We are lucky enough to have moved into a neighborhood filled with children who share my children’s love for paying outside. Every day when school ends the street fills with kids riding bikes, scooters, playing kickball, football, basketball… you name it, they are playing it.
One game the boys often play is something called “Wall Ball” and is definitely not a game I played as a kid. I am not even sure of the exact rules. As an observer it seems to be all about throwing the ball at your friends as hard as you possibly can while they stand next to a wall, or usually the side of a building. My sons assure me that there are actual rules and a clear object to the game, but whatever that is escapes me. And probably also them since they cannot seem to articulate the rules to me either!
Sometimes I wonder if all of the games kids play now are filled with licensed characters. I get so tired hearing about the latest Pokemon, Bakugan, or whatever new thing whose primary purpose seems to be separating me from my money. It always makes me smile when I see the kids playing games that I played as a child, jump rope, hopscotch, kick ball, hide and go seek. It gives me hope that some things never change.
I found this website which lists outdoor games and how to play them, many of which I remember playing.
Chinese Jump Rope (I used to love playing this! I forgot all about it until I saw this link)
Can’t remember all of those jump rope rhymes you used to sing? Here is an exhaustive list of jump rope rhymes.
Now go on outside and pass some of these traditional games on to your children. Please?
I must admit – I played Wall Ball. Yes, there are rules, and I don’t remember anyone ever getting hurt (though I must say – it is not for the feint on heart).
My kids still play 4 square, hopscotch and all sorts of other games outside, but sometime they need to be reminded of the more tame ones like fox it he hen house, freeze tag, blob, or fox and squirrel.
I know my kids see so much violence today of TV and movies that they don’t see right off that “light sabers” against each other is a recipe for injury. But then again, I played Wall Ball.
Comment by Claire — April 29, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
My kids recently discovered wall ball, jacks and chinese jump rope. I love that they’re playing these types of games.
Comment by Sharon — May 1, 2009 @ 7:51 pm
Hi all, I just had so many memories of playing a lot of these games from when I was a kid…wow! Thanks for that
I am going to look some of these games up to show my daughter how to play them because I don’t remember that much. But I know she would enjoy it as I did as a kid.
Comment by Melody — May 3, 2009 @ 11:05 am