Not just fun and games: Historic Columbia program gives kids glimpse of the past

With a hop, skip and spin of the hoop, 7-year-old Naomi Willhite made a near seamless transition from the present day Friday to the early 19th century as she engaged in a spirited game of hoop and stick.

For the Fort Mill youngster, it was a hands-on lesson on how children played in days before bicycles, footballs and PlayStations.

The outing was the latest in Historic Columbia’s Homeschool Friday program. For the past three years, the foundation has offered the hands-on educational program that allows home-schooled students to explore various themes and historic sites.

On this day, the youngsters were exposed to a variety of 19th-century games as they learned how children played 150 years ago.

“Not a lot of families had access to be able to buy toys and games,” said Historic Columbia’s engagement coordinator Celia Galens, adding that many games required no objects and were typically played outdoors.

By the end of the 19th century, the lesson goes on, industrialization allowed toys and games had to be mass-produced cheaply, making them available to more families.

During Friday’s roughly 90-minute session, students engaged in croquet, “hide the thimble” and other period games on the grounds of the Robert Mills House.

“I’ve played it a couple of times (at home),” Naomi said, explaining her hoop and stick proficiency.

Her mother, Pamela Willhite, who also brought her 10-year-old son, Daniel, and 9-year-old daughter Ruthie, said the program offers an interactive approach to learning about history.

“Learning things with history is different for them with practical experience,” Willhite said.

West Columbia’s Diana Stanley, who moved to South Carolina with her family two and a half years ago, said the sessions have helped expose her children to the state’s history.

“Now when they study their South Carolina history, they have something to connect it with,” she said. “Every time they hear (a bit of history), it connects with something in their knowledge base.”

The Games of the 19th Century was the fourth Homeschool Friday session of the year. The first three included Columbia in the Civil War, Schools in the 19th Century and Robert Mills House as a Seminary.

This story was originally published May 1, 2015 at 11:53 PM with the headline "Not just fun and games: Historic Columbia program gives kids glimpse of the past."