What type of things did children do for fun?

Children in the middle ages had to be creative when it came to being entertained. Think about this, no phones, no computers, no face book, no TV, no air conditions or even in that matter electricity. Even without all these things, children still had fun and made the best out of each and every day. When children aren’t working, they are out running around or riding on hobby horses which were made and painted to look like real horses. Girls played with the same things with boys but they also liked playing with dolls. Dolls back then were made of clay, wax, wool, or wood. They were painted and dressed in various costumes, just like Barbies are today. Peasant girls played with rag dolls but Nobel children had dolls with robes and fancy head dresses.

       Children from wealthy families played with board games such as checkers and chess. Children also played games similar to bowling, badminton, tennis, soccer, baseball, and golf. Balls were usually made out of leather stuffed with horse hair or dried pigs’ bladders filled with dried peas. Um EW!! Summertime meant time for swimming in river and lakes for a variety of children. Life preservers made from tree bark helped the younger children stay afloat. In the winter, children played a game similar to ice hockey. Many children liked to play war games such as horseback riding, archery, wrestling, and a game called sword and buckler, which involved pretend sword fights. Children often walked on stilts, gave each other piggy back rides, wrestled, and climbed trees. Marbles, dice, balls, hoops, and sticks were just a few of the popular toys back then.