Life for children in colonial day was very different from what children's  lives are like now. Many families had 10-17 children including step children and cousins. Some times the mothers and the children would die in childbirth. There was very little schooling for children, almost none for girls. They were supposed to be doing house work.

The children were seen as people to grow up and make more money for the family. Children above the age of 6 were considered small adults and expected to more work. Women were expected to get married by the time they turned 16. If they weren't married by 19 people began to give up hope. Boys could own a house, and had to pay taxes by the time they were 16.