To Colonial America
Lifestyles of the Colonists
in Colonial America
Children
By Molly
During the 1700’s, the children played a very important part in colonial life. They looked just like you and I but they had many different jobs, playing techniques, and lives. For instance many did not drink water because most of the water was unclean.
The girls were hard working house maids. They helped their mothers with the food, fed the chickens with the table scraps, milked the animals, mucked the garden, pounded the spices, and worked with their mothers. They got up early to help make breakfast. When the family finished breakfast, they started a day of work. Late in the day when they finished their work, the girls danced and played with rags and wooden dolls for fun. Girls milked cows and sew. Girls had tea parties.
Boys had many chores. They got up early and got to work. They helped their fathers with the plants and in the fields. After breakfast, it was back to work. Boys also gathered wood for the fire. Boys were farmers and tailors. Boys went fishing.
The children loved to play games with each other. They often played with their families. They played tag and flew kites in the summer. They ice-skated in the winter. They called hopscotch scotch hopping. Many games they played are games we play today such as Hide-and-Seek and Ring around the Rosie. Children would also play hopscotch.
Babies were very different from babies today. Babies were not born in hospitals. They were born in their homes with a midwife. They were also accepted into the church at a very young age. Pudding caps protected their heads before they walked. Some mothers gave their babies beer to keep them quiet. Bibs were worn on special occasions.
digital picture taken by Mrs. Lix
digital picture taken by Ryan