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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

truthcrusade Report

Raven Collins
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Australian levels check out ✔💯

Withnail
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fair dinkum, that ankle biter's been to the bottle-o for a coldie.

Slinkman
Community Member
6 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stereotype Aussie all-in-one starterpack

OI Loi
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, hope he didn't hurt it in any way. Still, it's a pretty funny and cool photo!

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jknbt jknbt
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this could easily be in southern Louisiana today...

Jeff McClain
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right?! The caption could easily read, "pic taken in SE coastal North Carolina, yesterday. 😂

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Marysue Watches
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Allowed, allowed, it's spelled allowed for pity sake!! -cries teacher's tears-

kawms
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Excuse me, that should be pity's sake, ma'am.

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Petra Christovová
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He should definitely do an "adult" version - Drinking beer with only hat and blanket while holding grown-up crocodile.

Alusair Alustriel
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And holding a baby crocodile.. casual stuff XD

Jean van der Merwe
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I want a giant wall poster of this for those days you really want to say you don’t give a ......, but decency and duty prevent you from saying it out loud!

Linda Robinett
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad would allow sips of his beer. I love the chugging in this photo. As for the crocodile, I think you could get baby crocs in the USA but I never had one. We had the turtles that give people salmonella instead.

Lisa Burgess
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah thats pretty much right XD

Momo Skarsgård
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That reminds me of my childhood in the island.

Gracie Mae
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it was almost sacrilegious if you DIDN'T have a pic of your child chugging beer (hopefully is was an empty can!). only have one like this of my oldest, born in the early 80s. maybe i matured a lot before the next one...lol

NWB
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So Australian !!! love it!!!

Sasy
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

18 months old on a flight to the UK I apparently kept stealing beer from other passengers and drinking it. I hate beer, but it's a cheeky story.

Theresa Binkley
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Eh at least you were cloth diapered 👌🏻

Shannon Oliver
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I took one like this of my son at age 1.5.was empty bud bottle lol.

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

That's my brother's dream childhood right there...

Russian Otaku
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Shame the mother was not nearby to protect her child... the crocodile obviously cuz f**k the baby

Armando Garcia
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And he has the hat to the side... and homemade diaper

Mark À Irvine
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one awesome photograph!! The Aussies make baby MEN!!!

Lu
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Explains a lot doesn't it?

Joseph Georgiadis
Community Member
6 years ago

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It was not ok for kids in 1991, especially that young, to drink. That is in the civilized world, I guess. Young age beer drinking results are obvious in spelling (aloud instead of allowed).

Frozengeckolover
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, my! Do I have some startling news for some of you! I'm going to guess that you mean America when you refer to "the civilized world". That's what Americans like to call themselves, right? Well... 30 states in the United States legally allow underage drinking when the alcohol is purchased by the parent, given to the child by the parent and consumed in the presence of the parent. Most of the states which allow this, do not specify an age limit. This law also applies to alcohol purchased in a restaurant. I could legally buy my 5yo a beer at a steak house - as long as I sit with him while he drinks it. Would it be frowned upon? YES. But it would be legal. 'Murica! Lol!

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Valerie Lessard
Community Member
6 years ago

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yay feeding a toddler alcohol, so funny! he he ha ha

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    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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