The 14 Best Traditional Playground Games (explained With Their Rules)
Playground time is that time of fun and relaxation that school-aged boys and girls crave while they are in class. Those 30-minute break in the middle of the school day is the ideal time to socialize by playing with other classmates at school.
Traditional playground games have been the star entertainment of all generations of boys and girls who have been able to study at school. It is these games that help foster camaraderie while exercising and practicing memory, coordination and logic.
In this article we are going to see 14 traditional and fun patio games which are widely popular around the globe, ideal for playing for boys and girls but which adults can also join, be they teachers or parents of the little ones.
The time that school-aged boys and girls spend in the schoolyard It is part not only of their leisure and rest time, but also part of their education and the care of their physical and mental health After spending several hours sitting, children need to move their bodies, release energy and socialize with the rest of their classmates at school.
The playground is that place where boys and girls of all ages enjoy some time of recreation and freedom and take the opportunity to interact with others through spontaneous play.
In all cultures in which schools exist, there are traditional playground games These entertainments constitute a fundamental pillar of each culture, as important as their language, gastronomy, dances and clothing. Each country and region has its own playground games but, also, many of them are shared throughout the world, with small variations in the way they are played and the name they receive.
These games should be present in the childhood of all boys and girls, since They have many benefits, among which we can highlight:
The traditional playground games that we will see below are, for the most part, famous worldwide, especially in the area of Spanish-speaking countries. Let’s look at 14 traditional yard games that are fun and easy to play. Let’s have fun!
1. Hopscotch
Little plane, fight, tejo, snail, baby milk, rest, world, tuncuna, peregrina, hopscotch. There are many names by which this game is known in Spanish and there are even countries in which, depending on the region, the way it is called also changes, especially in multilingual countries like Spain (xaranca, ratlleta, txingoka, mariola…). It is not only varied in terms of its name, but also in the way it is played, although in most cases it is played like this:
Game rules
Ten squares are painted with chalk on the ground, shaped like an airplane, and the numbers from 1 to 10 are written on each of them If the surface is dirt, you can make the drawing using a twig or any other stick-shaped object.
The game consists of the player throwing a flattened object, such as a stone, a sheet of metal or a piece of tile, causing it to land in square 1 and having to drag it throughout the drawing, pushing it with one foot on one leg and without stepping on it. the lines.
If he succeeds, he will throw the stone to square 2 to complete the route again from that point and, so on, until he reaches square number 10. Whoever manages to complete the entire hopscotch, wins.
This game is perfect for making the little ones develop balance, aim, body coordination, concentration and a lot of patience.
2. The hen and her chicks
The hen and her chicks It is ideal entertainment for children aged 8 or older since a certain motor coordination is required to enjoy it and, also, this way we will avoid less danger of trips and falls since it is a fairly busy game.
Game rules
A line of eight to ten players is formed and each of them will hold onto the waist of the person in front of them The first in the row is the hen and those behind him are the chicks. There will be a boy or girl who will have to play the role of the wolf, the wild and hungry animal that wants to hunt the last of the chicks in the row.
To achieve this, the wolf will have to touch the last chick with his hand. This chick must move from one side to the other to avoid being eaten by the big bad wolf and, since the line cannot be broken, the hen and the other chicks must also move with it without letting go. Everyone, working as a team, will try to prevent the wolf from eating the final chick.
With this activity agility, resistance, coordination and teamwork are developed.
3. Dodgeball
Dodgeball is a classic, a recurring exercise in physical education classes but, although it is mandatory and is part of the academic curriculum, it is still a very fun traditional game.
Game rules
Two teams will be formed, one on each side of the game field, which They will try to eliminate the opposing team’s players by hitting them with the ball directly without being caught by hand first or bouncing off the ground first.
Each player who is eliminated goes to the back of the opponent’s field, where he can receive the ball and attack as well. If he manages to eliminate one while he is dead, he returns to playing his field. The game ends when one team runs out of living players.
