Nearly every time you go to a store or restaurant in 2024, you’ll likely see kids of all ages glued to screens. With the rise of the internet, mobile devices, and tablets, it’s not uncommon for kids to be given access to cell phones and tablets, even at a young age.
Even though technology can be helpful in many ways, it can also hinder the growth and development of children if they spend too much time on it. According to statistics from 2023, children between the ages of 8 and 18 spend 7.5 hours in front of screens daily for entertainment. This doesn’t include any time they may spend on screens at school or doing homework.
Considering how much time children nowadays spend watching TV, playing video games, or staring at a screen of some kind, you might wonder what children used to do before they were spending all day attached to a screen.
A hundred years ago, children played outside, made up games, and found creative ways to have fun without screens. However, they didn’t spend all their time having fun and many children didn’t have the luxury of spending all their time playing. It was also the responsibility of the children to help out around the house. The child labor laws we have today didn’t exist 100 years ago and many children had to work alongside their families. (After this article, check out 15 photos that show what life was like for women 100 years ago.)
To give an idea of what life was like for children 100 years ago, 24/7 Tempo put together a collection of 20 photos that show what life was like for children in the early 20th century. We also consulted sources such as Readers Digest, the Library of Congress, and PBS to determine what life was like during this period. Here are 20 photos that portray what kids did 100 years ago before screens.
Then, to bring the images to live we added color to reveal what childhood in history was really like.
They Played Outdoor Sports
Since children didn’t have the option to spend their day playing video games 100 years ago, they spent a lot more time playing outdoors. Outdoor sports were a great way for children to have fun and stay active.
Very Different Attire
In color, the sport’s clothes worn by these kids are in sharp contrast to those worn by today’s children. There are a lot of flat caps and formal shirts!
Families Explored Outdoors
Children didn’t only spend time outdoors with other children. Families often spent time outside together, like the family here exploring a cliff. It was also important to take safety precautions to prevent children from getting hurt.
Stand Back
Brought to life by the color, this scene shows that sea views have not changed at all over decades. The ways of keeping children safe near cliffs are a bit different though.
Children Cooled Off in the Streets
It wasn’t until the 1960s that most new homes had air conditioning. Children spent a lot of time outdoors no matter what the temperature was. However, in the heat of the summer, children had to find ways to cool off, especially during a heat wave.
Getting Drenched
Check out the tanned skin in this colored image – you can even see the bright sunlight bouncing off the children’s limbs.
They Made Their Own Fun
When children today want something to play with, they usually ask their parents to take them to a toy store. A hundred years ago, children made their own fun, often by building things themselves, such as the homemade cart shown in this photo.
Home-Made Go-Kart
With color highlighting the detail of this go-kart you can see that a lot of work went into making it. It also looks like it is being tried out on a main road.
Kids Found Creative Ways to Watch the Game
Many children were interested in sports in the 1920s and some even found creative ways to watch them. Here, children are trying to watch a baseball game at Ebbets Field in New York.
No Tickets Needed
Even with addition of color, it is striking how dark the children’s clothes are. Just as well if they are going to lie on the ground.
They Created Spaces to Play
Children in the 1920s could enjoy the simple things in life, like eating outdoors under the shade of a fort they built. This was a way for them to enjoy time together while also protecting themselves from the heat.
Mom’s Carpet
This image really comes alive with color. You can even see the tassels on the rug used to make their hideout. We hope their parents knew about this!
Children Drove Toy Cars
Toy cars are still enjoyed by children in the 21st century, but driving one in the street would seem dangerous today. Here, a little boy tests his toy car on a real street in the late 1920s.
Road Hazard
Adding some color to the scene makes it look even more alarming! This would not be acceptable on modern roads.
They Knit Socks for Those in the Forces
A hundred years ago, many children developed skills that kids in the modern world don’t have. One example is the ability to knit. Since children helped out a lot around the house, they were able to participate in activities such as knitting socks for soldiers who were overseas.
