Before television and internet there was radio available.
People used to listen to radio programs for entertainment. They also used to get outside and play outdoor games which a lot of kids don't do these days.
There's was also a lot more work that needed done way back before the modern conveniences such as gas furnace or gas or electric stove came along.
At one time you needed to actually work cutting firewood, splitting it by hand and stacking it and bringing it into the house for both cooking and heating your home.
You couldn't just turn on a thermostat and have your house heated. Heating your house actually required you to work or you'd freeze.
And at one time you had to cut trees down by axe or use a hand saw to cut the wood before the powered chainsaw was invented.