Children today are having their childhoods stolen. I had an idyllic childhood growing up in NYC in the late 1950s to early 1960s. NY was a great place to be until the late 1960s *wrecked* it. Even in NYC we were free to run around after school; take subways and busses, etc. and that was *before* Giuliani and the "yuppiefication" of the city. Kids now are being raised as house pets of the especially overprotected variety. That's the biggest, and most devastating difference I see.
Same in Pittsburgh in the 50s. As a 10 year-old, I could tell Mom I was going to the zoo, the museum, swimming, the ball game or whatever, and she would just say "be home for dinner." A kid could go most anywhere in the city then with not much concern. You could walk, take a street car or bus and you didn't have to worry about perverts. You also behaved yourself because most any adult would step in and discipline you if your parents were not around.
I wish I could have raised my kids that way, but the "liberating" 60s happened instead. By necessity, raising kids now is about sheltering them instead of allowing them to explore and learn their world.