Figure 1.-- Here we see two little English boys, either brothers or neigbors, who have made up a wonderful game in the back garden. One boy is riding a treasured hobby horse the other boy has hooked reigns to his box. Notice how formally they are dressed. They wear wide-brimmed sailor hats and what look like tunics, one with sailor the other with Fauntleroy styling. The snapshot is undated, but looks like about 1910.

Younger children are very creative about play. They enjoy playing with toys of all kinds. They use them in all sorts of ways and makeup games with them. Younger children first play in the home and then in the back garden. The availability of neigbors and siblings is an important factor in play activities. The advantage of the back is not only that mother can keep an eye on the kids, but that the children can bring out their toys to play with. The back garden in British parlance means the back yard and they were often quite narrow and small. More affluent families in the suburbs might have larger back gardens in which to play, Make-up and pretend is an important part of play for younger children. Here costumes are often popular. As they grow older they may play in parks and play grounds. Many schools had a separate smaller playground for the infants (5-7 year olds). Older boys are more likely to be involved with more active vigorous games as well as sports. Sports of course require a skill levels that younger children do not have. Children dressed formally even for plsy in the 19thcentury. After the turn of the 20th century, casual dress begins to become more important.

Created: 3:14 AM 10/1/2010
Last updated: 3:14 AM 10/1/2010