Anyone who grew up in the ‘60s can agree that this was a really special time to be a kid. Life was starting to get more comfortable for our parents, making our lives more convenient and exciting. On the flip side, though, there still wasn’t enough technology to spend our summers staring at screens all day. As a result, we got up to all kinds of fun activities, making for the following unforgettable memories that anyone who grew up in the 1960s will remember.
Riding Your Bike Until the Streetlights Came On
First up, ‘60s childhoods were pretty much synonymous with cycling. Of course, bikes are still popular for getting around, but back then, it was a source of entertainment. Especially on long summer days off from school, we’d hop on our bikes as early as possible and knock on our friends’ doors to see if they’d come out.
Then, we’d head out on adventures, exploring the neighborhoods and making the occasional pit stop at the corner store for a pack of bubble gum or a cream soda. Ah, those were the days.
Licking the Spoon While Mom Baked
These days, licking the cookie dough spoon while baking is frowned upon, especially for kids, as raw dough contains potentially harmful bacteria. Our parents weren’t aware of that in the ‘60s, though, so baking always got us excited, as licking the spoon or even the bowl somehow tasted even better than the finished product.
Watching Cartoons on Saturday Morning
Even though it was our day off from school, there was no sleeping in on Saturdays. Why? Because it was the only day we could truly dedicate to watching cartoons, and the TV channels knew this, so they’d often put them on all day. We’d grab snacks and commence the marathon, enjoying every second. Today, though, kids can watch cartoons on any day and at any time.
Collecting Records and Listening for Hours
There wasn’t Spotify or Apple Music in the ’60s, and there weren’t even CDS. Therefore, we had no choice but to collect the entire records and listen to them from start to finish. In hindsight, the experience of listening to music felt so much more authentic than shuffling a playlist aimlessly.
Spending a Dime at the Corner Store
Even if the kids won’t believe us today, you didn’t misremember things; it really was possible to spend a single dime at the corner store and walk out with a paper bag full of joy. In particular, wax lips, licorice ropes, candy cigarettes, and jawbreakers were insanely cheap. We wish our kids could still have that experience, but alas, everything costs a dollar or more.
Watching the Moon Landing on a Grainy TV
‘60s memories don’t get much more iconic than watching the moon landing on a grainy TV. Obviously, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so even if you didn’t have a TV, you’d find a way to watch this big event, even if it meant heading to the local TV store.
It’s crazy how, today, people would complain about watching such an event in such low quality. To us, even the fact that they could broadcast from the moon was incredible enough.
Wearing Hand-Me-Downs from Your Siblings
It didn’t matter if your family was rich or poor; you still had hand-me-downs. Throwaway and consumer culture hadn’t hit yet, so if your older brother owned it before and no longer fit into it, it was now your turn. As a result of this, jeans with patches were common, and you might have embarrassingly worn shirts with the name “Tommy” stitched on the inside collar, even though your name was Greg.
Playing Kick the Can Until You Couldn’t See
When there was nothing on TV and you and your friends just couldn’t find anything fun to do, you might have resorted to a good old-fashioned game of “kick the can.” It’s exactly what it sounds like, and yes, it was kind of boring, but even then, the memory still gives us warm nostalgia.
Visiting Drive-In Theaters with the Whole Family
Few things made for more wholesome family memories than piling into the car with your family, equipped with pillows and blankets, and heading to the drive-in theater. These makeshift theatres were super popular in the ‘60s, even though the speaker system rarely worked well and bugs constantly bit your ankles. The important thing was that you were enjoying quality time with your family.
Using a Rotary Phone and Memorizing Numbers
To modern kids, this sounds like something from a museum, but it’s true: we really did use rotary phones, twisting the dial to call memorized phone numbers of our friends. Yes, it was a pain, and yes, our parents could listen into our calls, but it was all we had.
Learning to Jitterbug or Twist at School Dances
There were so many unforgettable dances that came with the ‘60s, most notably “the twist” and the “jitterbug”. School dances were the time to show these moves off, so the girls would wear ribbons in their hair, while the boys tried not to look too nervous. No “Fortnite dances” in sight.
Seeing Your First TV Commercial in Color
To anyone who grew up with color TV, this memory is hard to imagine, but it really was a special moment. At some point in the ‘60s, TVs increasingly became colored, and stations started more commonly supporting colored broadcasting. Therefore, there would have come a time when the color finally hit your screen, an indescribable feeling that meant you were now living in the future.
Hanging Out at the Local Diner or Soda Fountain
Last but not least, we couldn’t always afford to head to the movies or go bowling as ‘60s kids, but thankfully, it was usually cheap enough to hang out at the local diner or soda fountain. Together, you’d scrape together coins for a milkshake or a plate of fries, hoping to run into someone you knew. For some reason, the staff didn’t even seem to care that we’d only spend a few dimes between five of us!
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