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We all love to look back at our childhood, and the 80s was a particularly unique decade. Our kids are unlikely to experience what we all went through. Indian television was churning out some good material while Bollywood was faltering on the big screen. Shows like Vikram Aur Betaal (1985), Sherlock Holmes (1984), Udaan (1989), and even Chitrahaar dazzled our minds. However, there was a lot that we did as tiny tots, which looking back, I would never let my kids do!
1. Staying Home Alone
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Kids used to have their own keys! You came home and got up to God knows what (I used to do my homework like an angel), as you waited for mummy and daddy to show up after work. This was the decade where women started to become part of workforce, so there was nobody at home to receive the child; especially since the 80s were too soon for the stay-at-home dad phenomenon. Nevertheless, while it seemed normal to us,I would still never let my kids come home to an empty house!
2. Riding On a Bicycle Without A Helmet
Some might say that kids still do this, but any mother who is safety conscious would know that a helmet is the difference between an emergency hospital visit and an ice pack. The ‘cool’ kids can stick to not wearing one but my child is not riding a bicycle without a helmet!Laws about cyclists have not changed globally, but most countries have started to mandate helmet wearing.
3. Playing With Questionable Toys
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Annabelle-like dollsand cymbal-banging monkey toys – what were we thinking? Not much apparently! I honestly do not know how I didn’t have nightmares as a child.
Bottom line? My child is sticking to Barbieand Lego.
4. Going Out Unsupervised
When we were kids, we could just get out of the house for some playtime and wander about the neighbourhood until it was time for lunch or dinner. Something like that would be unheard of these days. What about child molesters, kidnappers, or just plain old bullies.There’s no way I’m taking that risk. I suppose it was a lot safer in the 80s, but in this day and age, it is a definite no-no. If my child is going out, I’m going out with him.
5. Babysitting Younger Siblings
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Supposing it’s date night or you’re just working late and nobody’s at home. You let the eldest child handle the little one, right?
Wrong.
If I need a babysitter, I’m getting one! I want someone who can deal with emergencies too, not just make sure the toddler doesn’t leave the house.
6. Watching Questionable Movies
Movies such as Insaaf ka Tarazu, Chetna, and Masoom dealt with topics that were too much for the minds of children. However, we watched them anyway. There’s a time and place for a lot of movies, and childhood wasn’t it, for most of the content being churned out on the big screen. Now we have parental control locks on TV, as well as a greater awareness of what exactly our children should be watching.
7. Eating Processed Food
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When you think of processed food, Maggi comes to mind. And boy did we slurp and eat those noodles like crazy. Now I find that I want my child eating freshly made food, preferably wholly organic.
And the drinks! The number of carbonated beverages we consumed, like Coca Cola – I’d never let my child near them!
Overall, the 80s was a blast while it lasted. However, some things were just plain wrong even if they made sense during those times. Most of us parents would never indulge in the same practices. Nevertheless, we should not be too harsh on our parents; we ought to remember that it was just a different time.
