July 1, 2010
by Liz Brookshire

Play is an important part of a child’s growth and development. Through play, children explore adult roles and learn valuable social skills while exercising the body and imagination. Pioneer children made their own toys since manufactured ones were rarely available. Often scavenged and found items were repurposed to create interesting playthings.

With imagination, an old broom became a stick horse. Hoops were salvaged from worn out barrels and rolled with a forked stick. Boys could carve a slingshot or make a “bull roarer” with a bit of string and a smooth piece of wood or the top of a Prince Albert can. Marbles were fashioned with clay. A button from a worn out garment found in mother’s sewing basket and a length of her crochet thread made a whirligig or “buzz saw.”

Although children were expected to do chores and work alongside the adults pioneer parents also encouraged play by providing simple homemade toys for their children. Mothers created dolls for their daughters using cornhusks, clothespins or handkerchiefs. Some made rag dolls stuffed with cotton and embellished with embroidered faces and yarn hair. Fathers often built simple doll beds or other miniature furniture of scrap lumber or wooden cigar boxes.

Typical games of the school yard included Andy over, red rover, flying Dutchman, drop the handkerchief, baseball, kick the can, tug o’ war, Mother may I, pop the whip, hop scotch, and London Bridge. Local historian Julia Estill, recorded a game called “Esel-Lass-Dich-Hoeren” which is loosely translated as “Donkey, let us hear you bray.” I often use a variation of this game in children’s programming. The child designated as “it” must bray loudly or make other animal sounds. Participants are to keep from smiling or laughing and the first to break into a smile, giggle or laugh then becomes “it.”

Sure seems like more fun than your average video game!