Hands-On -- Do It, Say It
Children's traditional culture is largely interactive. Throughout childhood and into adolescence, hands-on activities are an important part of being a child. Some of these traditions are passed on from adult to child, but most are taught from child to child. This year during the Great Lakes Folk Festival, the focus of the Children's Area will be on hands-on activities that children can enjoy with their adult companions.
Children's Traditional Culture
Even in infancy children begin participating in and learning traditional games such as peek-a-boo and patty-cake. Throughout childhood and adolescence they participate in traditional learning songs, rhymes, sayings, puzzles, rituals, customs and games with their peers, older youth, and adults. Although adults are clearly important teachers of all knowledge for children, much of children's traditions are passed on continuously from child to child; children are both the teachers and the learners. By the time children enter school they are already skilled in a wide realm of knowledge areas.
