Mary loved water and swimming so much so that her parents built a four-foot-deep swimming tank in the backyard. The tank gave her the opportunity to sharpen her swimming skills in the sailor’s breaststroke. She also liked to dive. Mary competed at swim meets where her strength and determination paid off. She won lots of ribbons and trophies!
 

Around 1910, when Mary began honing her swimming skills, the high school Boys Physical Education curriculum added swimming. Nationally, the Y.M.C.A. announced that all boys would have the opportunity to learn swimming skills. Mary and some of her friends created the Salina Swimming Club. By breaking records and barriers, Mary proved females are strong athletes.

Dance gives children the opportunity to express themselves and be creative by moving their bodies. The physical benefits are easy to see with increased coordination, strength and endurance. But dance is more than mere movement, it allows children to express emotion, work in a group dynamic and show cooperation. They become more aware of themselves and how they relate physically to the world. Dance gives children a means to communicate ideas to others. It allows children to learn by doing.

“You tell Miss Seymour you are going to be good so you can show Daddy how to dance when he comes home…”
                                                -Letter to Diana from her father, Theo Lane

Diana wanted to perform for her dad, but she had to wait for him to return home from the Navy. In the meantime, Diana practiced at the Seymour School of Dance. Her dance teachers, Mrs. Meitler, Miss Silver and Miss Seymour, coached Diana on her technique to refine her tapping skills. Through dance, Diana learned about composure, poise and balance. She also acquired self-confidence, joy and fulfillment.

The Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen pioneered radio hero shows. It forged the way for the more popular shows with Captain Midnight and Tom Mix. The main character for The Air Adventures, Jimmie, and his WWI pilot friend, Speed Robertson, flew to many destinations for dangerous missions. The adventures took them to battle foreign spies, bandits, kidnappers and even mad scientists!

Toy Clubs and Premiums

Often, early radio programs advertised clubs. To join, listeners mailed in proof of purchases from the sponsor’s product. In return they got cards, buttons, badges, hats, magic rings and other items. Radio heroes like Little Orphan Annie and Jimmie Allen were popular among children.

Product marketers used premiums to stand out just like the radio clubs. These items were often linked to a mascot or celebrity. 1930s mascots included the Cracker Jack Boy, Campbell Soup Kids and Inspector Post from Post Toasties Cornflakes. Kids could save labels, or box tops, and send them in for a toy.

Dick Creates His Own Adventures

Born during the Great Depression, Dick did not have many toys. He enjoyed playing with friends outside though. They played games like Allie-Allie-Outs-In-Free, also known as Ollie Ollie Oxen Free.

In the evenings, Dick listened to The Air Adventures of Jimmie Allen on the radio. Dick and his friends used their cereal premiums, a small object or toy, to act out daring escapades inspired by such radio shows.

Devere Collects

“On the 31st day of Dec. 1940 I had 119 ½ match covers, 27 candy wrappers and 9 tobacco cans and 6 cigarette wrappers, 28 napkin gum wrappers and 8 cigar rings.”

                                                                     – Devere

Devere lived in Falun. He liked to play cowboy with his cowboy hat and toy pistol. Like Dick, Devere grew up in the Great Depression. Devere collected many things like gum, candy wrappers and Mickey Mouse items.

New shiny toys certainly delight children. Yet many kids find joy in collecting everyday objects for playthings. For youngsters of the Depression era, that was especially true. These everyday items provided tactile objects when a toy could not be bought. These items still stimulated gratification and glee for the children.

Playing board games develops many skills – hand-eye coordination, dexterity, language, math, etc. To play any game requires cooperation as they follow instructions, take turns and show good sportsmanship. This strengthens relationships, social bonds and respect. Board games give insight into how others think. They also require wit and strategic thinking to outsmart an opponent.

Playing board games helps display creativity. Playing can make shy children feel noticed and included. Board games build a stronger sense of oneself and greater self-esteem. Board games give children the feeling of anticipation, surprise, and pleasure. They also develop understanding and poise. The possibilities are endless!

Meet Jerry and Marilyn, brother and sister. They played together a lot. Jerry and Marilyn found pleasure playing board games. Some of their favorites were Uncle Wiggly, Checkers, Chinese Checkers, Chutes & Ladders and Monopoly. Jerry’s favorite game of all was Chinese Checkers! Players think strategically to win at Chinese Checkers. Each move must to be calculated for hopping, triggering and clustering the pegs to win. Jerry was a lifelong avid Chinese Checkers player.

Play is Powerful!

“Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.”

                                        -Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr, American physician, 1809-1894.

When was the last time you played? When you felt spontaneous, sparking ideas off other people, absorbed?

Lack of play can kill the spirit. It can stunt mental growth. The power of play should never stop! Play helps young and old alike adapt to this ever changing world. It enriches life. It sparks joy. It is a bridge from “what is” to “what if.” 

So find your childlike state. Imagine, dream, invent, marvel, visualize, tinker, frolic, compete, perform … but by all means,

Let’s Play!