Figure 1.--There are not many photographic images of outdoor play. This 1874 drawuing from 'Harpers Weekly' (January 24) provide a look at anowball fight. The caption here is 'Advancing to storm the snow fort." Put your cursor on the image to see "Beating a masterly retreat."

Many axtuivities children enjoyed were done outdoors. Thisas espercially true for boys. American children for much of history engaged in various free play. This has evolved over time. There were changes as well as changing limitarions. The limitations were largely due to the location and social situation. Until the 1920s, America was primarily a rural country. The majority of Americans did not begin to live in urban areas until the 1920s. This of course imaacted the activities in which children could engage. American boys might participate in a range of family outings. The appearance of urban parks provided a range of opportunities in many cities. Family picnics into the country were popular. Hiking seems less popular in America than in European countries like America. A drive into the country in the family car seems more of the American approach. This of course often ended with a picnic. And Henry Ford's Model T make the automobile afordable to the average country. Especially popular were county, and for the lucky, state fairs. There were also special expositions such a World Fairs. We note the Columbia Exposition in Chicago during 1983. There were a range of other outings such as circuses, such as the Barnum and Bailey circuses as well as smaller ones. Beach outings were also popular by the end of the 19th century, but here there were regional differences. People living along the coast could easily get to beaches. Some could even make day trips. Americans living in the mid-West had a long way to go to get to a beach, although Chicago had Lake Michigan. Only after World War II did the Middle Class have the ability to reach ocean beaches.

Free Play

American children for much of history engaged in various free play. This has evolved over time. There were changes as well as changing limitarions. The limitations were largely due to the location and social situation. Until the 1920s, America was primarily a rural country. The majority of Americans did not bnegin to live in urban areas until the 1920s. This of course imaacted the activities in which children could engage. Fishinhg and hunting were imprtant activies in rural aerea and not possible to any extent in rural areas. In addition, rural children were likekly to have more chores than urban children. In contrast sports were popular in urban areas, in part because there were enough kids to form teams, something that was possible in areas where you have lots of kids living close together. There are of course many outdoor play activitiess in which rural and urban childen could participate, including action role playing, group competitions, marbles, snowball fights, tag, and other games. And of course farm families could be quite large so rural kids rarely grew up in isolation. An they would get together at school because America was a leader in publiuc education. Rural schools were created for farm children. The other imprtant issue was social class. Boys from poor familes often had to work to support the family. Most boys had free time to engage in play activities, often the play activities for school age activities were not closely supervised by parents. This has cjanged over time, Modern children are nuch more closely supervised than chilfdren during much of the 20th cenntury. This situation was a little different for children from affluent families who were more closely supervised even in earlier periods. While we are primarily focused on boys, gender is a factor that needs to be mentioned. Boys were given much more freedom than girls. The girls were excpected to stay at home where they could be more strictly supervised as well as help mother with domestic duties. The girls did not simoly disaaper with their friends like the boys.

Family Outings

American boys might participate in a range of family outings. The appearance of urban parks provided a range of opportunities in many cities. Family picnics into the country were popular. Hiking seems less popular in America than in European countries like America. A drive into the country in the family car seems more of the American approach. This of course often ended with a picnic. And Henry Ford's Model T make the automobile afordable to the average country. Especially popular were county, and for the lucky, state fairs. There were also special expositions such a World Fairs. We note the Columbia Exposition in Chicago during 1983. There were a range of other outings such as circuses, such as the Barnum and Bailey circuses as well as smaller ones. Beach outings were also popular by the end of the 19th century, but here there were regional differences. People living along the coast could easily get to beaches. Some could even make day trips. Americans living in the mid-West had a long way to go to get to a beach, although Chicago had Lake Michigan. Only after World War II did the Middle Class have the ability to reach ocean beaches.

Created: 3:40 PM 8/25/2023
Last updated: 3:40 PM 8/25/2023