Busy Knitting on the Steps
Color picks out the details of the children’s outfits including the multiple buttons on their well-worn boots.
Children Were Exposed to Cigarettes
The idea of children even being around cigarettes is enough to make many modern parents cringe. However, 100 years ago, children were not only exposed to cigarettes but they could sometimes be found smoking them. The first report on the dangers of tobacco wasn’t released until the 1960s.
Give Me a Light
Color modernizes the scene and makes it even more disturbing. The children, on the other hand, seem very pleased about it.
They Didn’t Want the Fun to End
Nowadays, a kid with a deflated football would use a pump to fill it with air. Here, we see a boy getting creative by using a spare tire to inflate his football. Children 100 years ago had to find creative and out-of-the-box ways to have fun.
Deflated Ball
With color, your eye is drawn again to the child’s clothes. Just look at those boots, kids today would never play football in them.
Children Went Fishing
There were many ways for children to have fun outdoors in the 1920s. For children who lived near the water, some chose to spend their time fishing for tiddlers, or small fish. This was a fun activity children could do together.
What a Catch
The water looks a lot more inviting with the addition of color. That is a very unusual fishing net though!
They Spent Time in the Sun
Sunscreen wasn’t popular until later in the 20th century, so children and adults had to use hats and umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun. Here, two girls are reading and spending time outdoors in a coastal city in England.
Stylish Sun Parasol
Color picks out the light and it’s clear in this image that the sun was very bright. It was not fashionable to have a tan at the time and so these young ladies were hiding their skin.
Boys Weren’t Afraid to Get Dirty
A hundred years ago, boys weren’t afraid to get dirty when playing outside. Boys could be found playing in mud or dirt. While this activity may seem too messy or dangerous today, the boys pictured here are enjoying time playing in the river.
In the Shallows
Water always looks so much nicer in color. It also reveals just how ragged these children’s clothes were – the stitching is coming apart.
Children Helped Out in the Garden
It wasn’t uncommon in the early 20th century for children to help out with chores around the house. They might help with cleaning, cooking, or even working in the garden.
Green Fingers
How lovely is this scene in color? It shows what a great environment this was for children to spend time in.
Families Went Camping
Camping is still a popular activity in the 21st century. However, it looked a bit different in the 1920s. There was no such thing as “glamping,” or glamorous camping, but families could enjoy time together outdoors.
Pitching a Tent
Details picked out more clearly in the color image are the Dad’s socks matching his kid’s and the simplicity of the tent. But just look at how similar the camping stove is to those we use today.
Young Boys Learned Boxing
Some activities, such as boxing, might be considered dangerous for young children nowadays. In the early 20th century, young boys learned to box, even without the protective gear we might consider necessary in the modern world.
In the Ring
Judging by the looks on the faces of the young lads picked out by the color, they are not all that keen on this activity!
They Looked for Coal
In the 1920s, coal was still used in the home for heating. However, during a coal strike, it was challenging for families to get the coal they needed. Here, children are looking in a dustbox for coal.
Scraping By
Unfortunately, the addition of color does not make this image any less depressing than the black and white version. Times were clearly hard.
Children Learned a Trade
Many children, especially those whose families owned farms, learned how to help from a young age. With the absence of child labor laws, many children worked instead of going to school. The children in this photo are learning hay carting in Liverpool.
Helping Out
Thanks to color we see that this hay is very green. No wonder they are spreading it out to dry off a bit more.
They Played With Model Boats
Playing with model boats was another way that children had fun in the early 20th century. These boats could float on the water and playing with them was a popular hobby for children 100 years ago.
Launch Time
The children’s expressions in color show how intent they are on what they are doing. Only the dog is disinterested.
Children Raced Each Other
In the modern world, children still love racing. The methods of racing might look different today, especially with the availability of toys like remote-controlled cars. In the 1920s, children raced each other in toy cars and boats. (Don’t miss 23 of the most iconic photos ever taken.)
By the Sea
In color, this day out by the sea looks a bit wet and breezy! Clearly, no one is using the sun umbrellas!