--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But we made our own fun, mostly. I recall…" description: "\"But we made our own fun, mostly. I recall a time, many years later, when American children seemed unable to amuse themselves without a fortune in elect..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/maureen-johnson-1282_children_but-we-made-our-own-fun-mostly-i-recall_3057511.png" --- # But we made our own fun, mostly. I recall a time, many… ![“But we made our own fun, mostly. I recall a time, many years later, when American children seemed unable to amuse themselves without a fortune in electrical and electronic equipment. We had no fancy equipment and did not miss it.” quote by Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/maureen-johnson-1282_children_but-we-made-our-own-fun-mostly-i-recall_3057511.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/maureen-johnson-1282_children_but-we-made-our-own-fun-mostly-i-recall_3057511.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/maureen-johnson-1282_children_but-we-made-our-own-fun-mostly-i-recall_3057511.png) > “But we made our own fun, mostly. I recall a time, many years later, when American children seemed unable to amuse themselves without a fortune in electrical and electronic equipment. We had no fancy equipment and did not miss it.” [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children can find joy without technology, showing imagination thrives when resources are limited. **In simple terms:** Kids enjoy simple play without gadgets. Key Takeaway Encourage low‑tech play for creativity. Themes childhood imagination technology Mood nostalgic playful Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - education - family activities Key Concepts Playfulness resourcefulness Questions to Reflect On - What low‑tech activities spark joy for you? - How does technology affect imagination? A Different Perspective Modern kids may lack exposure to simple play. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-children-419593/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Electrical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electrical/) [Electronic Equipment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electronic-equipment-2198728/) [Equipment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equipment/) [Equipment Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equipment-did-5114692/) [Fancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy/) [Fancy Equipment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy-equipment-5114693/) [Fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fortune/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Fun Recall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun-recall-5114694/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Missing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missing/) [Recalls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recalls/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [Electronic equipment replaces neither Eyes, Hands, nor Heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-weingart/electronic-equipment-replaces-neither-eyes-hands-nor-heart/) [Wolfgang Weingart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-weingart/) > [Music is composed on computers and other electronic equipment; producers don't want to spend money on orchestra.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivamani/music-is-composed-on-computers-and-other-electronic-equipment/) [Sivamani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivamani/) > [A lot of the work in United States is highly critical of technology. I'm using 15,000 watts of power and 18 different pieces of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-anderson/a-lot-of-the-work-in-united-states-is-highly-critical-of-technology-i/) [Laurie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-anderson/) > [Most electronic equipment uses the principle of amplification. You need filters, modulators and mixing equipment which have gain stages. By piling these components up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-tudor/most-electronic-equipment-uses-the-principle-of-amplification-you/) [David Tudor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-tudor/) > [It was surreal to step out of my own existence and see how most American children experience things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellar-coltrane/it-was-surreal-to-step-out-of-my-own-existence-and-see-how-most/) [Ellar Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellar-coltrane/) > [“.. 1 in 7 American children will run away from home, and within 48 hours of running, 1 out of every 3 will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carissa-phelps/1-in-7-american-children-will-run-away-from-home-and-within-48-hours/) [Carissa Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carissa-phelps/) > [We cannot stand by and allow the future of our country to be undermined by the reality of American children going hungry! Please join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-mills/we-cannot-stand-by-and-allow-the-future-of-our-country-to-be/) [Donna Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-mills/) > [I have heard earnest American sociologists say that American children have a right to the divorce experience as an enriching element of an advanced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/i-have-heard-earnest-american-sociologists-say-that-american-children/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [I believe if more American children read the Ten Commandments and are taught what they mean, they will predictably engage in less crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/i-believe-if-more-american-children-read-the-ten-commandments-and-are/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [We're also going to fix our inner cities. Forty-five percent of African-American children are - under the age six - are living in poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-re-also-going-to-fix-our-inner-cities-forty-five-percent-of/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“In common with Russia, American children seldom play outdoors. Russia can use the excuse of cold weather, but in the United States, the daily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lindstrom/in-common-with-russia-american-children-seldom-play-outdoors-russia/) [Martin Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lindstrom/) > [For African American children, in particular, the odds are extremely high that they will have a parent or loved one, a relative, who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/for-african-american-children-in-particular-the-odds-are-extremely/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [The obesity epidemic among American children is becoming so bad that I think there's a growing realization across the country that we've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/the-obesity-epidemic-among-american-children-is-becoming-so-bad-that/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [You