ADVERTISEMENT

"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

RELATED:
    #2

    My Mother And Grandmother Demonstrating Safety Standards In The 1960s

    My Mother And Grandmother Demonstrating Safety Standards In The 1960s

    thisisanendtable Report

    #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

    therealabv Report

    #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

    19blackdog72 Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #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

    ryanb99 Report

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

    your mum is cooler then i will ever be also cute lion

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    Princess Yvonne And Prince Alexander In Germany, 1955

    Princess Yvonne And Prince Alexander In Germany, 1955

    Photo Tractatus Report

    tuzdayschild
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created 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.

    View more comments
    #7

    A Couple Ice Skating With Their Baby, 1937

    A Couple Ice Skating With Their Baby, 1937

    Gar1986 Report

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

    So many possibilities how this can go horrificly wrong..

    View more comments
    #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

    areyoufknserious Report

    Aaron W
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created 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.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #9

    The Pinnacle Of Parenting: 1930s Swimming Lesson

    The Pinnacle Of Parenting: 1930s Swimming Lesson

    cheml0vin Report

    Bobby's Girl
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created 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.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #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

    claire303 Report

    #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

    JasonPlatz Report

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

    Grandpa is not impressed, he has seen it all.

    View more comments
    #12

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

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

    Homebrew-Joe Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #13

    Harley With A Baby Seat, 1962

    Harley With A Baby Seat, 1962

    Bob Sandberg Report

    Monika Soffronow
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created 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.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #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)

    fuuuuuckendoobs Report

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

    Bubblegum cigarettes still were a thing in the 80s. :)

    View more comments
    #15

    My Dad Showing Off His Parenting Skills 1985

    My Dad Showing Off His Parenting Skills 1985

    imakethenews Report

    karen snyder
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created 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.

    View more comments
    #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

    rookdanger Report

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

    Excuse my ignorance, but ... What is wrong with chicken?

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #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

    iworkondishwashers Report

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

    We had one when we were kids. There was the button in the middle for the horn.

    View more comments
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #18

    My Mom Showing Off Her Parenting Skills 1978

    My Mom Showing Off Her Parenting Skills 1978

    thedumone Report

    #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

    ickeyray54 Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #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

    stevierayfrog Report

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

    Meh, we did this all the time when I was a kid and I turned out just fi– wait...

    View more comments
    #21

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

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

    spencehord Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #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

    youngbarrister Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #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"

    reesmeister Report

    Monika Soffronow
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created 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/

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

    This is just not okay

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

    The treatment these poor animals go through for "entertainment" is horrific.

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

    Forgot to mention, drugged out of his head plus probably teeth pulled out-tiger... I HATE this.

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

    I remember you could touch (and feed) killer whales trapped in a tiny 'petting pool' at Sea World in the 1970s early 80s.

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

    I got to do that, can't remember if it was late 80s or early 90s. The trainers had us pet their tongues and I was a little to short so I had to lean into the tank to do it!

    Load More Replies...
    Steve Cruz
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looks like tiger has no teeth. Claws are probably gone, too.

    David Prescott
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow. Those were rough times. I grew up in Detroit in the 60's. We were three doors down from a park where I could go and play. I could so many blocks in this direction, so many blocks in the other direction, just come home when the street lights came on. We walked to school - by ourselves - without parents monitoring our every step. We could play on the playground equipment, jungle gyms, slides, etc., all without someone to make sure we didn't hurt ourselves, each other, set the world on fire, etc. I remember all the kids that were killed by such recklessness....except that no one ever was. Oh the humanity!!!!

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

    Those tigers are drugged.

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

    Well, only having one "moment" to point to is pretty impressive! :)

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

    I do appreciate the fact you shared these photos with us. Parents have definitely changed over the years.

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

    It's mouth... Bigger than the kid's head...

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

    Lucky he did not get upset at that moment

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

    Not exactly a bad parenting moment more a cruel and torturous operator. They are chained and drugged these poor majestic beasts.

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

    My mother and her brother on the bike, in the middle of the road, while daddy "is watching" IMG-201611...25b8a2.jpg IMG-20161126-WA0008-5cd456825b8a2.jpg

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

    My Mom on the bike with her brother, in the middle of the road, while daddy "is watching" IMG-201611...16fe8e.jpg IMG-20161126-WA0008-5cd456116fe8e.jpg

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

    yeah its easy to peta a tiger when they are drugged...

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

    Don't worry, poor thing was drugged.

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

    These poor animals, no activist groups out there then to Protect The Animals from Human abuse!

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

    at least you knew which part to keep an eye on.

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

    Don't worry. It was probably stoned shtless so it wouldn't maul paying tourists.

    M O'Connell
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Somewhere there is a similar photo of me sitting with an equally large tiger. The only difference is that she was dying, and on the floor of the sanctuary owner's living room being tended to.

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

    There are places in Thailand, that have tigers. I think you can still pet them.

    LeilaM Hogan60
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    woah, i wish i could've pet a tiger

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

    at least that tiger looks well fed

    elfin
    Community Member
    Premium
    6 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    As it turned out it was a good parenting moment because you are uninjured and have known what it is to pet a tiger. A lot of parenting really is down to chance.

    TwiceRice23
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    At least we treat animals better these days... usually.

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

    No we don't!! Tigers are still drugged and chained, elephants whipped into submission for rides, donkeys carrying tourists beaten when they drop from exhaustion, marine animals trapped in tiny pools, bulls slowly tortured to death, African beasts killed for trophies, domestic dogs bred for fighting..... et al

    Load More Replies...
    Brittany Tarazewich
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    These kids and wild animals are funny. Theres a picture of my brother and I with a baby lion when we were 6 & 8.

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

    Not at all really, the animals are beat into submission and drugged up to the eyeballs, it is an living hell for the creatures.

    Load More Replies...
    View more comments