In this game aim, reflexes, agility and strength are put into practice.
4. The Little Blind Hen
One of the oldest games that boys and girls have fun with, suitable for any age and can be played anywhere, although We must do it in a space where there are not too many obstacles to avoid falls and accidents
Rules of the game
We will take a handkerchief, a scarf, a mask or anything that will help us to blindfold one of the players and make sure he can’t see anything. Afterwards, we will make him spin around on himself while the others sing in unison:
“Little hen, little hen, what have you lost in a haystack? A needle and a thimble. Go around three times and you will find them.”
Blind and disoriented, the player becomes the blind man’s chicken and his task will be to catch one of the players and recognize who it is. If he succeeds, the one who has been caught will become the new chicken.
The blind man’s hen is a great way to get children to improve their reflexes, attention and, above all, perception of space.
5. The English hideout
A classic played by both children and adults. English hide-and-seek is a traditional playground game that enjoys good health during recess at all schools. Its popularity is due to the fact that its rules are easy to understand can be played by anyone at any age and anywhere.
Game rules
In its best-known version, a player plays the role of a hunter. This hunter will cover his eyes with his hands and turn his back to the rest of the participants, standing at a safe distance. The player must recite out loud:
“One, two, three, to the English hideout, without moving your hands or feet.”
In almost every region of the Spanish-speaking world this phrase changes, having other versions such as:
“One, two, three, wall-pick.”
“One, two three, English duck.”
“One, two, three, chocolate STOP!”
“One, two, three, cigarette forty-three.”
While saying the phrase, all the other players must move forward to try to touch his back but they must do it very cautiously because, when he finishes saying the phrase, the hunter will immediately turn around and whoever he catches moving will be sent to the starting position.
The players who have to touch the hunter’s back must put into practice their skills of advancing stealthily and, at the same time, being more static than the most rigid of the statues in order to be declared the winner.
This ritual is repeated over and over again, and whoever manages to touch the back of the person saying the phrase and escape from him until reaching the starting line without being touched wins, becoming the “hunter.”
This game is a very good way to make kids develop concentration, self-control and agility.
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The four corners game is a classic played internationally, ideal for playing in both closed and open spaces and, although It is usually played with 5 players, it can be adapted so that as many as they want can play
Rules of the game
To play four corners we only need a space with four corners and the desire to run a little. If we do not have a place with those four corners, we can improvise with four trees arranged in a shape similar to a square, four chairs or four points marked with any object. One player stands in the middle and four others have to stand in each of the corners of the space.
The player in the central position has to try to occupy each of the corners, taking advantage of the fact that the other four run from one to the other to exchange with their respective companions. If he succeeds, he settles in that corner and the one who is left without a corner becomes the new central player.
The game is called four corners because in its original version it is played with only four, but this is not an impediment to adding more and making more players able to participate. If you want to increase the difficulty of the game and the excitement, what you can do is add corners. Points are added for more players and that’s it!
This game is ideal for developing reflexes, attention and agility.
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7. Cops and robbers
Cops and robbers, or more colloquially called cops and crooks, is an ideal game for boys and girls to have fun in the classroom and on the playground. AND It has the advantage that the more people participate, the more fun it is!
Game rules
The game consists of two teams, one of police and the other of thieves. To play it you need to have a space large enough to be able to run quickly, since we are going to have a real police chase, like in the movies. The police will have to try to catch the thieves and put them in jail, which can be a tree, a corner, a bench.
Thieves who are behind bars can be saved if their companions manage to reach them by misleading the police. When thieves touch those who are imprisoned with their hands, they are automatically released.
The game ends when the police manage to apply the law, managing to lock all the criminals in jail Once it’s over, the roles are changed.
In this game agility, attention and strategy are practiced.
8. Catch the tail
Is about one of the many versions of the classic tag, ideal for children between 3 and 8 years old but anyone who feels up to it can play.
