Have you ever wondered what the life of a child in colonial times was like?
Many of us living in the modern age imagine wooden toys and simple living, but there was more to childhood in colonial times than playing games. The colonial child would be an active participant in the keeping of the home, and would be developing household skills throughout their formative years. This may include farming or family occupations outside of the home, and sewing, spinning, weaving, candle or soap making, cooking, baking, and more within the home.
Colonial Living Classes with Naturally Effective Behavior can be booked for groups in your location, or at a community space in Smithtown, NY.
What to expect from Colonial Living Class with Naturally Effective Behavior
This class digs into the daily life and activities of children in colonial times in a hands-on way, inviting participants to actively engage with the skills and pastimes of centuries past.
Angelys of Naturally Effective Behavior LLC, dressed in her 1770’s garb, brings all her knowledge of education and her homeschooling experience to class for a comprehensive lesson including facets of history, art, home economics, and science.
A typical 2 hour class will include explanations, demonstrations, and opportunities for the children to personally experience:
- Carding and spinning raw wool into yarn
- Basic weaving
- Candle making (beeswax rolled candles)
Questions that will be answered include
- How wool goes from matted, fresh off the animal to soft, usable yarn
- Who was allowed to play music in public, and who it was considered taboo for
- How candles were made, and from what materials
- The skills colonial children could expect to learn, and chores they would complete
- How children were integral and active members of a household
- What activities colonial children enjoyed in their limited free time
Children will enter to a carefully arranged invitation to play, with play silks and hand carved wood and handcrafted wool felt toys. They will learn why these simple toys, often called “primitives” were some of the most accessible to the colonial child, plus what items colonial children of different social classes may have had access to.
The instructor will address each child as if they are truly visiting the 1770’s, and will sprinkle historical facts and traditional manners throughout. While exact activities may vary based on class size and time availability, students will typically have the opportunity to card wool and handle a drop spindle, roll beeswax candles, hand stitch a simple button, and utilize air dry clay to create their own small household item.
Angelys is available to present Colonial Living Class for your homeschool co-operative learning, school groups, birthday parties, or other activities in your location or a provided location in Smithtown, NY (room fee applies). Contact Naturally Effective Behavior LLC for more information.
