Transcript Slide 1

Children Games and how they are
alike, and how they have changed in
the 19th century?
Jonathan Lyons
October 10, 2007
English 111 Honors
Tusculum College
Godey’s Lady’s Books
Godey’s Lady’s Book was one of
the most popular women's books
of the nineteenth century. It had
poetry, music, beautiful artwork,
and other well known authors
work in it. Woman could read this
book and learn much about
cooking and the ways of the world
as well. It served as a learning tool
as well as something interesting to
read and look at.
http://www.history.rochester.edu/godeys/
Godey’s Lady’s Book 1850
“Duck……Duck……GOOSE!” During
the nineteenth century, children had a
number of games to keep entertained.
Small games like “who will wink first”
or “duck, duck, goose” were popular
games played with the younger
children. To the right in “Who’ll Wink
First”, two children are having a
competition to see who will wink first.
This was a typical and easy game to
play in the nineteenth century. Simple
and small games like this were what
kept children occupied then.
The older teens were just
beginning to see the start of football
and other large sports. So they were
not as active in these sports until later
in the century. They still played the
basic games; similar to what kids may
play today.
“Who’ll Wink First” from Godey’s
Lady’s Book July Edition 1861
Did working children have time for
play?
Children in the nineteenth century had to work and go through a
much stricter regime of chores than children of today. Kids had to begin
work at a much younger age. Today there are strict labor laws and other
regulations that keep children from many of the hard things that children
of the nineteenth century had to endure. Yet, all the hard work and
chores they had to endure, they still had time to enjoy different games
and activities that today’s children have forgotten or never been taught.
Back then, kids had to use what they had to have fun. It usually was not
much. Most of the time it was just hanging out with friends and siblings
and coming up with there own games. If not for them, then we would not
have the majority of the games that we play today.
f course, today’s children
are being influenced by many
views and technologies that were
not around back then. Children did
not have to worry about what
Dungeon Master level they were,
or how many times they can make
their personal amusement park go
bankrupt. They would not be able
to participate in these marvelous
activities for another century or
two. William Corsara in Play talks
about slave children games in the
nineteenth century“[They] played a
number of organized games, such
as jump rope and various chasing
games.” (2). They had to rely on
each other and small things that
they could buy to keep them
entertained. Today’s children rely
too much on technology instead of
their friends and creative minds for
entertainment and fun.
What affects today’s children
•Different Religions
•Computers
•ATV’s (all terrain vehicles)
•Gaming Consoles
•Television
•Internet
•School Activities
•Sports
•Etc.
Yet, children games of the
nineteenth century were much
like those that kids play today.
“Hide and seek” and “Tag”
were among the popular
games. Today, we can still see
them being played in the
backyard of almost every
neighborhood. In Godey’s
Lady’s Book, a nineteenth
century series of journals with
information and articles for
women, there are many
pictures and examples of
games children played.
“Winter” is a picture of three
kids playing in snowy weather.
A typical “girls attacking the
boy” scene is portrayed. Back
then, kids still acted as kids
today do. They were not
affected as much as one might
think.
“Winter” from Godey’s Lady’s Book July Edition
1861
They did not have as many
things to do then as we do know.
In the picture to the right, “Bob
Cherry”, a popular game played by
nineteenth century children, is
being played between three young
children. It is in a way like bobbing
for apples. Small and simple
games like this were played instead
of the high tech expensive games
of today. In the nineteenth
century, children did not have the
computers, electric guitars, ATV’s,
or football teams to play with or
get involved in as we do know.
Football and organized sports were
just beginning to be born then so
“Bob Cherry” from Godey’s Lady’s Book July
they could not participate in those. Edition 1861
Guitars and other technologies
that we have today were not to be
around for another century at
least. So simple games like this
were key to overcoming boredom
in the nineteenth century.
Today children have many things
in common with the kids of the
nineteenth century. The nineteenth
century had little time for children to
play and have fun, but when they did, it
was usually fun. Kids today sometimes
forget that you do not have to have a
million dollars to have fun, or have a
brand new dirt bike to have fun. All we
need is an imagination and the
willingness to try something that we
have not experienced before. If we
could realize that all the technologies
and other things are not necessary to
have fun, then I believe we would all be
better off.
How better off would we be?
•We would be more creative.
•We would not be as lazy.
•We would make more
friends.
•We would have more
interaction with our peers.
•We would have more
knowledge of what used to
be. Knowledge = Power
• CORSARO, WILLIAM A. "Play" Encyclopedia of Children and
Childhood in History and Society. Ed. Paula S. Fass. Vol. 2. New
York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2004. 6 pp. 3 vols. Gale
Virtual Reference Library. Gale. Tusculum College. 7 Oct. 2007
http://find.galegroup.com/ips/infomark.do?&contentSet=EBK
S&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=IPS&docId=CX3402800
330&eisbn=0-02-8659155&source=gale&userGroupName=tusculum&version=1.0.
• Godey’s Lady’s Book 1861
• “Godey’s Lady’s Book”. Rochester. October 9, 2007
http://www.history.rochester.edu/godeys/