The Boy's Own Book and The Girl's Own Book were a series of manuscripts updated on a regular basis, used as edicts that dictated the proper behavior for children of both sexes. As societal norms adapted to the volatile environment of the 19th century, new boys and girls books were published to reflect these changes. The realms of education, entertainment, common courtesy and general behavior, and games and toys were all incorporated as the main topics of both books. Essentially, these books were designed to outline exactly what all children of the time should know, and also the rules which should guide their everyday actions.

Below are comparison between girls and boys playtime activities. The links show scanned images of the original Boy's Own Book from 1832 and The Girl's Own Book from 1835. It should be noted that the rules for children's games were written by adults.

Feather Game: pg. 30 - 31

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