Whatever Happened to Coming-Of-Age

Whatever Happened to Coming-Of-Age?

A Puritan teenager lived a life of great freedom and responsibility, but it came at a price.

In 17th Century New England, a child was expected to move directly into adulthood not long after puberty. There was no adolescence. Boys became apprenticed into a trade, and girls were either married or worked as midwives or servants until married or apprenticed into gender-specific trades such as dress-making or millinery (hat-making).

Even though for older children, play was considered a waste of God's time, young-ones were allowed to seek amusement. Games were simple, such as leap-frog depicted in the above Colonial picture (children were sometimes painted as with adult frame). No toys, just sticks or whatever could be found.