Something To Do

by "Septima"

A wealth of information and suggestions for things children can do at home, indoors and outside, without spending much money or being a terrible nuisance. Each month has a separate chapter so that the games and ideas will fit with the proper season. February, for instance, that month of sniffles and childhood ailments, has a special section of Things to do in Bed, and August, the holiday month, has a bunch of ideas to pass the time while travelling. Every month has its own special flower and bird to look for. There are tempting dishes to cook, things to make, games to play, and instructions for keeping pets. It will refresh the memories of busy mothers on half-forgotten pastimes, and save her any amount of brain searching with its detailed information and plans for practical entertainments.

Genres: Childrens, Nonfiction

266 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1966

Reviews

[Bionic Jean]

Something To Do is a bit of a blast from the past. I remember picking up lots of ideas from this little paperback book, published in 1966, but it is doubtful whether today’s tech-savvy children would enjoy it so much. It announces that it can solve the cry of “What can I do?” in every family, on “wet days and dull days”, indoors and outdoors, “without spending much money or being a terrible nuisance”. (Yes, the language is a little dated.)

Each month has a separate section, organised so that the games will fit with the proper season. February, “that month of snuffles and chickenpox and measles” has a special section of “Things to Do in Bed”, probably after going to the “measles parties” so popular at the time, as a way of contracting measles while young, so as not to have a severe or dangerous attack later as an adult. August, a holiday month for English children, has a section on how to pass the time whilst travelling. There are toys to make from everyday objects around the home, games to play, dishes to cook, plus instructions on how to care for various pets. Each month there is a special flower and bird to look for.

One short idea I remember really enjoying, was an example of indoor gardening, explaining how to grow carrot tops in a saucer of water. “Outdoor gardening” includes the interesting notion of cutting your name in a small marrow, and watching it swell as the marrow grows bigger. Another part on “holiday gardening” explains how to take cuttings, whilst giving a severe warning not to uproot wild flowers. Games to play include many traditional games I remember from parties and the school playground, including “Oranges and Lemons”.

The book recommends itself to “busy mothers”, as including half-forgotten pastimes, saving much brain searching as it includes detailed information and plans for practical entertainments. I’m guessing that although it may not appeal in its present form to children, it still may have a place as something to dip into occasionally: perhaps as a sort of compendium of pre-gadget ideas, or a memory-jogger, for those who need a little inspiration when confronted with the incessant child’s complaint of “I’m bored!”

[sasasa]

Great little book divided into months of the year with activities and bits of info for each. It's mostly about nature, holidays, and little games to play and toys to build out of random stuff around the house. It's old-fashioned, so some of the stuff is not so common to have around these days, but still neat. The holidays and nature stuff is specific to England, but even the info that doesn't apply here is still fun to learn about.