31 Pics of What It Was like to Be a Kid in the Early 1970’s

Carly Tennes Published 10/07/2024 in wow

Though childhood today may be defined by iPads and finding new ways to pepper terms like "skibidi," "Ohio," and "gyatt" into every single sentence, being young looked a whole lot different 50-odd years ago. Just ask the now grown-up Gen X-ers who sped around town on their bikes, tie-dyed t-shirts in science class, and nearly broke their arms while playing with clackers.

From a New York City child's first go at riding a two-wheeler to last day of school celebrations, here are 31 pictures of what it was like to be a kid in the early '70s.

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1.
“1974 school playground.”
2.
“School Kids making Tie-Dyed T-Shirts - 1974.”
3.
“Cool kid w/ his chopped bike, 1974.”
4.
“My Mum towering over her classmates ca. 1974. She's 11 or 12 here and she's even taller than the teacher.”
5.
“Kids celebrating the beginning of summer vacation after the school bell rings in Belleville, Illinois 1974.”
6.
“Caroline Munro gets a shoeshine, 1972.”’
7.
“Detroit area kids didn't have time for racism in 1973.”
8.
“A young boy, who had just stolen his fathers car and crashed it, takes one last puff of his cigarette before facing the consequences. (1974)”
9.
“My mom and some neighborhood kids (1974).”
10.
“A boy sells lemonade from his front yard stand in 1973.”
11.
“Summer 1973 My parents look like modern day hipsters taking their kids to a music festival.”
12.
“Keanu Reeves as a kid. 1973.”
13.
“Central Park, New York City, 1973.”
14.
“Neighborhood kids in 1973.”
15.
“Girl selling roadside flowers in Oklahoma in 1973.”
16.
“Diego Maradona in 1973 at the ‘Eva Perón Tournament’ for the underprivileged kids of Buenos Aires.”
17.
“Lemmy of Hawkwind & Hippie Child at Windsor Free Festival, 1973.”
18.
“My dad in 1973, aged 7.”
19.
“As a kid in 1971, this was ‘the best gift I received, or would ever receive.’”
20.
“My kid sister and I, 1971.”
21.
“Kids and their Klackers - 1971.”
22.
“This kid. [New York, 1971].”
23.
“My dad’s 3rd grade class photo that they clearly only did one take for, 1971.”
24.
“My 2nd grade Class 1971.”
25.
“Muhammad Ali and a boy circa 1971.”
26.
“Kids don't play like this anymore. [1972].”
27.
“Child Of The 1970s.”
28.
“A 1970s child car seat. 1971.”
29.
“Incredibly sharp looking kids in Harlem, 1970.”
30.
“A kid's reaction when he meets Andre the Giant (1970’s).”
31.
“'Woke' high school kids, South Charleston WV 1972 This is the 'smoking area' in back of the bldg.”

1.
“1974 school playground.”
2.
“School Kids making Tie-Dyed T-Shirts - 1974.”
3.
“Cool kid w/ his chopped bike, 1974.”
4.
“My Mum towering over her classmates ca. 1974. She's 11 or 12 here and she's even taller than the teacher.”
5.
“Kids celebrating the beginning of summer vacation after the school bell rings in Belleville, Illinois 1974.”
6.
“Caroline Munro gets a shoeshine, 1972.”’
7.
“Detroit area kids didn't have time for racism in 1973.”
8.
“A young boy, who had just stolen his fathers car and crashed it, takes one last puff of his cigarette before facing the consequences. (1974)”
9.
“My mom and some neighborhood kids (1974).”
10.
“A boy sells lemonade from his front yard stand in 1973.”
11.
“Summer 1973 My parents look like modern day hipsters taking their kids to a music festival.”
12.
“Keanu Reeves as a kid. 1973.”
13.
“Central Park, New York City, 1973.”
14.
“Neighborhood kids in 1973.”
15.
“Girl selling roadside flowers in Oklahoma in 1973.”
16.
“Diego Maradona in 1973 at the ‘Eva Perón Tournament’ for the underprivileged kids of Buenos Aires.”
17.
“Lemmy of Hawkwind & Hippie Child at Windsor Free Festival, 1973.”
18.
“My dad in 1973, aged 7.”
19.
“As a kid in 1971, this was ‘the best gift I received, or would ever receive.’”
20.
“My kid sister and I, 1971.”
21.
“Kids and their Klackers - 1971.”
22.
“This kid. [New York, 1971].”
23.
“My dad’s 3rd grade class photo that they clearly only did one take for, 1971.”
24.
“My 2nd grade Class 1971.”
25.
“Muhammad Ali and a boy circa 1971.”
26.
“Kids don't play like this anymore. [1972].”
27.
“Child Of The 1970s.”
28.
“A 1970s child car seat. 1971.”
29.
“Incredibly sharp looking kids in Harlem, 1970.”
30.
“A kid's reaction when he meets Andre the Giant (1970’s).”
31.
“'Woke' high school kids, South Charleston WV 1972 This is the 'smoking area' in back of the bldg.”