We were easily entertained as children in the 50s

[Tropical_Trish]

Oh, I well remember my childhood days.
I spent lots of time at my grandparents home, as my daddy was fighting in the Korean War.
They had a small black & white TV and I can remember watching stuff like " The Dave King Show" , the Black and White Minstrels show and Quatermass and the Pit, which scared me so much.
I also loved 'Rag Tag and Bobtail' and also was amused by the floppadops lingo of Bill and Ben and Weed, Andy Pandy freaked me out, worst of all was that Sparky wiith the magical piano. Later on, I was horrified by Torchy The Battery Boy ..... eek!

[yellerbelly]

I liked to watch Bill & Ben the flowerpot men and sitting around saying "flobberdob" and "Weed" also Tales of the Riverbank, Rag, Tag and Bobtail, on a Saturday morning going to the ABC Minors with my younger brothers and friends. Also playing with doll and pram, (I still have the doll as my Dad bought it me when I was born).
School holidays we would go swimming in the city public outside pool or fishing for tadpoles in the river, skipping and hopscotch or riding our bikes along the riverbank for miles or roller skating. We were happy, we were healthy, no one was trying to impress with new designer trainers etc, we had plimsolls or baseball boots and if we wanted sweets it was a stick of rhubarb from the garden with a bit of sugar in a little paper bag.

How times have changed sadly not all for the better.

[HerMajesty]

Ahhhhh - yes! The rhubarb dipped in sugar! Ahhhhhhhh. yum.

[booksntings]

During the school summer holidays I would be out as early as I could only returning for a quick lunch and back out till mum would stand on the backdoor step shouting me in at bedtime. Sometimes I would have a slice of bread and jam to take out whilst playing. Everyone's mum would happily feed all the local kids and always have a ready supply of lemonade and sweets. And when crisps arrived they soon became everyone's favourite snack even though back then it was plain crisps with the little twist of blue paper with salt in it. Happy and care free days.

[FirstGreenIsGold]

I wanted to add that I was a 'privileged city kid' as we had indoor plumbing and utilities. Husband grew up on a farm in northern Alberta and they didn't have indoor plumbing until he was an adult and had it put in for his parents. They got electricity when he was a teenager. He said that the way they lived never bothered him. Lots of things about it that he enjoyed. On the other hand, he is now at an age where he really enjoys the creature comforts that we have here in our home. Me too. Things like a comfy bed with toilet not far away, appliances etc. What blessings.