It makes you wonder how the elderly boomers made it through their childhood alive. Seat belts in cars were not commonly used. Kids rode their bikes without helmets and the parents felt the kids were wise enough to play unsupervised in the neighborhood until dark and they walked to school alone. Drinking from the garden hose was common.
Until the late 1980’s, steel pointed lawn darts were a common lawn game and indoors steel pointed darts were thrown at a dartboard. Only until a law made it illegal to smoke in public places did that custom end. Cigarette companies withheld studies that showed that smoking caused cancer so for awhile people thought it was okay to smoke and chew. Many of the cleaning products were hazardous and child proof safety caps were not heard of.
In some houses, the paint contained lead and asbestos insulation was used in houses from about 1940 to 1970.
Kids of today don’t know how to read a map to get from point A to point B and most have no concept or north, south, east or west in their location. Now they rely on GPS systems on their phones. It doesn’t seem like the younger generation is being taught financial discipline and responsibility. Some schools are not teaching students to write cursive. I read a study that cursive writing is an important tool for cognitive development. Decades ago the schools decided that home economics and shop classes were no longer needed. Now most young adults don’t know how to build even a dog house (or a chicken coop), do home repairs or repair their car or even change a flat tire. (“But thank God for instructions on You Tube"). Sewing is now a hobby whereby years ago, kids knew how to sew on a button, patch a tear or hem their slacks if it was too long. Cooking from scratch was another custom that faded but is being revised. Cooking from scratch takes more time but is cheaper than food items that are premade. Growing your own food, canning and preserving food has made a comeback.
With laptops and cell phones, there is definitely less face-to-face relationships. With all the social media and video games, it seems like there is less crafting and DIY projects which nurtures creativity.
Some things have improved positively but there is still a need for some of the old ways.