Hobbies And Interests
Children in the Renaissance
Leisure time was a new concept in the Renaissance, and this was true for children as well as adults. Lower class children were expected to work in the fields or the kitchen as soon as possible, leaving little time for games. For wealthy, upper class children, the situation was much different. The idea that childhood was a carefree time for play began during this time.
Games with Boards
Known in the modern day as "board games", many of these same games or their close variants are still played by children today. Games such as Draughts or Alquerque are Renaissance versions of checkers, and aside from being favorites of children, they were also popular in taverns. Other games, such as Goose, incorporated the use of dice, which players rolled to advance, similar to many modern board games.
Ball Games
Ball games were popular for both children and adults during the Renaissance. Balls were made of wood or leather and had hard and soft variations. Versions of bowling and stick ball were played in England and most of Europe. Bowling "pins" were long and straight dowels of wood. Cricket was developed in the 15th century and was popular with boys. Bocce, also known as Boule, was already an old game at this time and it's simplicity made it a common children's game.
"Tag" and Other Games
Games like Tug of War, "Huggy Tag" and numerous variations were also commonly played by children in the Renaissance. Tug of War was played by two children standing on elevated platforms, one trying to unseat the other by pulling on a length of rope they both held. Huggy Tag (also known by its cruder name, "Clench a Wench") followed the same rules as modern Tag with a few additions; the child who was "it" was referred to as the "goat" and as long as two children were hugging, they were safe from being tagged.