* Chores: Regardless of social standing, children, even very young ones, worked. Farm children helped with planting, harvesting, tending animals, and household tasks like cleaning, cooking, and laundry. In towns, children might assist in trades their parents practiced, or work as apprentices.
* Education: Formal education was less common than today. Wealthier families might hire tutors or send children to private schools, but most children received little to no formal schooling. Basic literacy and numeracy skills were often learned within the family or through religious instruction.
* Religious Observances: Religion was central to colonial life, and children participated in church services and religious instruction.
* Play and Recreation: Children did have time for play, though often this involved work-like activities like playing shopkeeper or mimicking adult jobs. Games involving running, jumping, and simple toys were also common.
* Apprenticeships: For many children, especially boys, an apprenticeship was a crucial part of growing up. They would learn a trade (like carpentry, blacksmithing, or printing) from a master craftsman for several years. Girls might be apprenticed as domestic servants or to learn needlework.
It's important to note that Rhode Island's religious tolerance, while a significant aspect of its history, didn't necessarily mean all children had uniformly easier lives. Poverty and social inequality still existed, resulting in differences in children's experiences based on their families' wealth and status. The lives of enslaved children in Rhode Island, in particular, were marked by harsh labor and a lack of freedom.