[Ansteorra] children and teen activities in the SCA

[Sher M]

Personally I think there should be something for various ages.  I'm not fond 
of children or adults who misbehave.  With a lot of children it's from being 
bored because they don't have anything else to do.  Those who are ill 
mannered 'naturally' I've been known to mutter something about locking them 
in a closet and keeping the survivor (that includes adults by the way).

Boffer sounds good for both sexes.  Kids get bored, matter of fact grownups 
get bored.  Most children (until the advent of machinery) followed in their 
parents footsteps and did the same tasks as they did (sometimes on a smaller 
scale but sometimes as equally difficult).

I normally do well with animals, children and people (unless they're my age 
because most of them are grumpy).  If you keep it in theme and easily 
portable then there should and could be activities involving fighting, 
sewing, weaving, spinning, making weapons, things of that nature.  Why 
couldn't someone teach the littles to make a practice sword or a favor for 
their parent(s) who are fighters?  After Spring shearing I could furnish 
anyone who wanted it dirty llama wool (neighbor discards it).  A class or 
activity could be held to clean it, card it, spindle it into a thread and 
the end result a small woven item.  During spring, summer and fall in my 
area there are edible plants, plants that can be used for dye, flowers that 
could be pressed.  Walking around finding plants can help wear out younger 
ones.

With scrolls feather quills could be used to show how to form the letters. 
I'm not sure I'd let smaller ones make their own quill pen.

Jewelry is easy to make and appeals to a lot of younger people.  Left over 
beads from projects could be put out with dental floss (yeah I know it isn't 
period but it's strong and easy for small hands to work with) and let them 
make necklaces or earrings that would hang on their ear (don't want anyone 
poking unauthorized holes in their ears).

I do not think activities should just be a place to 'dump' your wee ones 
while you go have fun.

Runa of the Thundering Herd
http://thethunderingherd.net/