I had the good fortune to be a kid in the 50's. Since we didn't have any goodies like computers and cell phones, we played outside all the time. You name it, and we probably played it.
I was only in the house to eat, sleep or to do homework. We were outside, even in the winter.
We got to know our neighbors and built strong relationships with other kids. We also learned the value of hard work and practice to improve one's sporting skills.
Probably caused my mom a headache cleaning all those clothes. Most moms didn't have to work in those days. She could stay around and keep an eye on us.
Since most kids don't get down in the dirt every day, their immune systems are probably suffering along with their self esteem and self worth.
#14 Sounds like MY childhood!
We had a ball!! Just as you say ... I agree with all you wrote. I'd gladly give up a cell phone, text messaging, PC's and color TV for my daughter to have my wonderful childhood. Also Mom stayed HOME. They weren't off fighting wars. That was for the men. People actually went to church on Sunday - the whole family!
Nah, I wouldn't trade MY childhood for todays view of childhood.
My childhood took place in the 1980s -- during the Reagan years -- and was similar to what you describe. Lots of bike riding and playing outside. Computers were pretty primitive and there was no internet. We played with those plasic green army guys and had cap guns that looked like real guns (gasp! can you imagine?). Phones still had cords and rotary dials and weren't much good for standing on street corners with. In a lot of ways, it wasn't too different from the 1950s, I don't think.
Several of my elementary school teachers were women in their fifties. They would have been in their twenties when they began their teaching careers, which would've begun in the 1950s. So these were some of the same women who taught your generation. Your generation and mine have them in common.
It's funny being a GenXer because we have these Leave It to Beaver early childhoods playing wiffleball in the street and that kind of thing (but with feminist, divorcee moms yelling for us to come home in the evenings) followed quickly by highschool years that included the internet and Bill Clinton. A lot changed between 1979 and 1992 (my school years).
And when I was young, if I told my Mother I was "bored"..she'd tell me I could run the sweeper or pick up a dust rag! (I was hardly ever "bored" :)
sw
Your post is right on the money.