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Remember these Childhood Games?

Remember when summer time meant carefree afternoons playing outside and didn’t require any batteries or game consoles? There are still plenty of ways to have fun without plugging into the TV, computer, or video games. This summer make a goal to spend more time outside and less on the couch. Here are just a few of our favorite games that don't require batteries or wires.

Kick the can – Pick someone to be “it” who begins by kicking the can as far as he or she can, running to set it back up, and then counting to 30. Everyone else runs and hides. After counting, if whoever is “it” spots someone and calls out their name and hiding place, the hider must come out and try to kick the can. But if “it” tags the hider before they reach the can, the hider goes to “jail.” If someone kicks the can over without getting tagged, everyone in jail is set free! The game ends when everyone has been caught.

Red light, green light – All players line up in a row facing one person who plays the “stoplight.” The stoplight controls traffic by calling “green light” (go), “red light” (stop), or “yellow light” (walk, don’t run). The stoplight faces away from the other players during a green light and turns around when they call “red light.” If the spotlight sees anyone still moving after they call “red light,” he or she can send that player back to the start. The goal is to be the first one to reach the stoplight.

Four square – Use chalk to make a 15 by 15 foot square on the ground, and then divide that square into four smaller ones, making one the “King” square. One person stands in each square, and whoever is “King” starts by bouncing the ball in their own square, and then hitting it into someone else’s square with their hands. That person must let the ball bounce before hitting it into back or into another player’s square. If someone misses, touches the ball before it bounces, or knocks it out of bounds, they return to the first square (or the end of the line if there are more than 4 players), and everyone else moves up a square towards the “King” square. The goal is to become “King,” by knocking other players out, so try to hit the ball into hard to reach places. Once you reach the highest square, you can make up a “rule” about how to pass the ball (i.e. let it bounce twice before you can touch it).

Hopscotch – Use chalk to draw a grid—make a row of 10 squares with some of them single file, and some of them double, and number them 1-10. Each person has a small rock. One player throws their rock onto the first square, and then hops over it to the second. You can only have one foot in one square, so stand on one foot in single squares, and use both feet on double squares (one foot in each). Try and hop all the way to the end. If you make it, go again, throwing the rock to the next square. If you step on a line, miss a square, or throw the rock to the wrong square, the next person gets a turn.

Flashlight tag - This game is like hide-and-seek in the dark, except that hiders can move around during the game, and whoever is “it” has a flashlight. If “it” shines the light on you and yells out your name, you are out. Make sure you are playing in a safe area, and have an adult mark off the boundaries before you start!

Spud – This game works well with a big group. Pick one person to be “it” and have everyone else count off so each person has a number. Whoever is “it” throws the ball high up in the air and yells out a number. Everyone should run away from the ball as quickly as possible, except the person whose number was called. That person runs to catch the ball, and yells “SPUD!” to get everyone to stop running. The catcher can then take three steps in any direction to get closer to another player. If the catcher can hit someone with the ball, that person gets an “S.” But if the target catches the ball or dodges it without moving their feet, the thrower gets an “S.” Whoever gets the letter becomes the tosser for the next round, and the game continues until every player but one gets the letters S-P-U-D—the goal is not to spell SPUD.

Sharks and Minnows – This is a great game to play at the pool or the lake, but also works on land. One person is the shark and everyone else is a minnow. The shark stands in the middle of the pool or field and calls out “fishy fishy come swim in my ocean!” The minnows try to swim or run across to the other side without getting tagged. If you get caught you become a shark. The game ends when everyone has been caught.

                                             ----Written by freelancer Kristen Hewitt.