What games did children play during the Victorian era? - Presentation

The Victorian era was a time of simple yet engaging games for children, with activities varying depending on a family's wealth. Football was universally adored, with less affluent children using makeshift items like cooking pans as balls. Cricket, requiring a bat and ball, was more common among the well-off, who might even have designated playrooms in their homes equipped with dolls houses and rocking horses. The unit aims to give children a hands-on experience of these historical pastimes, suggesting a Victorian games morning or afternoon where they can play skipping, marbles, hopscotch, and hoops, allowing them to compare these games with those they play today.

Victorian children found joy in a variety of games that are still known today. Boys often played with large metal hoops, propelling them through the streets with sticks. Marbles were a favourite, typically made of metal due to the expense of glass. Girls engaged in hopscotch, crafting their own rhymes, and enjoyed skipping ropes, often accompanied by rhymes as well. Conkers was a game cherished by boys and remains popular. Additionally, wooden tops and large rings accompanied by chanting rhymes were common, with some rhymes persisting to the present day. Despite the scarcity of parks, they became a beloved place for children to play. The unit encourages children to reflect on these games and even create their own rules for marbles or hopscotch, bridging the past with the present.