Figure 1.--Unfortunately, most of us have only dim memories of our pre-school activities. Many American children had a great time playing in their back yards. We say American because Amerivan houses often came with a generous yard around the home. This American boy, we think about 1910, is enjoying his yard and tricycle. We can date the image because it was in the 1910s that overalls/coveralls became popular for children. The overalls suggest that this boy lived in a small rural town.

A younger child's activities are mostly accociated with the home, both inside in the various rooms and outside in the yard surrounding the home. The photographic record is much richer outside the home, because of complications with indoors photography. Of course this is especially true of the 19th century. Even in the 20th century, the complications of indoor photography limited indoor snpshots until after World warII. We have, however, acquired some indoor family snapshots. And in America at least there was the front porch or veranda (back porch) which was a kind of interelated area between the inside and outside play areas. I think the porch is a living space especially identified with America, although we are not entirely sure why. Here there were major differences from country to country. Home archetecture is often very helpful in identifying the location of photographs, in part because homes were often as destinctive as fashion, sometimes more so. And home styles usually do not change as rapidly as fshionand persist longer. They do of course chane along with living styles so there are also chronological differences.

Houses

A younger child's activities are mostly accociated with the home, both inside in the various rooms and outside in the yard surrounding the home. Here there were major differences from country to country. Home archetecture is often very helpful in identifying the location of photographs, in part because homes were often as destinctive as fashion, sometimes more so. And home styles usually do not change as rapidly as fshionand persist longer. They do of course chane along with living styles so there are also chronological differences.

Yards

The photographic record is much richer outside the home, because of complications with indoors photography. Of course this is especially true of the 19th century when even outdoor photography was complicated. With the perfection of simple cameras, especially the Kodak Brownie (1900), Americans and Europeans embraced amateur photogrphy and we begin to see huge numbers ofsnapshots around the home. These snapshots are especially importsant because most of us have only dim memories of our pre-school activities. The home yard was largely a middle-class phenomenon as most middle-class families could aford homes with yards, at least in cities ans subburbs. And here there is an important terminology difference to consider. Americans call the land around a home a yard, both the back and front yard. British readers with carefully cared for grounds make take offence at this. For them the area in back of the house is the back garden. Yard is used for generally neglected areas like junk yards or industrial areas like railroad yard. The yard was not only a recreationl area for children, but was commonly used for raising vegetables and might also have fruit trees. While it was middle-class children who enjoyed outdoor play areas around their homes, working-class children also played outside. Working class children often lived in apartments. Some times this meant streats were the play area. There were, however, other areas. Germany apartments often had interior court yards where children could play and mothers could keep an eye on them.

Porches

And in America at least there was the front porch or veranda (back porch) which was a kind of interelated area between the inside and outside play areas. I think the porch is a living space especially identified with America, although we are not entirely sure why.

Rooms

Many activities are associated with specific rooms. Younger children in the 19th century were often cared for in a nursery. There might even be a school room for wealthy children tutored at home. The center of family life was the Victorian parlor. Families today gravitate to a activities room where the electronic marvels of the fday are often located. The front porch was very important to American families until the move to suburbia following World War II. The bedroom has changed drastically. Once it was a place for sleep. The bedroom for the modern boy has become an entertainment center with a host of high-tech toys, often including a computer. Affluent 19th and early 20th century families cared for their children in nurseries. Nurseries varied greatly from family to family. Affluent families might have day and night nurseries. Affluent children were mostly schooled at home. Patterns varied from country to country. Boarding was more important in Britain than elsewhere. British parents in the second half of the 19tt century began sending boys to prparatory schools at about age eight. American and French boys were more liked to be schooled at home in especiallhy prepared school rooms--an early version of today's home schooling for many of the same reasons. The parlor was often at the center of the 19th century home. Families varied on how the palor was used. Some used it for company and the children often did not have free access to it. In other families it was used more of a family room. In such cases the children were more welcome--but on their best behavior. Interesting features of many Victorian parlors were screens where "scraps" (cutouts), greening cvards, and postcards might be used to decoratte. The Victorians, both children and mothers also loved to keep scrapbooks in their parlors. A variety of items might be included in these scrapbooks, including photographs, "scraps", lettters, postcards, clippings. ptrssed flowers, and much more. The front porch in the days before air conditioning were an integral part of the American home during the warm summer months. A front porch might run all the way along the front of a house and even around the side. They always had rooms. Some were even screened in. The family might adjourn to the front porch after dinner. The adults might chat while they watch the little ones hunting fireflys. It was also a place for the older youngsters to get away from their partents. Boys might visit their girls. The porch faced the street and thus were the site of many neighborly exchanges. While the topic of familily dining practices and how the children were dressed for meals is an interesting one, it is a topic that HBC has not yet been able to address. Modern American children often have their own rooms or at least brothers and sisters each separated in different rooms. Ceratinly the desire of every teenager is to have his own room. Sleeping arrangements have varied greatly over time, in general reflecting the rising affluence of American and European life. This is somewhat different in Japan where housing and thus living space is enormously expensive. Likewise bed clothes have also changed iver time from the once universal nightdress or gown to today's modern pajamas. The bedroom has changed drastically. Once it was a place for sleep. The bedroom for the modern boy has become an entertainment center with a host of high-tech toys, often including a computer. Even in the 20th century, the complications of indoor photography limited indoor snpshots until after World warII. We have, however, acquired some indoor family snapshots.

Created: 3:26 PM 4/15/2008
Last updated: 3:26 PM 4/15/2008