A Staycation to Make History with Your Kids Pickering, ON, July 6, 2010 - Every Thursday throughout July and August the Pickering Museum Village holds its Kids in the Village Heritage Games and Craft Program in which parents and children spend the morning playing heritage games and taking part in a hands on craft activity. The Kids in the Village program is suitable for children ages preschool to 12 and starts promptly at 10:00 am lasting until noon. This July the pioneers at the museum will offer a line-up of crafts sure to please any child along with great traditional games. July 8: Cotton Ball Sheep One of the games: Blind Man’s Buff, dates as far back as Ancient Greece. The game eventually made its way to Britain and was played during the Tudor period. Evidence of the game’s existence during this period comes from references to the game being played by King Henry VIII’s courtiers. Blind Man’s Buff was also popular during the Victorian era. In fact, the game is mentioned in Emily Bronte’s classic novel Wuthering Heights. Blind Man’s Buff is a variant of tag and is played by a group of children in a spacious area, such as the outdoors or in a large room cleared of large pieces of furniture or other tripping hazards. Before the game begins, the boundaries of the game area are decided and the players must not cross over the lines while they are playing the game. Once this has been accomplished, the children choose who should be “it”. The child who is “it” is then blindfolded. The object of the game is to have the “it” child catch and identify another player, thus making that other player the new “it”. Most British versions of this game began with a verse sung by all the children, such as the following one from Cornwall: “How many horses has your father got in his stables? Three. What colour are they? Red, white, and grey. Then turn about, and twist about, and catch whom you may!” Once the verse is sung, the blind folded player is turned around three times and released to catch someone. Played outside on a beautiful day, this game becomes an excellent source of exercise and a way to tucker out even the most energetic children. Get set for historic fun and mark your calendars to head to the museum. There is no pre-registration required for this program; however, groups with 6 or more children should call ahead of time to ensure supplies are available to accommodate them. The grounds of the Pickering Museum Village are a wonderful place for a picnic. Participants are welcome to pack a lunch to enjoy once the program is finished and afterwards take a tour of the Museum Village. The Pickering Museum Village, located at 2365 Concession Road # 6, is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm and Sundays from 12:00 pm to 4:30 pm in July and August. Call 905.683.8401 or visit cityofpickering.com for more information on exciting summer programs like Kids in the Village or for driving directions. It’s no old wives tale; Pickering Museum Village is just 10 minutes from central Pickering! -30- As the gateway city to the east GTA, Pickering (population 94,000) is strategically located where Toronto, York and Durham Regions meet. Pickering is an affluent community that is steeped in history, natural beauty and small town charm with all the amenities and services that a big city has to offer. The City of Pickering is considered a municipal leader in fiscal management, service delivery, sustainability and the environment; and offers a wealth of sports, leisure and recreation opportunities to its residents. Pickering has been recognized by Profit magazine as one of the ten best cities in Canada for growth companies and received the 2008 FCM-CH2M Hill Sustainable Community Planning Award. Media Contact: |
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