What could a 14-year-old boy 100 years ago in Russia?

The most important thing - the approach to their heirs in the public was not just strict, but very strict. First, no one then considered children equal to their parents. And it was precisely in the first years of a child’s life that adults saw the key to what kind of person he would become.
Secondly, the authority of mother and father in peasant families was unquestioned. Usually the parents were unanimous in their views on the upbringing and responsibilities of the child, and even if they did not agree on something, they never showed it publicly, so the child had no chance to “pull” one of the parents to his side.
Thirdly, it wasn’t customary either to “be crazy” with either girls or boys and indulge them in vain. Typically, assignments between households were distributed by the head of the family in an orderly tone, and no one contradicted him in return. At the same time, the child was always praised and encouraged for the successfully completed task, stressing in every way that he had benefited the whole family.
Perhaps the requirements for boys were stricter than for girls, because it was from sons that the future “breadwinners”, “carers” and defenders should have grown. In short, real husbands and fathers.

In the first seven years of his life, the boy comprehended many of the basics of peasant labor: he was taught to care for cattle, ride a horse, help in the field, and also - the basics of skill. For example, the ability to craft toys from various materials, weave bast baskets and boxes, and, of course, bast shoes, which were supposed to be strong, warm, waterproof, was considered a completely necessary skill. Many 6- and 7-year-old boys confidently helped their fathers in the manufacture of furniture, harness, and other things necessary in the household. The proverb “Teach the child while it lies across the bench” was not an empty phrase in peasant families.
In the second seven-year period of life, the boy was finally assigned stable and diverse economic responsibilities, and they acquired a clear sexual division. For example, not a single lad was obliged to look after his younger brothers and sisters or to engage in a garden, but he had to learn how to plow and thresh - girls were not involved in such physically hard work. Often as early as 7–9 years old peasant boys began to earn extra money “in people”: their parents gave them to shepherds for a moderate fee. By this age, it was believed that the child had finally “entered the mind”, and therefore it was necessary to teach him everything that his father knows and knows.

Work on the ground. In the villages, tillage was a confirmation of full male status. Therefore, teenage boys had to work in the field. They fertilized the land (scattered manure across the field and ensured that its clods did not impede the work of the plow), harrowed (loosened the top layer of soil with harrows or hoes), led a horse harnessed to the harrow under the bridle, or rode on it “when the father drives the furrow” .

From 11-13 years old the boy was already attracted to independent plowing. First, he was allocated a small plot of arable land on which to practice, and by the age of 14 the teenager himself could confidently plow the land, that is, he became a full-fledged worker.

Cattle Care. Another important component of peasant life that women did not trust (they could only milk cows or goats, drive them out to pasture). Adolescents had to feed, clean manure, and clean animals under the strict guidance of their elders. The main nurse in the peasant family was always a horse that worked all day in the field with the owner. Grazed horses at night, and it was also the duty of the boys. That is why, from the earliest years, they were taught to harness horses and ride them, to drive them while sitting or standing in a cart, to drive to a watering hole - in full accordance with the saying: “Teaches, torments, and feeds”.

Fishing activities. Looking at his father and older brothers, the boy first adopted the skills of fishing and hunting in the form of a game, and then improved this art.
By the age of 8-9 years, the lad was usually able to arrange snares on small game and bird, shoot from onions, fish or hit her with a spear. The collection of mushrooms, berries and nuts was often added to this list, which was also a good material help. By the age of 9-12, a teenager could join an adult fishing artel, and by 14, after a probationary period, become a full member of it. Then he began to make a significant share in the family budget and passed into the category of adult "earners" and enviable suitors.

This is how “good fellows” grew up in peasant families - fathers assistants, whose parents were rightly proud of. In addition to labor education, the boys were instilled with clear moral principles: they were taught to honor the elders, be merciful to the poor and the poor, hospitality, respect for the fruits of their own labor and others, the foundations of faith. There were two more important rules that any lad knew by heart: first, a man should be able to protect his woman and his family, not only physically, but also from the material and psychological sides. According to the second rule, a man had to be able to restrain his emotions and always control himself.

Child labor - bringing children to work on a regular basis. Currently, in most states it is considered a form of exploitation and, in accordance with UN Convention N32 “On the Rights of the Child” and acts of the International Labor Organization, has been declared illegal. Our great-grandfathers could not even dream of such a thing. Maybe that is why they entered adulthood perfectly prepared and adapted?

Source:   https://www.kramola.info/vesti/letopisi-proshlogo/chto-umel-14-letniy-malchik-100-let-nazad-na-rusi