Not that they didn't exist; only that our parents weren't labeled abusive for allowing us to do those things, that we weren't labeled as delinquents for doing them, and that, in spite of the shrill warnings of today's nanny state and other meddlers, we came out OK in spite of it all.
Youthful behavior is criminalized now. We had so much freedom. Look at the movies made in the 60s and 70s. Such a fun time with cops that helped us home instead of arresting us for throwing eggs and other fun stuff.