Games Kolonial Kids

Overview	Parlor	Group	Outdoor
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Over a hundred years ago, there were no TV sets, stereos, or video games, but there were always people around ready to play games. Families were often large — parents & several children, as well as an aunt, uncle, or a grandparent or two, all living under one roof, so there were always people around who might be talked into playing a game. Children also played games at school, in town, and at work parties.

Many of the games children play today are not learned from books; children learn them from their friends, who have learned them from other friends. Children have played the same games for almost two hundred years. You may recognize some of these games, but a few old games will probably be new to you -- try them out with some of your friends to see if you like them. You can even come up with your own versions of old games; design a board game or create a guessing game that uses modern people, places, and things.

These games are divided into three sections:

• Parlor Games: Individuals who owned large houses often had a parlor. A parlor is a special room that is used for entertaining guests. When families invited neighbors to visit, they played games in their "best room." These games are known as parlor games. Parlor games usually involved several people. Charades & Blind Man's Bluff were popular parlor games. Guessing games, word games, & board games were also played in the parlor
  


• Group Games: School and work-parties were natural areas where children gathered, and any gathering of children is a great place for games to be played; the games listed here are where, usually, the more participants, the better!
  


• Outdoor Games: Even though they typically had more chores to do, most kids in colonial times had a lot of energy. And what better way to burn off some of that excess than to have outdoor game for them to play?