Born in the 40s,50s and 60s

Gad, Maudi! Nothing like a bit of positivity to bring out the wet blankets. My husband had a childhood like that (born 1945), mine was more circumspect, but I remember a lot of the same things. We both remember sad things such as the ones referred to (we both had alcoholic dads), but we remember so much good and turned out happy and productive, and, best of all, not bitter. Some kids are very sophisticated now, and somewhat jaded, too. I think it's better for a lot of kids to have something to look forward to.

I was born in 1955 in a slum area of the North West. I remember some good things from my childhood but also remember seeing the ambulance taking women away after backstreet abortions kids with calipers because of polio. People being taken to sanitoriums for months with TB, kids getting seriously ill from measles underfed children with no shoes...lots of bad things I wouldn't want to go back there.

I was born in 1959, and child of the 60s. I did have the freedom of being able to go off on my own for hours on end, and having a door key because my mum worked long hours!
I remember bread and dripping on Sunday evening for tea. I was constantly hit with a ruler on my hands for not knowing my multiplication tables. Still don't know them now, but my calculator does. I wouldn't wish my childhood on anyone!

I was born in the mid 50s, and was a twin ( so never alone) and later had younger siblings .We lived in a small town and played out ( in the street or on waste land) after school and in school holidays- because both parents were busy - dad out at work and mum ( who worked part time) either out at work or inside washing/ cleaning/ cooking. There were usually friends to play with. As we got older ( 7+) we went cycling. We knew who to go to for help- which neighbours were home- and when to get home. We also knew not to bother family friends or neighbours unless we really needed help, and not to make too much noise! Playing out stopped at 11-with homework, and younger siblings to watch,- I don’t really remember homework before secondary school!
I also remember being scared at times -and getting smacked and not knowing what I had done wrong! Of being afraid to go home after finding ink on my school dress - knowing there was no money to replace the dress and how upset my mother would be!
Yes we grew vegetables- and made soup from bones-and sometimes had fresh eggs from a neighbour’s chickens. But what I remember most is how cold my feet and hands got tending the veg patch in winter. I still hate gardening to this day! I also remember often feeling hungry.

I was born in 1945. I never had cornflakes until visiting friends at 13. The 1st time I had margarine was when taking a test “ can you tell it from butter?” ( Then part of an advert on advertising posted on billboards )
I won a case of margarine ! Promptly distributed to friends who used it!
Food was tasty and varied. Fresh vegetables grown in the garden, plus dishes you don’t see today. Like bacon pudding and steak and kidney pudding. Both boiled in cotton cloth from a pillowcase which was more darns than anything else. Then boiled fish in a parsley sauce. When parsley was available from the fishmongers, the only place to sell it in those days. Oh and curries. Made using curry powder from the Co-op, as no where else sold it. Not even the Home and Colonial, where Hugh sacks of produce sat around lodged against the counters waiting for a shop assistant to measure them out into small packages.
Cabbages were cooked with a lump of of soda so they kept their colour. Which meant all the vitamins went into the cabbage water. The reason kids were given it to drink. An oxo cube was always offered as a cabbage water mix, to older boys, not girls. My very first notice of sexism!!!!!!!

" I do sometimes wonder why so many young people today have 'mental health issues'."

Mental health issues have been present since immemorial times - they are nothing new

The awareness we have now about MH is much bigger than decades ago - this is why they are more socially visible and identified

Example - ptsd.

I also hate this kind of sentimental nostalgia, and I know that my mum and nan - parents of kids who grew up from the 30s to the 70s - thought life was much better for my children. They’d no doubt be astounded at my grandchildren’s lives, but would have a far more balanced view, than that pile of one-sided tosh.

I’m sorry, OP, but I heartily dislike this kind of romanticism applied to the past. I have vivid memories of my mum completely freaking out about my safety because of the Moors Murders. I did have freedom to come and go in the school holidays, but my mum had no idea where I was, as I usually called on a friend and went wandering with them. Being ‘clipped round the ear’ risks a head injury for the recipient or a hand injury for the clipper! My mum was a great cook, but I didn’t appreciate it until I was cooking for a family myself.

I was born in 1950 in a run down inner London borough, so yes I did see the poverty and hardship of those times. But I also enjoyed the freedom that kids had back then, and the close community spirit where neighbours watched out for each other and freely offered help if it was needed. I happily remember so many things listed in the OP.

When our boys were born in the late 70s we tried to give them the same freedoms and personal responsibility we had known. We let them play out and go wherever they wanted with the obvious warnings regarding strangers etc. I know they got up to a lot of mischief and went places they shouldn't have, but I had done the same. They learned to make decisions, assess risks, cope with criticism, broken friendships, rejection, and take responsibility for their actions. We didn't molly-coddle them or ferry them everywhere. They grew up into well balanced, caring, and responsible adults and parents.

I do sometimes wonder why so many young people today have 'mental health issues'. I realise there could be lots of reasons, but could it also be that too many decisions and choices in their lives are are made by parents, teachers, even the government. How do they learn to cope with disappointment, failure, rejection, arguments, aggression or adversity in their lives if they're always protected from it? And before anyone says 'It's a different world now with greater risks', Yes it is, but maybe we need to remove the dangers, not the kids from the risky/unpleasant situations.

Anyway back to the OP, as far as I'm concerned the 50s/60s were mostly good times. I for one am glad I grew up in that era.

