Pioneer Games, Toys, and Songs

The pioneers had fun on the trail and even when they worked. Children played games like skipping rope, chasing hoops, tag, and other games.  Some of their games were like the string games we still play today.  The children did not have many toys and most all of them were homemade.  Their mothers taught them to make apple dolls and corn husk dolls.  Fathers taught their children how to carve things from wood, such as a whimmydiddle, buzz saw, or mountain bolo.

After a long day on the trail they would gather around the campfire and listen to the fiddlers, sing songs, and dance. Some of their songs included "Cindy", "Buffalo Gals", and "My Darling Clementine" Click here to learn about these and other songs.  

Go to these pages to learn more about pioneer life on the trail:

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