(CLAIR – Simi Valley, CA) – Growing up in Simi Valley during the 1970s and 1980s was a wild ride. It was an era before smartphones and helicopter parenting, where freedom and adventure ruled our days. As Gen X’ers, we had access to playthings and activities that would make today’s parents lose their minds. From riding bikes until the streetlights came on to climbing trees and building forts, our days were filled with unstructured play. Looking back, it’s a wonder any of us made it out alive! Here’s a list of things that kids growing up in the 70s and 80s would see every day but are now considered far too dangerous for anyone raised in a Millennial household.
(1) Riding in the back of a pickup truck – Riding in the back of a pickup truck was a common practice in the 70s and 80s, but it is now illegal in many places due to the risk of injury from falls or collisions.
(2) Metal Swings – Metal swings with S-shaped chains were all the rage in playgrounds and backyard play sets. Sure, there was a slight risk of entrapment and injury, but it was all part of the fun!
(3) Human Seesaws – Metal teeter-totters, also known as seesaws, were a playground staple. But let’s be real, they were basically just devices for launching small children into the air.
(4) Monkey Bars – These metal monkey bars were a great way to get a good upper body workout… and also a great way to plummet to the ground and break a bone.
(5) Station wagons with rear-facing back seats – These wagons were a common sight on the roads in the 70s and 80s, but they are no longer allowed due to safety concerns. How did we even survive those long car rides facing backwards?
(6) Fans with metal blades – Fans with metal blades were a common household item, but they posed a risk of injury due to the sharp edges of the blades. Fans with plastic blades are much more common now.
(7) Metal merry-go-rounds – Metal merry-go-rounds were a popular playground item, but they have been replaced by safer options due to the risk of injury from falls or getting caught in the moving parts.
(8) No-brake scooters – Metal scooters with no brakes were all the rage in the 70s and 80s, but they were basically just death traps on wheels. It’s a miracle any of us made it to adulthood.
(9) Gas-Powered pogo sticks – Pogo sticks were a total blast, but the metal handles were a recipe for disaster. One wrong bounce and you could end up with a serious injury. Good thing we had tough skin back then!
(10) Soda cans with pull tabs – Soda cans with a pull tab were a popular way to package soda, but the tab posed a risk of injury if it was ingested. Soda cans with a stay-on tab are now more common.
(11) Slingshots – Slingshots were a favorite toy for mischievous kids, but they were banned in some places due to the risk of injury from the rubber bands or the projectiles being launched. Can’t have the little tykes poking each other’s eyes out, after all.
(12) Lawn darts – Lawn darts were a popular outdoor game, but they were banned in the US in 1988 due to the risk of serious injury or death from the sharp, pointed ends.
(13) Hitchhiking – Hitchhiking, or accepting rides from strangers, was a more common practice in the 70s and 80s, but it is now generally discouraged due to the risks it poses.
(14) Sugar Smacks cereal – Sugar Smacks was a popular cereal in the 70s and 80s, but it has since been reformulated due to concerns about the high sugar content.
(15) Candy Cigarettes – These sugary treats were all the rage back in the day, but they’ve been banned in some places due to concerns about promoting smoking to kids. How did we even survive?
(16) Clackers – The “70s novelty toy” was removed from the market after just a decade due to a major safety hazard: the acrylic balls that were part of the toy often cracked or shattered into small, sharp shards that could fly into someone’s face. Not only was the toy’s knocking noise annoying, but it also posed a serious danger to users.
(17) Mini motorbikes with wagon side carts – Mini motorbikes with a wagon side cart were a popular way for kids to get around, but they posed a risk of injury due to the small size and lack of safety features.
(18) Wooden Playground Sets – Wooden play sets were all the rage back in the day, but they were basically just a means of ensuring that every child had a good collection of deeply embedded splinters by the time they hit puberty.
It’s truly a wonder any of us made it to adulthood. Those days were filled with adventure, a sense of freedom, and just the right amount of risk to make every day exciting. Those seemingly perilous activities shaped the legendary Gen X resilience, giving us the stories to tell for a lifetime. Ah, the good old days!
