I was just in Michigan in my hometown for almost a week. Other than my nephews I saw 2 kids outside! That is it.
We did not have AC when I was a kid, we played outside. We would leave in the morning, ride bikes all day long, swing in for lunch and be gone again. We would just drink out of someone's hose when we got thirsty. No one cared as long as the water was turned off.
When we got older we baled hay for the neighboring dairy farmer and milked cows (25 cents an hour). Alas, I am no longer to busy to be fat.