7 Things That Didn't Fly In The 1960s But Seem Tame Now

By | February 6, 2019

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Family Riding In Convertible, 1960s. A man, woman and three children smile from a convertible while driving on a family trip, 1960s. Source: (Lambert/Getty Images)

There were many things kids couldn't do in the 1960s that aren't terribly shocking now. Today, when we look at "helicopter" parenting and stronger safety regulations, we envision a past when free-roaming kids were the norm and cars weren't cluttered up with booster seats. In some ways, the past was a time of greater freedom for kids -- freedom from overscheduling and overprotection -- but let's not kid ourselves. There were plenty of things kids and teenagers couldn't do in the 1960s, and many of them hardly raise an eyebrow today.

Well, you could try to do them, and risk incurring the wrath of your '60s-style mother. The 1960s was a decade of cultural upheaval and challenges to the established norms -- that's how we often think of it, and it's true. But children and teenagers in the 1960s -- and the late 1950s as well -- were struggling to enjoy all that change and rebellion while living with parents raised in the 1930s. Parents in the '50s and '60s had survived the Great Depression and a World War, and they had very strong ideas from the bad old days about how children should behave. There were things you couldn't wear, things you couldn't say, things you couldn't eat, and sexual taboos aplenty.

It's the same old generational thing -- parents in the 1960s were desperately trying to hold on to the truths they had been taught as children. When the '60s kids grew up, they ended up in the same position, trying to maintain order as their kids were running wild in the '80s. It's true that the times, they were a’ changing in the 1960s, but if you grew up in that era, you might recall that your parents hadn't gotten the memo.

Hey, '60s kids! How many of these things were taboo in your house during the groovy era?

1. Eating Dinner In front Of The TV

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A family eating dinner. Source: (bariatriceating.com)

Eating dinner at the table was a MUST in my family! When I was a kid, my dad’s job required him to work several different shifts. Depending on the shift of any given week, we ate at some strange times, but you can be sure that we all ate together. That was the time when the family caught up and let everyone know what was going on. Oh, yes, we had TV trays, but they were for parties only! It was unheard of to sit in front of the TV and eat a regular meal without it being a special occasion. Even if we were sick, we sat at the kitchen or dining room table for meals. Even worse than eating in front of the TV was sitting too close to it. Now that might ruin your eyes! These days, I still think it is important to eat as a family when possible, but I feel like our time together is just as meaningful whether we are in the dining room or the family room sitting too close to the TV. Sometimes we even eat a cookie before dinner!