Friends and Neighbours With many parents away or at work, children were often left to look after themselves. They played in fields or in the street. Street games were safer than they would be today, because there were so few cars. Children helped clear up after air raids. They ran errands to the 'corner shop'. Older children looked after younger ones. Often neighbours and grandparents helped too. Many families were 'bombed out' (their homes were damaged by bombs). When this happened, neighbours offered food and beds, and lent clothes or furniture.