Forgotten School Yard Games From The 50’s And 60’s

For many of us, childhood memories of playing games in the schoolyard are some of the fondest memories we have. The 1950s and 1960s were a golden age for playground games, where children would spend hours outside, playing with their friends and engaging in a variety of physical activities. In this article, we’ll take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the most popular old school yard games from the 1950s and 1960s.

Hopscotch

This game can be played with just one person, or with a group of friends. The game is played by drawing a hopscotch grid on the ground, typically with chalk or a stick. The grid consists of a series of numbered squares, usually ranging from one to ten.

To play, the first player tosses a small object, such as a rock or a beanbag, into the first square. The player then hops into the square, picks up the object, and hops back out. The player must then toss the object into the next square and hop through the grid, skipping the square with the object.

The game continues in this way, with each player taking turns hopping through the grid and tossing the object into the next square. If a player steps on a line or loses their balance and falls, they are out of the game. The game ends when a player successfully completes the entire hopscotch grid without making any mistakes.

While hopscotch is a fun game to play, it also has many benefits for children. Playing hopscotch can help improve balance, coordination, and gross motor skills. It can also help children develop spatial awareness and concentration skills. Additionally, playing hopscotch with friends can help children build social skills, such as turn-taking, cooperation, and communication.

Red Rover

This is a team game that requires physical strength, strategy, and teamwork.

To play, two teams line up facing each other, with each team linking arms to form a human chain. The teams are typically composed of an equal number of players, and each team takes turns calling out a player from the opposing team by saying “Red Rover, Red Rover, send (player’s name) over!”

The player who was called then runs full speed towards the opposing team and tries to break through the human chain by crashing into the linked arms. If the player successfully breaks through, they can choose one player from the opposing team to take back to their own team.

However, if the player fails to break through the human chain, they must join the opposing team. The game continues until one team has all of the players from the other team.

Playing Red Rover can have several benefits for children. It requires physical activity, which helps promote fitness and coordination. Additionally, it can help children develop teamwork skills, as they must work together to form a strong human chain and strategize how to break through the opposing team’s chain.

Despite its popularity, Red Rover has been criticized in recent years for its potential to cause injuries. Because the game involves players running full speed and crashing into a human chain, it can lead to players being knocked down and potentially hurt. As a result, some schools and organizations have banned the game from their playgrounds.

Dodgeball

This is a game that requires quick reflexes, strategy, and teamwork.

The game is typically played with two teams of equal size. The teams face each other on opposite sides of a court or gymnasium, with a dividing line in the middle. The objective of the game is to eliminate all the players on the opposing team by hitting them with a ball thrown from your own team’s side of the court.

To start the game, each team starts with an equal number of balls. Players on both teams then rush towards the middle of the court to grab as many balls as possible. Once the balls have been collected, players can throw them at members of the opposing team. If a player is hit by a ball and it touches any part of their body, they are out of the game. If a player catches a ball thrown by the opposing team, the person who threw the ball is out and the catching team can bring a previously eliminated player back into the game.

The game continues until one team has eliminated all of the players on the opposing team. The game can also end if a set amount of time has elapsed and there are still players on both teams.

Playing dodgeball can have several benefits for children. It requires physical activity, which helps promote fitness and coordination. Additionally, it can help children develop strategic thinking and teamwork skills, as they must work together to eliminate the opposing team’s players.

However, it is important to note that dodgeball has been controversial in recent years due to its potential to cause injuries. The fast-paced nature of the game can lead to players being hit by balls with significant force, potentially leading to bruises, sprains, or other injuries. As a result, some schools and organizations have banned dodgeball from their playgrounds.

Tag

This is a game that requires speed, agility, and strategic thinking.

The game can be played with any number of players, but typically involves at least two players. The game begins when one player is designated as “it” and chases the other players. The objective of the game is to touch or tag another player, at which point they become “it” and must chase the other players.

There are many variations of tag, each with their own rules and objectives. For example, freeze tag requires the player who is tagged to stand still until another player unfreezes them. In tunnel tag, players must form a tunnel with their arms and legs and crawl through it to avoid being tagged.

Playing tag can have several benefits for children. It requires physical activity, which helps promote fitness and coordination. Additionally, it can help children develop strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, as they must come up with creative ways to avoid being tagged.

Tag can also help children develop social skills, as it involves cooperation and communication between players. For example, players may work together to tag another player or help each other avoid being tagged.

Kick The Can

This is a game that requires strategy, teamwork, and physical activity.

To play, a large empty can is placed in an open area. One player is designated as “it” and must count to a predetermined number while the other players hide. Once “it” finishes counting, they must find and tag as many players as possible before they reach the can and kick it.

If a player is tagged by “it”, they must go to jail, which is typically a designated area near the can. Players who have not been tagged can free their jailed teammates by kicking the can without getting tagged themselves. However, if “it” manages to tag all the players before anyone can kick the can, “it” wins the game.

Playing Kick the Can can have several benefits for children. It requires physical activity, which helps promote fitness and coordination. Additionally, it can help children develop strategic thinking and teamwork skills, as they must work together to kick the can and free their teammates from jail.

Kick the Can can also help children develop social skills, as it involves cooperation and communication between players. For example, players may work together to distract “it” or come up with a plan to kick the can without getting tagged.

Four Square

Four Square is a classic schoolyard game that is played with a rubber ball and a four square court. It is a game that requires speed, agility, and hand-eye coordination.

