We all remember when we’d play outside until the porch lights turned on to tell us to go home—those were the days! Unfortunately, many of the games we used to play have been overshadowed by tech and indoor activities. But they shouldn’t be left in the past. Let’s look at eight traditional games that kids aren’t playing much anymore but really should.
Featured Image Credit: Pexels.
The Classic Game of Skill
Playing marbles was one of the greatest highlights of recess. You’d draw a circle in the dirt, place marbles inside it and use your shooter marble to knock others out of the ring. It was a pretty fun & hands-on way to improve your hand-eye coordination skills. Better yet, it was also a great introduction to basic physics & strategy that didn’t feel like a lesson. Bring marbles back!
The King of the Court
Remember Four Square? All you needed was a ball and a chalked-up grid on the pavement to have fun. Each player got a square and the goal was to bounce the ball among the squares while outsmarting the other players. We should totally bring this back! After all, it taught kids quick reactions and it was also a blast to play with friends.
Teamwork and Tactics
To play Red Rover, you needed some seriously good teamwork skills. Two teams lined up opposite each other holding hands, then they’d call someone from the other side to break through. This game helped us build our strength & endurance and also taught us about the importance of strategy. You just couldn’t beat the thrill of either breaking through the line or catching the runner!
Hide and Seek with a Twist
Kick the Can was a mix of hide-and-seek and tag. To play, you put a can in the middle, and if you’re caught hiding, you’re in “jail” unless someone kicks the can to set everyone free. It had us all running and thinking on our feet as we had to make some quick decisions. Should we hide, or should we risk it all to kick the can?
Bounce and Grab
In Jacks, you’d toss a ball and let it bounce once, then scoop up metal jacks before catching the ball again. Even though it’s a pretty simple game, it’s great for developing fine motor skills and quick reflexes. Kids today might get a kick out of mastering this game just like we did. It was simple fun in all the right ways!
Politeness in Play
“Mother May I” is a game where you get to boss your friends around a bit but only if they ask nicely. One person is “Mother” and decides if you can move forward—and how you can move. Want to take giant steps or baby crawls? Then you have to ask, “Mother, may I?” first. It taught us all about manners and also made listening carefully a big part of the game.
Hop to It
Leapfrog is exactly what it sounds like—leaping over your friends who are bent over like frogs. While there weren’t many rules, it got us moving and honestly, it’s just really funny to see how everyone jumps. It was the kind of workout where nobody even noticed they were exercising. With childhood obesity rates rising across America, maybe playing Leapfrog wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Get Connected
Elbow Tag was like tag but with a twist. You’re safe as long as you’re joined by the elbow with someone else. But watch out! Once you unlink, you’re fair game until you can connect with someone new, meaning you had to have some pretty quick moves and even quicker thinking. It’s a game that’s as fun as it is frantic!
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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