Game rules
All participants They will have to place a scarf behind their back, hooked to the waist of their skirt or pants At the moment of giving the signal, each player will have to try to steal the tails of the others, but at the same time trying to prevent the others from taking their tails. The player who gets the most tails will become the winner.
This game is perfect for developing agility and coordination.
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9. The handkerchief
The handkerchief game is an ideal entertainment both for the playground and for other contexts, such as physical education class, camp or a birthday. To be able to play it we need many players, someone to act as a referee and a handkerchief
Game rules
A player picks up a handkerchief, scarf, rag, or any other cloth and stands between two teams of players. Each of the players on the two rival teams is assigned a number, repeated between them. That is to say, There is a player from one team who has 1 and another from the other team who also has 1, two others with 2, another two with 3 and so on as long as they are necessary.
When the player who has the handkerchief shouts one of the numbers he has assigned, the corresponding player from each team must run to the center to grab the handkerchief. Whoever succeeds must return to their team’s base at full speed to prevent the opponent from catching them. Each victory by a player means one point for his team.
Those who play this game develop skills such as attention, agility, speed, reflexes and concentration.
10. The game of chairs
The chairs game is another classic, playable for both children and adults and although it is best to play it with this furniture, You can practice with some cushions on the floor or anything that can be used to sit on
Game rules
To play, there must be as many chairs as there are participants at the beginning of the game and, as the game progresses, a chair will be removed before starting the next shift You will also need something to play some music.
The chairs are placed in a circle with their backs facing inwards. Participants will stand, circling around the chairs, one after the other. Whoever is in charge of the music will play a song and, while the music plays, the players will have to rotate around the chairs
When the song stops, each player must sit in a chair. Whoever is left without a chair is eliminated.
In this game attention, speed and perception of space are tested.
11. Jump rope
Jumping rope, or jumping rope if you prefer, is one of the most beneficial exercises for children. You can play in all the ways you can imagine, testing your mind and body, and everyone can set their own rules It is an activity that requires nothing more than a rope and a little space to practice it, and can be played both individually and in groups.
Game rules
Actually, this game is so diverse that we cannot say that there is a prototypical way to play it. The only thing the boy or girl has to do is jump on the rope accompanied by a song and avoid falling or stepping on the rope It may be a little difficult at first, but with a little time and practice you will get very good at it and do intense physical activity at recess while having fun.
With the rope game, coordination, physical resistance and the sense of rhythm are put into practice.
12. The sack race
The sack race is a group game, which must be played on an unobstructed surface such as a running track or soccer field, although The ideal is a rather soft surface, with grass, since falls in this game are inevitable
Game rules
The participants must stand in a straight line, putting their feet inside a bag and, when someone gives the starting signal, They all come out in a race, staying inside the bag During the entire race, the feet cannot leave the bag. Whoever gets to the finish line first wins.
In this game our speed, endurance and coordination are tested.
13. The mouse and the cat
The cat and mouse game is an entertaining activity ideal to practice with children in the whole class.
Game rules
The game consists of making a circle formed by the children holding hands. Two of them will be chosen at random and they will have to make one a cat and the other a mouse The rest of the children will sing the following song:
“Mouse that the cat catches you, mouse that is going to catch you, if it doesn’t catch you tonight, it will catch you tomorrow”
While the song plays, The mouse will have to run through the gaps formed by the children’s arms that are holding each other The cat will go for it, but the children will lower their arms to not let it pass. When the cat touches the mouse, the mouse will become the cat.
In this game speed and reflexes are practiced.
14. Games with the palms of the hands
Finally we have the typical games with the palms of the hands. There are all types and conditions: tongue twisters, reciting the multiplication tables, singing, saying things without meaning.
Game rules
The rules in all of them are very simple. It involves putting your palms together while singing a song. Two or more children can play, who must clap their palms in different ways, such as one up and the other down, in the middle on the side.
This game is used to practice memory, coordination, rhythm and being able to do more than two things at the same time.
