Before compulsory schooling, children were expected to help their parents with all the chores associated with earning a living and keeping house. There was still time for children to indulge in a range of leisure activities, many of which remained unchanged for centuries. The most comprehensive record that survives of these pastimes is a C16th painting by Brueghel, entitled Children's Games or Young People at Play. About 80 activities have been identified. Details of most of these, and how to play them, are available on http://www.ahs.uwaterloo.ca/~museum/Brueghel/imgmap.html.

While Rent a Peasant cannot offer quite such variety, this option, by itself, is particularly suitable for indoor venues and small events, or can form part of a larger Living History display. The toys can be either specific to a particular period of history or a full range from Roman wooden doll to early C20th clockwork tin toys. Audience participation is particularly welcomed.

Most toys were made of wood and probably made in the family. The first plaything for a baby would be a rattle. Spinning tops and whipping tops were invented centuries ago. Whipping tops and the diabolo require quite a knack, perhaps Grandad can remember! Cup and ball needs steady hand and eye. Girls have played with rag dolls and dolls with jointed limbs from the days of the Greeks and Romans, while the Victorians invented the china doll. Boys may prefer model animals, known from the earliest times, and the Noah's Ark, drumming soldier and pop gun of the Victorian nursery.

Sadly, modern legislation means that children are not allowed to try the C20th Tin Toys, but we are happy to demonstrate them. Small groups can try a game of strategy, such as 9 Men's Morris, or the Roman dice game, Iactus. Larger groups can try playing Hunt the Thimble or Spinning the Platter.

A selection of Roman style toys and games at Binchester Roman Fort
Chris plays with Whipping Top	Chris playing Nine Men's Morris with the public. William Turner Garden, Morpeth.