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"Back in my day, we used to walk 5 miles to school in sub-zero temperatures without batting an eyelid. Not like you spoiled little brats these days!" We all have an older relative who says things like this about raising kids. They are despairing the coddled youth with their smartphones, crappy music, and parents that seemingly can't say no to their every demand.

And you know what? They might actually have a point on the parenting styles of today. Although the world might seem like a more dangerous place now with higher safety standards required, kids of previous generations had to make their own entertainment. They had to learn to look after themselves from a younger age and take far more risks while doing so. Parents didn't have things like Mumsnet to help them with parenting tips, alternatively, guilt and stress them out for letting kids go out of the safe environments and learn from their own mistakes.

To celebrate the eccentric approaches of old-school parenting and child safety, we here at Bored Panda have put together a list of parents and their kids doing things that would horrify the mommy and daddy bloggers and Instagrammers of today. What's your opinion on the evolution of parenting over the years? Scroll down below to check out the vintage photos for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

#1

Me Back In 1991 Just Your Typical Aussie Kid Drinking Xxxxlight Beer(I Wasn't Aloud Heavies Back Then) And Holding A Baby Crocodile

Me Back In 1991 Just Your Typical Aussie Kid Drinking Xxxxlight Beer(I Wasn't Aloud Heavies Back Then) And Holding A Baby Crocodile

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#2

My Mother And Grandmother Demonstrating Safety Standards In The 1960s

My Mother And Grandmother Demonstrating Safety Standards In The 1960s

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#3

If Your Mum Didn't Lay On The Ground Making Herself Into A Ramp For Your New BMX, Did She Even Love You? 1980's

If Your Mum Didn't Lay On The Ground Making Herself Into A Ramp For Your New BMX, Did She Even Love You? 1980's

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#4

California Marijuana Initiative Rally 1972. That’s Me In The Box And My Parents In The Picture

California Marijuana Initiative Rally 1972. That’s Me In The Box And My Parents In The Picture

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#5

My Dad And His Veterinarian Mother, With Their Pet Lion Which They Raised For Two Years, 1959

My Dad And His Veterinarian Mother, With Their Pet Lion Which They Raised For Two Years, 1959

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#6

Princess Yvonne And Prince Alexander In Germany, 1955

Princess Yvonne And Prince Alexander In Germany, 1955

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tuzdayschild
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I was in Germany in 1955 I'd need a drink and a cigarette too.

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Sara Shrader
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Germany got loads of money from the Marshall plan and had an economic boom in 1950. They we're sitting pretty in 1955 having joined NATO. They even won the world cup in 1954.

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Tony Bond
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

15 seconds of research found this: Before rushing to judgment on the lives of German nobility, it should be known that the photographer behind this image was the children's mother, Princess Marianne Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn. Affectionately known as Princess "Manni" or her more artistic moniker "Mamarazza," she was an accomplished photographer, her images becoming featured in magazines as well as gallery exhibitions. Given this background, one can only hope that the shot above is the result of intentional composition and not reckless parenting.

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Jay Mazur Kerr
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I lived there til 1955 and we lacked nothing. I had a great childhood. Economy was good. War had been over for 10 years .. where were you ????

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Bonny Saxon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It wouldn't look quite that bad if Yvonne was using a glass instead of chugging out of the bottle two-handed.

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Anna-Lena Meyer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hahaha yes the American standards! Have you seen the pictures further down of American Kids smoking and drinking?

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Indy_7
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is anyone else disturbed by how the little girls hand look like a grown womans hand?

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Kali Zive
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As she would have been 13 when this pic was taken, it’s not so weird her hands look like an adult’s

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Ginny Foster-Cosby
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don´t think so. That is not good and nothing to brag with. My Mom is a 1945 and my aunt a 1940 German child. I just asked them. They said they´ve never done that, and never have seen any friends doing this.

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Joyce Berman
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just an FYI. In this country and others back 100 years +, it was safer to drink alcohol than water, and children drank alcohol although probably not as much as adults.

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Nia Loves Art
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is not 100+ years ago, this is 63 years ago, and I don’t think that they are really drinking.

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kourtwest1
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

https://www.vintag.es/2013/12/princess-yvonne-and-prince-alexander-in.html

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María Hermida
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nowadays we think it's better, but it isn't. I think it's worse, actually. In Spain, you are not allowed to drink or buy alcohol until you are 18, but every weekend thousands of kids as young as 14 meet in parks and public areas to binge drink. It's called "botellón" (big bottle) in Spanish. Kids get really drunk, shout, annoy the neighbours, vomit all over the place, pee everywhere... In my city there are a couple of cases of ethylic coma every month... and everybody turns a blind eye. In the past, at least people acknowledged what was happening.

