Figure 1.--Here we ee a CDV photo showing four images of children playing games in the 1870s. It was probably part of a set of CDV photos as these four scenes are numbered 3-4-5-6. Unforrtuntely it is not a very clear image, but as 19thbcentury images are hard to come by, we decided to use it. The games appear to be archery, gun shooting, croquet, and a parade of some kind.

Games that children play of course varied over time. Play was not encuraged by parents, seeing it as a waste of time and ideling through the 18th century. Children were viewed essentially as small-sized adults. And they were dressed and treated like that. This concept did begin to change in the late-18th century as part of Enligtenment thinking. Enlightenment thinkers like Rosseau began to promte the idea that childhood was a destinctiv phase of human developmnt and children should be treated differently than adults. Public schools only began to develop in the 18th century, at first in Germany and America. Few children as a result attended school. The new thinking about childhood most affected upper- and middle-class children. The working-class, the great majority of the popultion wirked. There was little provision for play. The whole family worked, either farm work or piece-work in the home. THis includd all but the younger children. We can begin to see attituds changing with the appearance of the boy's skelleton suit around the turn-of-the 19th century. The Victorian era is when many modern concepts begin to gell. This was also when public schools became well established and sports became incrwasingly popular, although at first more for adults than children. We see all kinds of ring games being played. Horsey was very popular. Children began o get blls although we are not at all sure what they did with them. We see games like badmitton and croquet, butthis wa more for families in confortable circumstances. We see modtly boys playing crack the whip, but this required a ;arge plst area abd as poblbly more common in rural areas. This and other games that did not require equipment were widely played. As America becme mor urbnized and afflient, games changed. ports became increasingly popular. Kick ball and dodge bll were very popular in primary school playgrounds. British bull dog and Red Rover were also popular. Girls played hop skotch as well as jump rope and slapping games. More sedate games like musical chairs and pin-the-tail on the inky were popular at parties. Kids in the inner city played stick ball. At home boys played cowboys and Indin or cops and robbers. The same game with a different story line. There was also tag and hide-and-go-seek. Marbles and flipping basebll cards and pennies were also popular. After Workd War much more oparental supervision kicked in and sports becane more important.

Created: 10:04 PM 12/22/2018
Last updated: 10:04 PM 12/22/2018