The 1940s Leisure Activities: Age Differences By Teddy Koerner

Summary The 1940s were difficult times Family members didn’t get much time with each other Adults were always working, Teens were always out and about, and Children were always being supervised People didn’t get all that much spare time in general, but when they did, it was enjoyed. Spare time was found and used despite all the complications and work to be done.

Children Young kids after school would usually be watched by a sibling or an adult. Even under supervision, they still had fun playing old fashioned games like Blow- Ball, Clothespins, Battle of the Oranges, and listening to radio. If nobody was at their own house, Children would spend their time at day care until their parents got home from work, or their siblings picked them up. Playing cards were popular in this era, and also many well known board games came out like Monopoly, Scrabble, Sorry, and Chutes and Ladders. Also in this era, Tonka Trucks and Silly Putty made their first appearances. *Did you know that children were affected by the war as much as adults were? They grew up in a war supportive environment and were bred hearing about how soldiers were killed in battle and all.

Pre-Teens Pre-Teens would do most of the same leisure activities done by Children. Pre-Teens would also play sports like Baseball. Kids would also go to movies and participate in Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts Radio stations were also made just for Pre-Teens like Adventure shows and comedy skits *Did you know that the first time Little League Baseball made an appearance was in 1939 in Pennsylvania? Now, 70 years later, it’s a worldwide child activity!!

Teenagers Teens would always be out of the house doing things with their friends. Dances were popular, along with drive- in movies, ice cream parlors, dates, and the radio. Movies like Citizen Kane and Casablanca were made in this era along with many others. These are still the most acclaimed movies in history. *Did you know that “teenagers” wasn’t a real word up until 1938 when scientists came up with it.

Adults Adults outside of work would attend plays, go to movies, visit museums, and listen to radio. Radio, as you can see, was a very important device for citizens in the 1940s. The radio would bring them news, entertainment, music, and war updates.

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