Nana, what was technology like when you were 7 years old?

Nana, what was technology like when you were 7 years old? So they asked my 6, 7 and 8 year old grandchildren some years ago when my husband and I were invited to their respective schools for morning tea.

And then they took us to their classrooms to proudly display their current work. We were also asked to give them a little idea of ​​what our school life was like when we were their age.

This opened up all sorts of amazing ‘things’ for them. Naturally, they assumed that the technology had been around forever. Bear, then it was another world altogether.

One that today would be alien to our grandchildren. I love the look of utter disbelief on their young faces when we tell them we had no television, what, no television, no phone, no computer, no iPod, no iPad.

Tech-free entertainment

We made our own entertainment using our imaginations with whatever object we could find. Old sheets to make a tent with sticks to hold it up. A steel bucket with a wooden plank produced a tremendous seesaw. To mention just a couple.

Today I have an orchestra in my bag, my Samsung mobile phone, without which I cannot live. I also have an iPod, a bit dated today, but I love hearing all my favorite classics in my pocket.

Good fun without tech

Cars were a luxury, at least for most people. Apparently my father was not a good candidate to drive one. As a result, he rode his bike and loved to bike, swim, and climb mountains. And he took us all with him. We also went to most places by train, one by steam.

My dad put a small seat on the handlebars of his bike and another on the rear wheel, because there were so many children in our family that he could carry two of us at once. What fun we had.

How the hell do we live, it doesn’t matter to entertain ourselves without anything technical in our lives! However, we had a tremendous time.

Intelligence and knowledge of innocence

I love the innocence of my grandchildren, along with their intelligence, all at the same time. And his confidence and knowledge of everything technical.

Yet how happy we would all be if children could experience another kind of freedom. Freedom to walk to school without an adult. Play happily in the street with all the children in the neighborhood.

School in the old days

Our childhood was easy and most of us did not know what real stress was. So protected were we from adult concerns, news, activities, and adult fears.

We had our own set of little fears.

You couldn’t speak for yourself. As a result, we had to be quiet at all times and only speak when spoken to and then only to answer questions. Children should be seen but not heard, was the incredible motto of our day.

We received a blow to the hand with a ruler. At that time, hitting was legal in many schools around the world. It was imposed simply by an incorrect answer to a spelling, arithmetic, or reading question. By the course at that time in most schools.

Cope with stress

Did I say we had no stress? I find it contradictory in what I have said, because of course we did. At school, but somehow, we manage to cope most of the time on our own. It is much better not to involve our parents.

Our children and grandchildren have had an easier and more enjoyable time at school. I am amazed at the fun that can be had, especially in the Primary years. Children are heard, have freedom of expression and are not afraid to speak for themselves. And along the way they also learn a sense of responsibility.

Technology in days gone by

However, we grandparents enjoy our own happy days.

That was school and “technology” for me and my husband at 7 years old.

6 brothers and happy memories

However, this question of technology brought back a flood of childhood memories.

I am one of 7 children and even though we had nothing like the toys or clothes that children expect to have today, we had a great time without worry growing up.

And although my father was an accountant and earned a good salary, he had to share it with a family of 9. So naturally, we children also had to share toys with each other.

Since most families were quite large in those days, we were all the same in the toy department, so we were more than happy to swap with our friends on our street.

Our clothes were always of good quality because with 4 girls and 3 boys all had to be “inherited”, the oldest and the youngest getting everything new! Good recycling practice, although no one thought of it that way at the time. But we never feel bad about ourselves.

Music and entertainment

Growing up without all this wonderful technology, we had to create our own entertainment. At our home we were encouraged to take piano lessons.

Since we didn’t have a piano at first, our elderly next door neighbors were very happy that my older brother (a very promising young classical pianist) was practicing on his piano.

Another of our neighbors was a music teacher, so those of us who liked to play received our first lessons from her. We finally moved house and our parents bought our own piano, which was heaven.

My brother took off and became the most talented classical musician. I think I was the next serious student, although I never reached his level. However, I kept playing, loved it and still do today.

Grandchildren and music

One of our 4 grandchildren took piano lessons at school for many years. She was also very good and loved it. But because he was not going to pursue a career in music, he had to give up his lessons to concentrate on his school work. However, it is something you can turn to at another time.

I am also very happy to say that one of our grandchildren started learning bagpipe when he was still very young and now, at 14 years old, he plays wonderfully with all the Scottish insignia.

Music is very important and I wish it would be considered more in the school curriculum. Children need it to relax more than ever in my opinion.

I’m digressing.

Next question from my grandchildren.

Nana, what was summer vacation like when you were 7 years old?

Ah, summer vacation.

Until next time!

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