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Things We Used To Do & Say As Kids



This is more an activities page to promote reminiscence, discussion and story-telling, rather than a quiz based activity.


Print off the pictures for the tables, or play the sideshow by clicking on the first image. Then get going.


Break up each round with a singalong.




Round 1. Playing Games


Ask members to describe how these games were played ...


Conkers - How did you harden your conkers?

Cats' cradle - Could you make one today?

One potato - Who can say this out loud?

I-spy - What other games did we play in the car?

Skipping - Who could skip in sequence?

Knocking on friend's door to come out and play - How do kids play these days?

Climbing trees - What was the highest tree you climbed?

Playing chase - Who played tag?

Hide and seek - What was the best place you ever hid?

Waiting for your weekly comic to come out - Which comic did you read?



What other childhood games can you think of?


Discuss the old play ground. What rides were there? What was your favourite?





Round 2. Naughty Things


Ask members who did these things ...


Rat tat ginger - Who was your favourite neighbour to annoy?

Birthday bumps - What other birthday memories do you have?

Peeing up the wall - Hands up, which boys did this?

Scrumping apples - Who got caught?

Underage smoking (behind the bike sheds) - Who smoked back then?

Taping the Top 40 (and trying to miss the DJ's voice) - Who still uses cassette tapes?

Staying up past your bedtime - What did time you go to bed?

Bunking off school - Who played truant?

Not eating your greens - What foods did you hate as a child, but like now?

Refusing to do chores - What chores do people remember doing?


Who would describe themselves as being a naughty child?





Round 3. Other Things


Who remembers these things?


Walking to school - Who used to walk, or run, to school?

Chips in newspaper - Who likes loads of salt and vinegar?

Leaving the pram outside - Who had little brothers or sisters?

Outside toilet - Who had an outside toilet?

Having to get up to change channels and there were only two of them - Who had to pay coins into their TV?

Having a weekly bath (in a tin bath) - Who bathed in front of the fire?

Getting weekly (pre decimal) pocket money - How much pocket money did you get?

Woolworth's pick and mix - What were your favourite childhood sweets?

Mum mending your clothes and darning your socks - Who can sew?

Mum knitting you a jumper - Who can knit?


What other things at home do people remember?




Round 4. Things We Used To Say As Kids & What Parents Said Back To Us



Parents


"Just wait until your dad gets home!"

"Be good!"

"You're not leaving this table until you finish your dinner."

"Make sure you're home before dark."

"There's no such word as 'can't'."

"Who ever said that life would be fair?"

"If the wind changes, your face will stay like that!"

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you won't grow up big and strong."

"I'm not going to tell you again!"

"You're grounded!"

"Not until I say so."

"Close the door. You weren't born in a barn!"

"If you don't finish your dinner, you won't have any pudding."

"Get to bed!"

"Sit down and be quiet."

"Any more of that and you'll be sorry."

"I'm not going to tell you again!"


Can anyone think of any more?



Kids


"Why?"

"Are we there yet?"

"I'm bored!"

"What's that?"

"Can I go out and play?"

"It wasn't me."

"That's SO unfair!"

"I can't!"

"I'm telling Mum!"

"He started it."

"She told me to do it."

"What's for tea?"

"I'm hungry."

"I want ... ."

"Yes Miss / Sir."









Can anyone think of any other songs about Yesterday or the past?





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