know, America has profoundly shaped me, and I have two American children and unbelievably rich friendships so it will always be a source…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/you-know-america-has-profoundly-shaped-me-and-i-have-two-american/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [24.9 percent of American children live in poverty, while the proportions in Germany, France and Italy are 8.6, 7.4 and 10.5 percent. And once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-hutton/24-9-percent-of-american-children-live-in-poverty-while-the/) [Will Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-hutton/) ## More by Maureen Johnson > [“Knowledge is the heaviest weight of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/knowledge-is-the-heaviest-weight-of-all/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [There is no normal. I've never met a normal person. The concept is flawed. It implies that there is only one way people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/there-is-no-normal-i-ve-never-met-a-normal-person-the-concept-is/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [I may have been a complete lunatic, but I was a complete lunatic with manners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/i-may-have-been-a-complete-lunatic-but-i-was-a-complete-lunatic-with/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [This kind of thing always amazed Ginny--people who just walked away from institutions. People who left school when they didn't see the point. Aunt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/this-kind-of-thing-always-amazed-ginny-people-who-just-walked-away/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Did you hear?" he asked. "They found another body around nine this morning. It's the Ripper, definitely." "Good morning," I replied. "Morning. Listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/did-you-hear-he-asked-they-found-another-body-around-nine-this/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [She was standing in the airport of Copenhagen, staring at a doorway, trying to figure out if it was (a) a bathroom and (b)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/she-was-standing-in-the-airport-of-copenhagen-staring-at-a-doorway/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [When I worked in theater, I was always writing things on Post-it Notes and sticking them on screens or desks. Twitter has given me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-i-worked-in-theater-i-was-always-writing-things-on-post-it-notes/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [She had always thought applying to college would be exciting. Living away from home, meeting so many new people, Learning new things, making a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/she-had-always-thought-applying-to-college-would-be-exciting-living/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“Vitamin D,” Stevie said. “You need it.” “You don’t know that,” he said. “I want to eat my meat in my room with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/vitamin-d-stevie-said-you-need-it-you-don-t-know-that-he-said-i-want/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [No one hid their interest when I walked into the room. I'm not sure if it was the news about Boo or my general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/no-one-hid-their-interest-when-i-walked-into-the-room-i-m-not-sure-if/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [You'd been petting a stuffed dog?' she said 'A dead one?' 'It was a really well stuffed dog' I clarified. 'I have seen some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/you-d-been-petting-a-stuffed-dog-she-said-a-dead-one-it-was-a-really/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“When she emerged, Keith was watching the tiny round window of the under-the-counter washing machine. "Put your clothes in for a wash," he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/when-she-emerged-keith-was-watching-the-tiny-round-window-of-the/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [“For you, there is underage, and then, there is underage. I believe a taste of wine is perfectly acceptable, but please stick to one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/for-you-there-is-underage-and-then-there-is-underage-i-believe-a/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Rory: "People are being serious." Jazza: "There's a serial killer out there. Of course people are being serious." Rory: "Yeah, but what are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/rory-people-are-being-serious-jazza-there-s-a-serial-killer-out-there/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) > [Boo: "Go talk to her." Callum: "About what?" Boo: "Anything." Callum: "You want me to walk up to her and say, 'Are you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/boo-go-talk-to-her-callum-about-what-boo-anything-callum-you-want-me/) [Maureen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) [Explore all 262 Maureen Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. I would see it as my failure as a parent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/if-my-child-had-prejudice-in-his-head-i-d-be-ashamed-i-would-see-it/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) [Browse all 62,396 Children quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But we made our own fun, mostly. I recall a time, many years later, when American children seemed unable to amuse themselves without a fortune in electrical and electronic equipment. We had no fancy equipment and did not miss it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maureen Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/but-we-made-our-own-fun-mostly-i-recall-a-time-many-years-later-when/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Children" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/but-we-made-our-own-fun-mostly-i-recall-a-time-many-years-later-when/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/maureen-johnson-1282_children_but-we-made-our-own-fun-mostly-i-recall_3057511.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/maureen-johnson-1282_children_but-we-made-our-own-fun-mostly-i-recall_3057511.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d40/maureen-johnson-1282_children_but-we-made-our-own-fun-mostly-i-recall_3057511.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But we made our own fun, mostly. I recall a time, many years later, when American children seemed unable to…” — Maureen Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Maureen Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But we made our own fun,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/but-we-made-our-own-fun-mostly-i-recall-a-time-many-years-later-when/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-johnson/but-we-made-our-own-fun-mostly-i-recall-a-time-many-years-later-when/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```