Figure 1.-- We have noted few destinctive clothing styles associated with play activities in Canada. Of course Canada's northern location means that winter sports and activities are more important than in mny other countries. The images seem similar to American boys. All we know anout the portrait here is that it was taken in Norval, Ontario, probably about 1920.

We have acquired some images of Canadian boys at play. Historically there were a range of different play activities. There were major differences between rural and urban children. The modern fixation on sports is a relatively modern development. We have noted few destinctive clothing styles associated with play activities in Canada. Of course Canada's northern location means that winter sports and activities are more important than in many other countries. The images seem similar to American boys. In fact, unless the images are identified we could not have known that thy were Canadian and would have assumed that they were American. Both the clothing and activities are very similar. The children here could easily be American. We have noted tricycles in Europe, but they were much more common in America--presumably because of the greater affluence. As in Ameica, tricycles were common in Canada as well. We do not know a great deal about Canadian games yet. Some images of early 20th century children show them dresses rather formally, even for games.

Play Styles

We have acquired some images of Canadian boys at play. We have noted few destinctive clothing styles associated with play activities in Canada. Of course Canada's northern location means that winter sports and activities are more important than in mny other countries. Some early 20th century images show children dressed rather formally, even for play. The tunic suit was popular in the early 29th cebtury, but it could be worn for play and dressing up.

Influences

The available images of Canadian boys at play seem similar to American boys. In fact, unless the images are identified we could not have known that thy were Canadian and would have assumed that they were American. Both the clothing and activities are very similar. The children here could easily be American.

Coveyences and Vehicles

We have noted tricycles in Europe, but they were much more common in America--presumably because of the greater affluence. As in America, tricycles were common in Canada as well. And many boys had bikes. We see fewer scooters, but some boys had them.

Games

We know very little about the games Canadian children played. We suspect that they were very similar to those played in England as well as Ireland and Scotland. We do not know if French Canadian children played any different games or were influenced by France. We note that French Canadian children were plating tag in 1912. This seems to have been a popular game throughout Europe and North america, if not the world. The Canadian children seen rather well dressed for play, perhaps it some kind of family outing or perhaps a walk in the park after church. The girls have fancy hats and white dresses. The boy wears a tunic suit, but not a hat. I'm not sure if he took it off for the game or did not have one. Notice that the girls' dresses have the same wide belt as the boy's tunic.

Sports

The most popular sport in Canada is ice hockey and many Canadian boys play the sport. The Canadians maintain that ice hockey actually originated in Canada. Despite the fact that Canada was a British colony, Canadians appear to have pursued American sports like baseball, basketball, and football more than British sports like cricket and soccer. We notice both French-Canandian as well as English-Canadian boys playing sports like baseball. We do not know if there was any difference between the French and English community as to sports. We do not know if experiences such as Little League Baseball and beginning in the 1970s soccer leagues were also common in Canada.

Toys

We notice the same toys in Canada that we see in America and Britain. Most toys were primarily for indoor play, blocks, board games, dolls, marbels, models, play sets like doll houses, puppets, toy animals, guns, soldiers, and vehicles. Of course indoor photiogtaphy was complicated. You needed flashbulbs which were not readily availabkle for snapshots until the 1950s. There were also outdoor toys, balls being the most imoportant, but kites were also popular. A very important outdoor toy was the hoop. Actually this was a toy almost every boy had because they were so common. Barrells until the 20th century were a major way of transporting many products from pickels to flour. Barrels were constructed of wooden staves bound by wooden or by the 19th century metal hoops. The they were manufactured in huge numbers. They were thus easily acceable and made for perfect play hoops.

Created: January 30, 2004
Last updated: 3:38 AM 10/9/2018