Remember the 80s? It was a time of big hair, rad songs—and some parenting moves that might just make you cringe today. Our approach to child-rearing was a little more relaxed back then. Let’s check out twelve parenting practices from the 80s that are a little controversial by today’s standards. You might find some of these downright nostalgic but the others will make you glad times have changed!
Featured Image Credit: Venerala /Depositphotos.com.
Free-Range Kids
In the 80s, it wasn’t unusual for kids to spend the whole day playing outside without a parent in sight. They’d leave home after breakfast and only come back when they were hungry, or it got dark. Nowadays, that kind of freedom is rare. Most parents keep a close eye on their kids’ whereabouts & who they’re with. We’re a lot more concerned about their safety.
Secondhand Smoke Galore
The idea of lighting up a cigarette at the dinner table or in the car with kids around sounds pretty strange now. But back in the 80s, smoking indoors was the norm—not the exception. We know all about the dangers of secondhand smoke these days, which has made this old habit a definite no-no around children.
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Teenagers Running Wild
Teens in the 80s had a lot more leeway than they do today. Many of them worked part-time jobs & stayed out late—or even went to concerts without much supervision. Imagine that! Today, parents are much more involved in their teenagers’ lives, which includes setting boundaries & expecting far more frequent check-ins.
Sunscreen? What’s That?
Sunburns were almost a rite of passage for kids in the 80s because they’d spend all day in the sun without any sunscreen. Thankfully, protecting skin from UV rays is a major worry for parents now. The idea of letting your kid go out without slathering them in the highest SPF lotion is almost unthinkable.
Latchkey Kids
With more moms working, a lot of kids in the 80s came home to an empty house, meaning they had to fend for themselves until their parents got back. Of course, that’s still a reality for some. However, we tend to emphasize after-school care & programs today a lot more — as we’re more concerned about leaving kids unsupervised.
Hands-Off Schooling
Parents in the 80s weren’t as involved in their kids’ education. As such, it was common for kids to deal with homework & school projects without much parental oversight—pretty different from today! Now, the majority of parents are very involved in every part of their kids’ lives – from homework help to keeping tabs on grades.
Relaxed Baby Gear Standards
The cribs & high chairs from the 80s wouldn’t pass today’s safety checks—neither would the toys! Back then, safety standards weren’t as strictly enforced, meaning parents were less informed about potential risks. Today’s parents have access to far more extensive product safety information and regulations. Thankfully, this means that our baby gear is much safer.
Hitchin’ a Ride in the Back of a Pickup
Believe it or not, it was pretty normal to see kids riding in the back of pickup trucks, with wind in their hair & no cares in the world. Today, that’s a big mistake because we understand how dangerous it is. We also have far stricter laws about passengers in vehicle cargo areas to make sure everyone’s safe on the road.
Lead in Everything
Whether it was paint on the walls of nurseries or toys, exposure to lead was more common back then because of more lax regulations. It took a while for everyone to understand just how dangerous lead could be. These days, we do a lot of careful checking & have regulations to make sure kids aren’t exposed to deadly chemicals.
No Bike Helmets
Riding bikes without a helmet was the way to go in those days. You’d rarely see helmets—or even wear them, even though spills & crashes happened just as often. Of course, these days we see helmets as essential for our child’s safety. Most parents wouldn’t dream of letting their kids ride a bike without one.
Letting Kids Walk to School Alone
Kids often walked to school alone or with other kids in the neighborhood without any adults tagging along. Naturally, some kids still walk to school, yet there’s usually a lot more coordination with other parents & neighborhood watches. There are even walking school buses to make sure everything’s okay!
Playing with Lawn Darts
Remember lawn darts? Those heavy, metal-tipped things that kids threw around in the backyard? Yep, they were legal in the 80s and pretty popular—until people realized how dangerous they actually were. Today, you’d be hard-pressed to find them as they’ve been banned. Somehow, we realized games involving sharp objects & kids aren’t a great mix!
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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