I was born in a village in 1954 and can honestly say if I could go back and re-live my childhood again,I would.
They were the happiest days of my life.
I had such lovely parents. Dad worked at the ironstone pits and mum was a stay at home mum after I was born. Wonderful friends who were brought up the same as me.
Obviously it was harder for parents with no mod cons as we have today but as a a child I have such lovely memories and had freedom of the country side.
Maybe I was lucky but no way would I want to be a child born today.

I still remember, vividly, that board rubber hurtling across the classroom. Yikes!

Just because some of us have fond memories of our childhood and had happy memories triggered by the OP, doesn't mean we have short memories or are wearing rose coloured spectacles.

I really dislike these misty eyed type of memory, divisive and generally untrue too. I had a happy childhood ( born late 1950s), but was aware that my intelligent Mother was frustrated by having to stay at home as there was no child care in the village, plus my Father worked shifts so her days were probably lonely. As for people getting all dewy eyed about children being beaten at school, eating utter crap, and enduring dreadful, preventable childhood illness......no thanks. My parents did their best, better than many, and we too, did our best to give our children a safe, healthy upbringing. Ask those people who were wearing calipers due to polio, or those with chronic asthma due to coal fires and parental 'freedom' to smoke, ask the women living in a violent marriage trying to keep their children safe, knowing that as far as society was concerned they 'had made their bed and now had to lie in it'. Nope, this is sentimental nonsense, sorry OP.

Agree, just a load of waffle.
Some people have short memories of the 50s and 60s.

I was born in the 50’s and my parents in the 20’s
I was never allowed to be out all day without being within view of an adult. My Father, I recall saying - that’s the sort of mother who’d allow her children play out all day without supervision.
I’ve lived in villages, cities and now the Home Counties never in all my years or when my parents were young did we leave the door unlocked. It seems something people recall but we never ever did this, especially never unlocked during the war years in the ‘black out’ when robbers were active. Different memories.

survivor bias. Those who drowned or got run over or died of cervical cancer or asbestosis or mesothelioma fter a lifetime of exposure or lost limbs through diabetes or died of cot death because of smoking in the house aren't here to say different. Victorian names on my family tree include Admiral, Pickles, Prince,Wignall, Godolphus,. And before then no one dreamt of calling girls Hazel, or Ivy
Not saying that there weren't good things
Oh and many shops were open all hours

I was born in the 30's. I heard folk say that school days were the happiest days of ones life. It filled me with dread for the future. I was caned and slapped for talking and laughing, major offences. I hit a teacher who canned me for humming to myself during a painting lesson, I was seven at the time. She asked why were you singing ? I said because I was happy but I am not happy now.
Home life was chaotic and traumatic. Parents had big rows and my sisters and I fought most of the time. They were very clever, all I could do was draw paint and learn poetry.
Life outside home was of little importance to me, the war, school and society could sort themselves out.
BUT I met a lovely man, we had a very happy marriage and lovely children. I think my childhood taught me the overwhelming value of home life.

And ice on the windows in winter because we had no central heating

Maudi, yes there was a lot that we could wish for now it was so simple. However with most of those things we now know better.

I had a happy childhood I was born in 1953. We didn’t have much money but plenty of food and enough clothes etc. I spent some of the holidays with my cousin sleeping together in a big feather bed, my auntie, who was my fathers favourite sister, was a fabulous cook so I remember huge teas with homemade bread and cake.

My dad took me to the corner shop for a bar of chocolate on a Friday when he got paid but no sweets/treats any other time. I only remember having two holidays in my whole childhood and never went abroad until I went on honeymoon at 19.

My cousin and I did go out all day in the local fields but I also remember a man exposing himself to us on the way home and we ran like hell. My friends uncle also touched me inappropriately when I was nine which was so frightening and when I told my dad he went round to the house and hit him and warned him he would kill him if it happened again.

I remember being screamed at and humiliated in school often told I would never be any good and I’m now proud to say I’m twice as qualified as those teachers but I hated school.

Some things were good but there were awful things too don’t wear such rose tinted spectacles.

Ps btw my mum terrified me about men and/or women who she believed hung around parks/playgrounds and most other places. I’ve never forgotten and I’m sure the warnings kept me safe when I was out for most of the day with friends. In turn I warned my DC but tried not to terrify them too much

Those were the days, but far from perfect when we take our rose coloured glasses off

Well, I recognise a good deal of my childhood in the post.

Personally, I was sent to schools were coporal punishment was not used and I only remember having my bottom smacked (not at all hard, either) on one occasion.

I was not allowed to ride a bike or have roller skates, catapults or bows and arrows and was strictly forbidden to play near the local burn. Nor was I allowed to play outside our garden until I was seven or eight. But in the main I too am thankful I grew up then, not now.

What OP does not mention is our mothers warning us about talking to strangers, especially men, or trying to explain in deep embarrrassment what was meant when we heard a man had "exposed himself" to a local girl my age, the child murders we did read of in the papers, or hear about, and some cases of crueltly to children - all of which did occur during our childhood too.

All I will say is I'm thrilled we didn't have the Internet or mobile phones when a teen in late 70s , early 80s.

I was somewhat of a wild child. Rather pleased my parents had no way of contacting me to see where I was.

I think it was good that there wasn't the fast food around then, and far fewer children were obese. I am glad we are more educated and aware of social issues and human rights and that we can recognise bigotry for what it is.