Senior Citizens, when you were growing up, did your mother or dad play with you?

Yes. We went swimming, rode bikes, hiked, played tennis, softball, croquet, badminton, hide n seek, we wrestled, played board games and card games, roller skating, ice skating, sledding, built snowmen, my parents read to me everyday before I could read on my own, we built things with tinker toys. The only things I remember my parents never playing with me was dolls and when we played jump rope my mother would twirl the rope, but not jump.

My parents always encouraged all types of play and we always had the latest toys and things to do. But to actually play with us? No. My mom was raised in a very strict ethnic atmosphere, and she was unable to show physical affections or to even say she loved us. She showered us in 'things' and the latest fashions and drilled us to be the best ladies we could be. It didn't work for my sis, tho. lol

They took us on weekend drives, yearly vacations, to all the fairs, and local playlands, parks and picnics and we did things as a family, but not to actually play with us.

My mother, but the only games were card games. Then on weekends the adults came over to the house and the adults played cards.

we rode bikes and jumped rope.

When I was growing up, families were larger than those of today and the kids played with one another. Fathers worked long hours to put a roof over our heads and food on the table, clothes on or backs and so forth. Moms took care of the house, did laundry, cooked and played with daddy which is why we had brothers and sisters to play with.

Yes, they did. Mom was always around and ready for something/anything... Even my dad who was rather busy building a business and a self-occupied sort of fellow, found time to teach me how to play chess...

I grew up in the 50s and both my parents played with me,we lived in a flat and had no garden,we were always going to the park after school and at weekends,i remember my dad playing football and cricket with me and my brother,we also played board games and cards indoors,we would watch television as a family and discuss the programmes together,i realise now that we were not typical of that time,both my parents did cooking and cleaning in the house,my father said my mother worked hard and she should not do all the work,my mother was a part time cleaner and my dad was a factory worker,they told us we could be anything that we wanted to be,my dad was so proud when i became a librarian! He would meet me from work and we would talk all the way home,i loved him very much,he died at 58 from cancer and i still miss him every day.

My father died when I was 6, but I have one real memory of when I was younger he'd be the horse while I was perched on his back. I say 'real' because all of my other memories are from stories my mother would tell me, that was the only one I hadn't been told.

My mother would play with me somewhat, mainly board games and cards. She would be too tired from working in a potato warehouse to do physical playing.

Somewhat, not physical games but we did play board games.

I'm talking - before I was 8 years old.

We played soft ball - monopoly - put together puzzles - played pick up sticks - Chinese checkers and just plain checkers.

That was before television.

We listened to the radio shows too - on Sunday. We never had a television - until I married in 1957.

My mother passed away - when I was 8 years old and things changed - but always did the same things with my cousin's.

I don't see that happening with children these days. They play with their game boys and participate in little league and other sports. Four wheeling etc.

Just my opinion.

DeeJay