To play, four squares are drawn on the ground, typically using chalk or tape, with one player occupying each square. The player in the highest ranked square (the “king”) serves the ball by bouncing it in their square once and then hitting it towards another player’s square. The other players must hit the ball with their hands and bounce it back to another player’s square. The ball must bounce once in the receiving player’s square before they can hit it back.

If a player fails to hit the ball, hits it out of bounds, or hits it into another player’s square, they are out and must move to the back of the line. The remaining players move up to fill the vacant squares, with the player in the fourth square moving to the back of the line. The game continues until one player remains, who is declared the winner.

Four Square can be played with a variety of rules and variations, including different types of serves and different rules for hitting the ball. It can also be played with multiple balls or with more than four players.

Playing Four Square can have several benefits for children. It requires physical activity, which helps promote fitness and coordination. Additionally, it can help children develop hand-eye coordination and improve their reflexes.

Four Square can also help children develop social skills, as it involves cooperation and communication between players. For example, players may work together to eliminate a strong opponent or strategize on how to stay in the game.

Red Light, Green Light

This is a game that requires listening skills, speed, and agility.

To play, one player is designated as the “stoplight” and stands at one end of a playing area while the other players line up at the opposite end. The stoplight then calls out “green light!” and the players move towards the stoplight. When the stoplight calls out “red light!” the players must stop immediately. Any player who moves after the call of “red light!” is sent back to the starting line. The game continues until a player reaches the stoplight, at which point they become the new stoplight.

There are many variations of Red Light, Green Light, each with their own rules and objectives. For example, some versions of the game may include “yellow light” or “blue light,” which require the players to perform specific actions or movements.

Playing Red Light, Green Light can have several benefits for children. It requires physical activity, which helps promote fitness and coordination. Additionally, it can help children develop listening and impulse control skills, as they must listen carefully for the stoplight’s call and stop immediately when instructed.

Red Light, Green Light can also help children develop social skills, as it involves cooperation and communication between players. For example, players may work together to distract the stoplight or strategize on how to move quickly without being caught.

Simon Says

This is a game that requires listening skills, memory, and quick thinking.

To play, one player is designated as “Simon” and gives commands to the other players. The players must follow the commands only when they are preceded by the phrase “Simon says.” If a player performs an action without “Simon says,” they are out. The game continues until only one player remains, who is declared the winner.

The commands given by Simon can be as simple or as complex as the players choose. For example, Simon may say “Simon says touch your toes,” or “Simon says hop on one foot.” If Simon does not say “Simon says” before the command, the players must not perform the action. If a player accidentally performs an action without “Simon says,” they are out.

Playing Simon Says can have several benefits for children. It requires physical activity, which helps promote fitness and coordination. Additionally, it can help children develop listening and memory skills, as they must listen carefully for the commands and remember the rules.

Simon Says can also help children develop social skills, as it involves cooperation and communication between players. For example, players may work together to strategize on how to remember the commands and stay in the game.

Capture The Flag

It is a game that requires strategy, teamwork, and physical agility.

To play, two teams are formed, and each team has a flag located in their territory. The objective of the game is to capture the other team’s flag and bring it back to your team’s territory. If a player is tagged by an opponent while in enemy territory, they are sent to “jail” until they are released by a teammate. The game ends when one team successfully captures the other team’s flag and brings it back to their own territory.

The game can be played in a variety of settings, from open fields to forests, and can be adapted to different levels of skill and age groups. There are also variations of the game that add additional objectives, such as capturing multiple flags or capturing a central “neutral” flag.

Playing Capture the Flag can have several benefits for children. It requires physical activity, which helps promote fitness and coordination. Additionally, it can help children develop strategic thinking and teamwork skills, as they must work together with their teammates to plan and execute their strategy.

Capture the Flag can also help children develop social skills, as it involves cooperation and communication between players. For example, players may work together to distract the other team or strategize on how to capture the flag without being caught.

Mother, May I?

This is a game that requires listening skills, memory, and quick thinking.

To play, one player is designated as “Mother” and stands at one end of a playing area while the other players line up at the opposite end. Each player takes turns asking “Mother, may I?” and requesting a specific movement or action, such as “Mother, may I take three giant steps forward?” or “Mother, may I hop on one foot?”

Mother responds to each request with either “Yes, you may,” or “No, you may not.” If Mother grants the request, the player can take the requested action. If not, the player must remain in place. The game continues until a player reaches Mother’s position, at which point they become the new Mother.

The requests made by players can be as simple or as complex as the players choose. For example, players may request to take small steps forward or complete a complicated dance move. Players must remember to always ask “Mother, may I?” before making any movement or action.

Playing Mother, May I? can have several benefits for children. It requires physical activity, which helps promote fitness and coordination. Additionally, it can help children develop listening and memory skills, as they must listen carefully to Mother’s responses and remember the rules.

Mother, May I? can also help children develop social skills, as it involves cooperation and communication between players. For example, players may work together to strategize on how to make it to Mother’s position quickly or how to ask for specific actions.

Before you go, check out our “back in the day series”

https://www.mentalscoop.com/8-parenting-practices-from-the-1950s-and-1960s-that-would-be-unacceptable-today/

https://www.mentalscoop.com/8-parenting-practices-from-the-1970s-and-1980s-that-would-be-unacceptable-today/

Mental Scoop

Forgotten School Yard Games From The 50’s And 60’s