and with no current, they would just warm in the summer sun to about 85 degrees or more.However. Below 15' or so, the water was about 58 degrees year-round.While the boyfriends were 17-21 or so, I was 10/11.And when the boys climbed up the walls and jumped into the water, I would follow.You kept your shoes on, and dropped feet-first into the warm water, but you would zip down to 30' or more instantly. The cold shock would zip up your body and take your breath away, then it’s time to struggle back to the surface. Sometimes, you’d run out of air about 2 or 3 feet down, and it’s the most terrible feeling to expend your last bit of energy to cover that distance to sweet, sweet air.I went back to visit many years later and found that we were routinely jumping from 60 and 70 feet to the water.That was 50 years ago, and I can see it and smell it like it was yesterday. Plunging past the thermocline into freezing water in the summer is something that never leaves you.And I’m pretty sure it was never Mom Approved^(TM).
Discussing the activities of today’s children, Dr. Braungart-Rieker also suggested that it does seem that children get less opportunity to explore on their own currently than in the past.“To my knowledge, we don’t have any solid data or research to show this is the case, but it’s easier to keep track of children now with technology than it was in the past, as now we have cameras, apps on phones, and similar means,” she said. “News about terrible things happening to children is also more readily available now which can fuel parents’ fear and anxiety that something bad will happen to their children.”
Discussing the activities of today’s children, Dr. Braungart-Rieker also suggested that it does seem that children get less opportunity to explore on their own currently than in the past.
“To my knowledge, we don’t have any solid data or research to show this is the case, but it’s easier to keep track of children now with technology than it was in the past, as now we have cameras, apps on phones, and similar means,” she said. “News about terrible things happening to children is also more readily available now which can fuel parents’ fear and anxiety that something bad will happen to their children.”
When I was in HS, I was really into high heels but had a long walk home. Random guys would stop and ask if I wanted a ride home. I’d jump right in with a smile. Nothing ever happened, but I would NeVER do that now or let my kids!!
Grew up in a hollow We spent one early spring cutting down trees with axes and buck saws and dragged them down to the creek We spent late Spring building a dam in the creek at the base of a small waterfall to make a swimming hole We spent the Summer at our swimming hole. Built a club house, made a rope swing and a fire pit. Would camp out there. Swim all night. Cook hot dogs on the fire We were around 11 years old.
I used to run around corn fields as a kid playing chicken with combines. 95% sure they couldn’t even see me.I should be dead, honestly.
Even though nowadays making sure that children are safe is arguably easier than it was back in the day, the expert recommended trying to find a balance between that and allowing children to explore on their own (in an environment that is likely to be very safe).“Getting dirty, falling down, picking up gross things in the mud might be messy but they can be fun to children and it allows them to learn about the world and themselves. If nature and other areas of novelty are not readily accessible to families, they might think about bringing something home that is unusual and even messy to allow their children to explore it and learn more about it.“Even something as simple as baking something new gives kids an opportunity to get into the ingredients, feel them, measure or weigh them, and mix things which can get messy, stick whatever they made in the oven and see what happens to this mixture after baking,” she added. “That can be exciting to kids because they interact with the ingredients and create something new from them. Parents can be there to assist and watch their kids have fun with this situation.”
Even though nowadays making sure that children are safe is arguably easier than it was back in the day, the expert recommended trying to find a balance between that and allowing children to explore on their own (in an environment that is likely to be very safe).
“Getting dirty, falling down, picking up gross things in the mud might be messy but they can be fun to children and it allows them to learn about the world and themselves. If nature and other areas of novelty are not readily accessible to families, they might think about bringing something home that is unusual and even messy to allow their children to explore it and learn more about it.
“Even something as simple as baking something new gives kids an opportunity to get into the ingredients, feel them, measure or weigh them, and mix things which can get messy, stick whatever they made in the oven and see what happens to this mixture after baking,” she added. “That can be exciting to kids because they interact with the ingredients and create something new from them. Parents can be there to assist and watch their kids have fun with this situation.”
