Back then, even if you wanted to, you couldn’t keep kids indoors in the summer.
No matter what the setting—city, suburb or country–the outdoors beckoned.
And for good reason.
Until the past couple of decades the promise of fun and adventure was outdoors.
Without color TV, video games, and computers, staying indoors couldn’t hold a candle to dashing outside to see what adventure called from the outside world.
Summers in Loveland in the l960’s and 70’s were a dream come true for our daughters. Mornings generally broke sunny, the air was clear and no one seemed to worry about children being abducted.
During our first summer in Loveland an orphaned kitten found our doorstep. Soon the inevitable question was posed: “Mom, can we keep her?”
The answer was an easy “yes.”
Little did I know how much fun a kitten would provide.
Two of our daughters’, playmates, Bonnie and Sandy, also owned kittens and at one point in the summer, Bonnie and Sandy decided to host a kitten birthday party.
I remember talk of a birthday cake—tuna flavored?—but I don’t remember other details—which is why this venture was important.
The miracle of this party is that it was totally dreamed up by Bonnie and Sandy.
No instructions, no manual on how to plan such a party.
No parental interference.
Just imagination and creativity at work.
The birthday party is a good example of the kind of unstructured play which is rare in today’s world.
Experts in the field of child development tell us that this type of play is important for the development of problem solving and creativity.
What do you think? Are today’s children missing out on the kind of free play you may have had as a child.
Growing up just off East Colfax in Denver, I remember long summer days playing outside. Although East Colfax was a rough part of Denver even in the 50's and 60's, I never remember being afraid for my safety. In fact my mother often pushed me out the backdoor with the comment that 'fresh air and sunshine are good for you, Kristen!'
My best friend Charlena, her sister Darlena, and I walked up and down the alleys collecting empty pop bottles that we redeemed for two cents each. We spent that money on old prom gowns at the local Goodwill store and played dress up in the afternoon. If we were lucky enough to get an afternoon thunderstorm we plugged up the storm drain with leaves and grass and splashed each other relentlessly with the rainwater.
As the sun set, the air cooled down and the Four-o-Clock flowers opened we played summertime games like Hide and Seek, and a game we called Sardines. Sardines called for one playmate to hide and everyone else to find and quietly join them in their hiding spot. Packing five or six children in a small space between a bush and a wall and keeping quiet was hilariously funny.
Each summer day lasted forever according to my memory. We played outside until our mothers called us home for supper and played after supper until they called us home to go to bed. I slept soundly worn out by physical activity and laughter, only bothered a little by my sunburn and mosquito bites.
Hi Kristen,
I loved reading about your summers in the 50's and 60's.
It seemed like all kids played outside in those days–no one was worried about safety, other than the usual skinned knees and bumps and bruises.
I think I read somewhere that we don't really have more abductions of children than we did in the 50's and 60's.
But with 24/7 national coverage of abductions it seems less safe to let children play outdoors.
Most kids today don't have the chance to experience summers the way you and your friends did.
What do you think? Is it safe to let children play outside without a parent present? Do you wish kids today could play as you and your friends did.
Thanks for writing.
Val McCullough
Hi Kristen,
I have no idea where that comment "Your comment is awaiting moderation" came from. It just appeared. I don't know what it means.
Ah…another mystery from the world of blogging.
Val