Ancient Greek Kids: Life in ancient Greece was not a bed of roses for babies. They had a hard time to survive. Many died in the first couple days of life explaining why babies did not receive names until the seventh or tenth day of life.

Ancient Greek Kids

If a baby was born deformed, it might have been abandoned on a mountain (more often female babies were abandoned than males).In some Greek cities, there was an unusual practice; children were wrapped up in clothes until they were about two years old to ensure straight and strong limbs.

Children spent the majority of their time with their mother. While they were being raised, girls would receive their entire education and training in the home with their mothers. Boys, on the other hand, might learn their father’s trade or go to school around the age of seven.

Girls were said to attain puberty at ages twelve or thirteen and was considered fit to get married. They took their childhood toys and left them at the temple of Artemis significant of the fact that their childhood was over and that they were becoming adults. After marrying, the women were expected to have a baby. Not being able to bear children was seen as a curse from the gods.

Boys in several ancient Greek cities were required to join the army for two years of service at the age of eighteen while many cities required males to reach the age of thirty before they were able to participate in city politics.

The Greece kids had a number of toys to play with, in their pastime. Dolls, rattles, tops, swings, and many other items have been unearthed by archaeologists. As is seen today, those from richer families had a greater assortment of toys, while those from poorer families were expected to work for the family at a much younger age.

Evidence also shows that Greeks kept pets such as dogs, pigs, tortoises, and caged birds. One ritual designated for young girls was the agora or swinging ritual.

The social status of a child determined whether life was going to be hard or fun for him/her. Certainly, the life of a child of an aristocrat or citizen was different from the life of a child slave. Lives also varied from one city-state to another.