We lived on a lake with channels that went on for miles through woods. I used to get on my bike and spend the day catching frogs, crawdads, turtles and snakes. Sometimes I would build a small fire and eat the crawdads and frogs. One time I found a poor snake who had a fishing hook and line caught in its mouth. I took it home and was using my dads pliers to get the hook out. He came up and snatched that snake up so fast and tossed him into the woods. I was like, “Im trying to save him!” He said “Thants a gaddam cotton mouth! You could of died!” Lol I was grounded for 2 weeks and had to read a book on snakes. Heh.
Sat in my dad’s lap while he drove. From ages 2-6 would regularly sit on the arm rest between the seats in the front seat of the car (so I could see where we were going, obviously). Would push the lighter in (to heat it) in the car so mom could smoke while we drove around (pretty sure all the windows were up, too).
The OP seconded the idea that part of the reason for change betweenchildhood thenvs childhood now is parents’ sense of safety and the use of technology.
“The biggest change, in my opinion, is the level of parental supervision and the general sense of safety and freedom. When I was a child, it was normal for kids to roam the neighborhood, explore, and find their own fun without constant adult oversight. Today, there’s a much stronger focus on safety and structured activities,” Ron said.
My sister and I rode for hours home from vacation one time. We were sitting on lawn chairs in the back of our Dad’s truck….
We used to go up in the hayloft of a neighbors barn and grab a rope and swing across the whole barn and fly thru the air into the hay pile on the other side. : 0.
“Parents naturally want to protect their children, which is a good instinct. But there’s a balance between allowing your child to explore new situations while keeping them safe,” Prof. Braungart-Rieker emphasized. “Obviously, if a small child were to approach something dangerous like the edge of a raging river, the parent would want to make sure that any exploration would be done in a safe way: ‘Don’t get in that river because the rapids are too fast right now but what else could we explore? Maybe there’s a salamander under a rock near the river?’”
I rode in railroad boxcars. From my northern New Jersey town’s railyard up into New York and back again. Running and jumping in was crazy stupid.
I remember trips to the amusement part - Cedar Point in Ohio - that was about an hour drive. The three of us boys would all clamber into the back of the station wagon and rough house away during the drive. Pushing shoving, rolling around in cargo area while dad smoked and mom yelled at us to simmer down .No seat belts, second had smoke wafting back, windows open. Ah the joys of being a young child in the 60’s! And here I am, as are my brothers, alive and well in our 60’s!
There was a swimming hole near our Alabama home in a creek. In order to use the hole, you had to throw a couple of large rocks into it. This caused the water moccasins to run out of the water and into the woods. We would then swim here. Crazy, I know.
Ron shared that some of his fondest memories were playing outside with his friends until the streetlights came on, building forts out of cardboard, and going on adventures in the woods or local parks.“I loved riding my bike everywhere and experiencing a sense of freedom that felt boundless,” he added. “We often played games that we invented, which involved a lot of imagination and creativity. I also cherished family road trips, even if we didn’t wear seatbelts all the time, as they were a source of great stories and bonding moments. These experiences were a significant part of my childhood, fostering independence and a love for the outdoors.”
Ron shared that some of his fondest memories were playing outside with his friends until the streetlights came on, building forts out of cardboard, and going on adventures in the woods or local parks.
“I loved riding my bike everywhere and experiencing a sense of freedom that felt boundless,” he added. “We often played games that we invented, which involved a lot of imagination and creativity. I also cherished family road trips, even if we didn’t wear seatbelts all the time, as they were a source of great stories and bonding moments. These experiences were a significant part of my childhood, fostering independence and a love for the outdoors.”
Oh God. Don’t come for me. I know I’d never be able to run for public office because of this.I played a character in a play who was supposed to be black. I am not black. So… Yeah.At the time my black friends loved it, we all thought it was hilarious, they and took me under their wing to teach me things. It was a different world.
