A Day in the Life of a Pioneer Child: Entertainment, Tacoma in the 1870s (2024)

FAQs

What did kids do for fun in the 1870s? ›

For fun, children would make rag dolls and corn husk dolls to play with, wrap rocks in yarn to make balls, and even use vines or seaweed strips for jump ropes. They played games such as hide-and-seek and tug-of-war. Foot races, hopscotch, marbles, and spinning tops were also popular.

Girls were generally assigned household chores such as washing and mending clothes, making soap, collecting firewood, cooking, and cleaning. Boys were expected to tend to livestock, split firewood, repair tools, or even to help run the family business.

Pioneer children had simple toys and games made out of any available materials such as pebbles, rope, pieces of wood and scraps of material. Dolls were made out of scraps of material and wool. Some toys were made of wood. Many of the games they played are still being played today.

Only eight grades were taught, and usually you would have kids in all eight grades in one room of the schoolhouse. Students were frequently required to memorize their lessons, or write on slates. In 1889, 70 per cent of the Nebraskans lived on farms. Children were expected to help the adults with the farm work.

People of every class enjoyed all outdoor activities in winter and summer. In the winter they did ice skating, tobagganing and sleigh rides. in summer they played croquet. The middle class and wealthy took part in leisure activities such as dancing and attending theatrical productions.

Children enjoyed playing with elaborate paper theatre play sets that allowed them to put on miniature plays. They loved making paper boats and sailing them on a basin of water or a pond. And they especially loved paper toys called thaumatropes that created optical illusions when spun very fast.

It was not until 1952 that the first water treatment plant was constructed. Pioneers typically went to sleep at dusk since, without light, not much could be accomplished.

Lunch at school, called 'nooning,' might include cold pancakes, bread with lard, jam or meat sandwiches, hard boiled eggs, dried meat, baked goods like muffins, cookies, and maybe even a slice of cake.

Common crimes and punishments included 8 lashes (which could cut both clothing and flesh) for swearing; 10 lashes for "misbehaving to girls"; 4 lashes for boys and girls playing together; 10 lashes for playing cards during recess, and 7 lashes for telling lies.

What Did Pioneer Children Wear? Babies and toddlers on the trail wore simple, loose linen one-piece outfits, similar to a dress or nightgown. However, children aged six and up dressed just like mom and dad. Children did not wear socks, and most went barefoot.

What were the chores of the pioneer children? ›

The children were depended up upon to do essential family chores such as collecting water, gathering firewood, driving stock animals and looking after younger siblings. Some of these children faced dire situations and responded by displaying mature attitudes and sometimes heroic actions.

Food for the trip had to be compact, lightweight, and nonperishable. Each family brought along such staples as flour, sugar, cornmeal, coffee, dried beans, rice, bacon, and salt port. Some also brought dried fruit. Mealtime on the Oregon Trail was goverened by the sun...

Pioneer kids also woke up early each day to tend to the family's animals. They helped milk the cows, feed the chickens, and collect the eggs. They pitched in to make items for the household, too, such as candles and butter. These are just a few of the responsibilities pioneer kids took on!

The light meal homesteaders' children carried to school was called “lunch.” They ate lots of sandwiches, but what kind of sandwiches? They might have had cornbread and syrup, or bread and lard, maybe with a little sugar, or bread and bacon. It was a special treat to have a sandwich with meat in it.

Most homes had dirt floors, a fireplace, and a chimney, with simple furniture usually made of wood. Towns developed only as more people settled in the area. Beforehand, though, pioneer families had to do all their tasks on their own. They grew crops and raised farm animals for milk, eggs, and meat.

Kids used whatever was laying around to create their own games and toys. Girls made rag dolls and kids played school yard games like tag and jump rope. Most kids had a ball and stick to play baseball or kickball and may have had a bicycle or wooden sled.

Swimming and games such as cricket, draughts (checkers), chess, and archery were often engaged in by boys and young men.

Life in the 1800s

Before the Victorian era, children as young as 6 or 8 years old might work in a mill or factory, they might run errands and make deliveries for a store keeper, they may be apprenticed to a skilled craftsman or woman, or they could be hired out as a servant.

Theatre Halls were numerous and performances were regularly given by theatre troupes, ventriloquists, hypnotists, poets, comedians, choirs and orchestras. Circuses came to town and set up in parks and public places. There were fêtes, carnivals, art exhibitions and lessons in singing, dancing and cooking to attend.