Back then, most parents were way too busy to be helicopter parents. Kids were left to their own devices. I grew up with swings in our backyard that were a death trap. The seats were thick, heavy planks of solid wood connected to the frame by long, heavy chains. I used to swing so high - reaching for the sky - jump off - and then land feeling so good that I forgot the swing was still swinging. How I survived getting clunked by that thing in the back of the head (more than once!) without a serious skull fracture, I will never know.

If I came in injured, my mum would fuss over me to confirm I was ok-ish. If I was, the parental concern would flip and she'd whack me hard and tell me not to do it again. :/