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I fell out of a tall tree and broke my leg and crawled home. Just a block fortunately. But I was embarrassed that I fell (I was way too high up and a branch gave way) so I crawled in my room and lay on the floor and didn’t tell anyone. My younger sister was the only one home and she wasn’t paying attention (we were 9 and 5 and used to get left home alone all the time). Hours later my mom came home and I didn’t tell her and she only figured it out because I wouldn’t get up to get into bed. She was so pissed she made me wait till the next day to see a doctor rather than spend the night at the ER. I slept most of that afternoon and might have had a concussion too. Never got checked for anything but the leg.Do kids still get to climb trees? I did it obsessively and was mostly very careful and good at it. I don’t know what possessed me to be an idiot that day. The temptation to see further I guess.
“However, it’s also crucial to strike a balance between safety and freedom for children today. Encouraging outdoor play and creativity while being mindful of modern-day risks can help create a well-rounded and fulfilling childhood experience. It’s fascinating to see how societal norms evolve, and conversations like this can help us appreciate the past while navigating the present.”
Besides the things you mentioned, I also built model rockets. Also, tricks off the high dive at the local swimming pool. These days public pools don’t even have diving boards, let alone high dives.
This was not a regular occurrence for me, but when I visited a family in rural Tennessee a group of kids got together after dark, formed two groups, and shot bottle rockets across the field at each other as long as they lasted.
I was born in 1965. We lived on a very busy Main St in small town Indiana. When I was 4/5/6 years old, if it rained - my grandparents would let me put my bathing suit on and go stand on the sidewalk, so I was sprayed when cars drove through the puddles passing the house.
We made homemade fireworks..
Running after the “smoke truck” that sprayed insecticide in our neighborhood.
Bottle rocket wars with my friends. It’s a wonder we didn’t put an eye out.
I’ve already said this once, but as young teen girls, we would cross a huge empty lot in order to get to the mall. Most of the time there was a guy riding his bicycle in the lot with his d**k hanging out. Back and forth. Back and forth. We told our mothers who just said not to look at him and he won’t bother you. They never called the police or stopped us from taking the shortcut. God only knows what could have happened to any of us, especially when we walked alone.
Rock & Dirt Clod battles.
There was a medical clinic near our house. They would dump the test tubes full of blood into the big trashcan. We liked those glass tubes with stoppers so we pulled them out and washed out the tubes so we could play with them.
For the most part, my parents kept me on a fairly tight leash, but one thing I never understood is why my parents thought it was okay to send me on foot to kindergarten without an adult. The trail started behind the barrier of a dead-end street, wound past a cornfield, then past an apartment complex before it took me to school. Today someone would call CPS for letting their 5 year old do something like that.I was also allowed to explore a brushy area behind our house that had the remains of some old structures. I was 8 or 9. My friends and I also liked to explore the remains of an old trailer park. The mobile homes were long gone, but there was an uncovered, unfenced swimming pool that always contained dark, festering water, and I once nearly fell into a hole near there. My leg went all the way in and my friends had to grab my arms and pull me out. We continued playing.Then again, this was an era when no one batted an eye about sending all of us kids to school during a tornado warning. I had nightmares for a bit after that experience, but I got over it and grew up to have no fear of storms, just a healthy respect for them.
My uncles used to scramble on top of the barn. It has a metal roof. They thought it was fun to slide down it and “fly”. Good thing kids bounce and the ground was soft.I was a cute little girl with few friends. Often rode my bike down the back alleys. There were usually guys hanging out in their garages which faced the ally. I would stop and talk to them. In retrospect…that’s not a good idea. Cute little me was too friendly and curious.
We had BB gun fights. Only 2 rules, no shooting anyone above the belly and if you had a pump up BB-pellet gun, no more than 2 pumps.Think paint ball with BB guns.
I hitchhiked everywhere I went from 1974 - 1984. Lots of serial k*llers were active and out there at the time. I am convinced that God hand His hand over me (still does!).
How much time do you have?
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Monika Pašukonytė
Rugilė Žemaitytė
Denis Krotovas
Parenting
