Figure 1.--This American steroscopic photographic card depicted children playing 'beans porridge hot'. This seems like a game more popular with girls than boys, but the childrn her are quite young. Perhaps play conventions were different at the time or Kilburn thaough the card would have more appeal if both boys an girls were involved. The photograph is undated, but looks like the 1890s to us. Notice the display stand for cabinet cards on the table. Source: Kilburn Brothers Stereoview.

There are all kinds of games children play and enjoy. Here we are talking about a form of play, especially a competitive one played according to rules and decided variously by skill, strength, or luck. Here we are using the American meaning. The British meaning of sport is considered seaparately. And these innclude both outdoor and indoor games. There are also active games meaning physical movement of some kind and more sedentary games like board games and cards. The active games are primarily outdoor games and the sedentary games are primarily indoor games. Games date back millenia, although our knowledge of thos cames and their imprtance is more recent. Until modern times the productivity of man was limited. This significantly affected childhood. Most children from a very early age had to work to support the family. This means that there was not a lot of time for play and games. And attitudes toward play itself varied over time. Western parents came to see play as wasteful and discoraged it, favoring more productive activities like work and study. This attitude did not begin to change until the Englightenment (18th century). As a result, most of the cames we are familar come down from the 19th century Victorian era. To the extent they had earlier origins we are not sure. But the huge expamsion of wealth as a result of the Industrial Revolution meant that more and more children actually had the opportunity to play and enjoy games. Some of the most popular games were ring games. With industrialization and urbnization many older games were praticed and new ones developed. Some games were played at home for parties like musical chairs and pin the tail on the donkey. Other games were played on the sreet like hop-scotch, jump rope, marbles, and penny toss. The girls games tended to be copperative while the boys' games more competitive. Some could be adopted for both indoor and outdoor play. Some of these were strictly organized with rules. Otherwere more free form like pillow fights.

Definition

There are all kinds of games children play and enjoy. Here we are talking about a form of play, especially a competitive one played according to rules and decided variously by skill, strength, or luck. Here we are using the American meaning. The British meaning of sport is considered seaparately.

Location

We note both both outdoor and indoor games. The outdoor games tend to be more active and the indoor games more sedentary.'

Action

There are also active games meaning physical movement of some kind and more sedentary games like board games and cards. The active games are primarily outdoor games and the sedentary games are primarily indoor games. But there are quite a few games that can be played both indoors andf outdoors.

Gender

The girls games tended to be copperative while the boys' games more competitive.

Chronology

Games date back millenia, although our knowledge of those games and their importance of course is more recent. Until modern times the productivity of man was limited. This significantly affected childhood. Most children from a very early age had to work to support the family. This mean that there was not a lot of time for play and games, except on the part of wealthy aristocratic or merchant families. And attitudes toward play itself varied over time. Western parents came to see play as wasteful and discoraged it, favoring more productive activities like work and study. This attitude did not begin to change until the Englightenment (18th century). As a result, most of the games we are familar with come down from the 19th century Victorian era. To the extent they had earlier origins we are not sure. But the huge expamsion of wealth as a result of the Industrial Revolution meant that more and more children actually had the opportunity to play and enjoy games.

Types

We note all kinds of different types of games. There were both both cooperative (such as 'jump rope') and compeitive (like 'penny toss') games. There were games whuch included both cooerative and competive elements, such as role playing games. There were also active games, some of which cold be played outside and indoors. Some of the most popular games included ball ('dodge ball'), elimination ('British bulldog'), field ('crack the whip), hiding (hide and go seek'), ring (ring anround the rosie) , role playing ('cow boys and Indians'), singing ('London Bridge'), tag ('blind man's buff') , and a host of other games. With industrialization and urbnization many older games were praticced and new ones developed. Field games were difficult to play, bur games thar ould be played in a small area or on a paved surface increased in popularity. Some games were played at home for parties like 'musical chairs' and 'pin the tail on the donkey'. Other games were played on the street like 'hop-scotch, 'jump rope',' marbles', and 'penny toss'. Some could be adopted for both indoor and outdoor play. A good example is 'blind man's buff'. Some of these were strictly organized with definite rules. Otherwere more free form like pillow fights. Specifically indoor games include board games, construction games, and card games. Some board games like chess and checkers date back to ancient times. In modern times we see a great profussiion of new cames like Clue, Life, Monolpoly, Ouija, Twister, and many more. New games are created every year. .

Country Trends

We have begun several country play pages. Most are European, inclusing England, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia. We also have play pages for America and Mexico. We see many if the same games being played in different countries, often with different names and rule variations. Sports until well into the 20th century was not a major part of children's play but by the mid-0th centurt were growing in importance.

Created: 2:36 AM 6/12/2019
Last updated: 7:32 PM 2/17/2024