Kids had a stretch of freedom after dinner in the 1960s that doesn’t really exist today, and they got up to some things during that time that are pretty rare these days.
The spot out front
Some ‘60s kids didn’t go very far for their evening plans. It all happened on the front steps. Yes, they’d sit there after dinner and trade cards or talk. Sometimes they just people-watched. It was the easiest and coolest way to spend a summer evening.
Tech sure has changed things. Now, we have TV and indoor screens pulling our attention away from the streets. Air conditioners have also made the inside of our homes a much cooler place. You can’t really find that porch-and-steps crowd anymore.
The pile on the rug
Kids back then didn’t need phones or tablets to have fun. They didn’t even need permission. After dinner, they’d lie on the rug with a comic book and find out about what Superman or Archie was up to next. It was their own time to chill out.
Sure, kids still read comic books today. But they’re probably going to read them on a screen instead of the real thing. It’s also not part of their evening routine in the same way anymore. No, it’s been replaced by screen time.
A little walk for something sweet
A few coins became a mission after dinner. It was completely normal for kids to head to the corner store before it got too dark. They’d pick up some penny candy and a soda. Adult supervision? That was basically non-existent.
Most parents aren’t going to let their kids walk around at night alone. Kids can still get late-night treats. However, their parents drive them there and keep their eyes on them the whole time.
The serious half hour
TV was a routine too, but not in the way you might think. Grown-ups turned on the evening news after dinner. Kids ended up watching as well. They didn’t exactly understand every word, yet they got familiar with some of the stories.
Then, they’d talk about them together. That sort of discussion doesn’t really happen today. The news comes straight to our phones, and there’s no opportunity to talk about stories as a family. It’s a lot more personal. It’s also a lot more isolated.
The shoes by the door
Looking good took time in the past. That’s why some kids were careful about polishing their leather shoes the night before school. After dinner, they’d spread some newspaper on the floor and get started. Brown polish, black polish, the whole thing.
Kids cared a lot about being tidy. They still do. But most of them wear sneakers and other low-maintenance shoes today. You’ll struggle to find any kids polishing school shoes at night these days.
The knock at the next house
Group chats have nothing on the way kids used to organize a game. Who cares that dinner was over? It was the perfect time to start playing. Whoever finished first would go outside and start collecting players house-to-house.
Kids in the ‘60s used up every bit of daylight they could. Sadly, it’s not that way anymore. Any after-dinner play usually gets scheduled and supervised first. There’s no after-dinner roundup. There’s no independence.
The box with the bottles
Who knew a chemistry set could make an ordinary table feel so official? Kids’ safety wasn’t really a thing back then. They had test tubes, powders, droplets, litmus papers, and so much more. An adult might be nearby. But they weren’t hovering over everything.
It was the perfect opportunity for kids to feel like real scientists. Yes, kids’ chemistry sets are still a thing. But they don’t have any of the strong chemicals or acids of the old ones. They’re much more toned-down, with none of the serious science stuff.
The hot little pen
Another hobby kids loved doing after dinner involved a woodburning kit. It’s true. They waited for a heated pen to get hot. Then, they’d burn designs into boards. It was fine to do it in the basement or at a card table unsupervised.
That’d never fly today. We know how dangerous those kits are, for both the home and the kid. Most kids’ hobbies are a lot safer, but also nowhere near as practical. The risk was part of the fun.Â
The nightly set-up
Girls would usually sit after dinner while their mom or sister helped them with their hair. Rollers were all the rage back then. Once they were done, the hairstyle had to stay there until the morning. Some girls slept in their rollers. Why?Â
Because they wanted to look good for school or church. Simple as that. Rollers still exist, obviously, but they’re not the typical nightly routine anymore. Looser hairstyles are way more popular these days.
A song everybody knew
Those movies with families singing around the piano after dinner? They had some truth to them. Some families would sing along while one of them played the piano. It didn’t matter if it was church songs or old standards. It was fun.
You don’t really see that anymore because streaming’s killed it off. Music’s more of a solo experience. A casual family singalong around a piano? That’s only in the movies now.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