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Donald Holder*Doc
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess the line of royal succession wasn't a very long Waite to become the leader. They all died very young from alcohol poisoning and lung cancer.

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Cygnus
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sure both died, one from lung cancer and one of cirrosis.

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No
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You probably should have looked it up before posting that. They are both alive.

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#7

A Couple Ice Skating With Their Baby, 1937

A Couple Ice Skating With Their Baby, 1937

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#8

Infant Me, My Mother & Father At A Bar Because That's How Parents Rolled In The Early '80s

Infant Me, My Mother & Father At A Bar Because That's How Parents Rolled In The Early '80s

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Aaron W
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hung in bars too when I was little. Then they wouldn't let me back in until I was 20 - I must have been a rough toddler.

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#9

The Pinnacle Of Parenting: 1930s Swimming Lesson

The Pinnacle Of Parenting: 1930s Swimming Lesson

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Bobby's Girl
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My father threw me into Tampa Bay. I was about 3 years old. I learned to swim in a hurry, because there were scary things swimming around in that water! Google "Horseshoe Crab" and you'll understand.

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#10

Car Seat Safety In 1958. Not Strapped In To Anything, These Seats Relied On The Mother To Put Her Arm Out And Stop The Baby From Falling Forward

Car Seat Safety In 1958. Not Strapped In To Anything, These Seats Relied On The Mother To Put Her Arm Out And Stop The Baby From Falling Forward

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#11

My Hilarious Father (With The Magazine) And My Grandfather, Grandmother, And Uncle At His Bar Mitzvah In 1972

My Hilarious Father (With The Magazine) And My Grandfather, Grandmother, And Uncle At His Bar Mitzvah In 1972

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#12

My Mother-In-Law Riding A Bear At 2 Years Old

My Mother-In-Law Riding A Bear At 2 Years Old

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#13

Harley With A Baby Seat, 1962

Harley With A Baby Seat, 1962

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Safety first! Remember to properly attach the baby seat with the convenient succion cups to the gas tank before putting your baby in it.

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#14

A Photo Of Me Dressed Up As My Dad, With My Dad (1982)

A Photo Of Me Dressed Up As My Dad, With My Dad (1982)

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#15

My Dad Showing Off His Parenting Skills 1985

My Dad Showing Off His Parenting Skills 1985

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karen snyder
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And his Awesome fashion choices. Cut off tummy top, micro running shorts and Sears Roebuck velcro kicks was my go to in '85 too! but he tops it off with that cherry Tom Selleck stash. Your dad is a legend.

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#16

My Mom In The Hospital After Giving Birth To My Sister. Canada 1978. Smokes And Roasted Chicken

My Mom In The Hospital After Giving Birth To My Sister. Canada 1978. Smokes And Roasted Chicken

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#17

Back In The Day. 1950s To Be Exact. Checkout That Car Seat

Back In The Day. 1950s To Be Exact. Checkout That Car Seat

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#18

My Mom Showing Off Her Parenting Skills 1978

My Mom Showing Off Her Parenting Skills 1978

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#19

Me, 1958, Relaxing After My Bath With Toby, I Was Never Again This Cool

Me, 1958, Relaxing After My Bath With Toby, I Was Never Again This Cool

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#20

13 Y/O Dad Having A Taste While The Grownups Are Busy Playing Cards; Upstate New York, August 1954

13 Y/O Dad Having A Taste While The Grownups Are Busy Playing Cards; Upstate New York, August 1954

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#21

My Father And His Pet Lion Priscilla, California 1970's

My Father And His Pet Lion Priscilla, California 1970's

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#22

My Adorable (4 Year Old) Mother At A Zoo In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 1970

My Adorable (4 Year Old) Mother At A Zoo In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 1970

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#23

Just A Photo Of Yours Truly (At 11 Years) Petting A Full Grown Tiger. My Mom Calls It Her "Bad Parenting Moment"

Just A Photo Of Yours Truly (At 11 Years) Petting A Full Grown Tiger. My Mom Calls It Her "Bad Parenting Moment"

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Monika Soffronow
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From the infamous Thai temple tiger farm. https://www.traffic.org/news/thai-seizure-of-a-dozen-captive-tigers-resurrects-farming-threat/

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