Remember when summer used to mean kids playing outside, rather than just looking at their screen? When we were kids, the neighborhood was our playground and we would stay out until the streetlights came on. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane to the games that kept us entertained for hours, that today, kids might not even recognize!
Table of Contents
1. Kick the Can
With a perfect combination of hide-and-seek and tag, this game transformed an empty tin can into hours of fun. One person would guard the can, while the rest of the players hid and tried to kick the can without being spotted. The game would last for hours while the sun set and parents would have to drag us inside.
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2. Red Rover
“Red Rover, Red Rover, send Jimmy right over!” The brave runners, the defenders, and the kids brave enough to get injured while running through the lines. It was simple but exhilarating, and it was normal to leave the game with a few bruises during a time when parents didn’t watch our every move.
3. Marbles
Dirt circles, prized shooters, and bags sewn by moms all say childhood was about marbles. Losing and winning, competing for keeps and lessons learned about earning your possessions, all while using cat’s eyes, steelies, and aggies to play.
4. Hopscotch
With our chalk and flat stones, we could make a sidewalk into a mini playground. The numbered boxes would last until the rain came, and there was always that one kid that could hop the whole course on one leg without wobbling. Each neighborhood had its own set of rules and variations.
5. Jacks
We needed a smooth surface, a rubber ball, and some metal jacks to help us test our dexterity. Starting from ‘onesies’ and ending at ‘tensies,’ we practiced our technique for hours. The real pros could pull off ‘no bouncers’ – picking up the jacks before the ball bounces.
6. Mother May I?
While playing this game, we learned good manners – believe it or not! One person was ‘Mother’ and she would give directions to the other players who had to remember to say ‘Mother, may I?’ before they could move. If they forgot to ask, it was back to the start. There was no way to move forwards unless you were paying attention and being polite.
7. Capture the Flag
This amazing neighborhood game could last all afternoon. With two teams and two flags, we would devise attacks or defensive strategies. The best games happened at night. The shadows were perfect for hiding and any rustle could either be a friend or a foe.
8. Ringolevio
Popular in urban communities, this team game was similar to hide-and-seek, but more intense. One team would go and hide while the other team would seek and try to find people to take them to a \”prison.\” It was all about teamwork since freed prisoners would help to rescue their captured teammates .
9. Stick Ball
“Baseball” with a broomstick? Check. Every neighborhood had its own set of rules. A manhole cover could be home base and parked cars could be foul territory. Games would run until it was too dark to see the ball, with street lights providing odd outfield boundaries.
10. Chinese Jump Rope
Two kids would hold a giant rubber band while everyone else jumped in all sorts of formations. As the rope height was adjusted from ankle to knee to waist, the difficulty of chants and moves intensified. Gymnastics, dancing, and jump rope all came together in this activity.
11. Seven-Up
When it rained, we played a game where seven classmates tapped the heads of other classmates who were keeping their heads down and thumbs up. The goal of the game was to figure out who tapped them. The best players would become really well known for their sneaky tapping.
12. Button, Button, Who’s Got the Button?
The game of button was all about deception. Players passed a button around in a circle while one person tried to guess who had the button. Everyone tried to act as natural as possible while they were actually holding the button.
13. Spud
This game needed no equipment other than a ball and everyone was in. Each player was assigned a number, and one player would throw the ball in the air and call out a number. The person who caught the ball made everyone freeze by yelling “SPUD!” The game was all about how many steps the player could take to tag someone.
