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14 Good, Old Fashioned, Outdoor Games for Kids

As I write this it is a beautiful, sunny Winter’s afternoon. Through the open doors I can hear the sounds of children next door playing outside – the loud, exaggerated counting and giggles associated with a good, old fashioned game of Hide and Seek. It is the perfect sound to accompany this sunny day and brings to mind childhood memories of so many good, old fashioned outdoor games!

Best old fashioned outdoor games for kids

15 Old Fashioned Outdoor Games for Kids

Many of the games below are linked to more information about how to play the games featured. Click on the green links for further details.

1. Hide and Go Seek: This classic children’s game is believed to have its origins in 2nd century Greece. For instructions on how to play and some fun variations, check out this article at Fun Games Kids Play.

2. Hopscotch: One of the most popular old fashioned playground games, that can be played almost anywhere – inside or out, at home or school.

3. Jump Rope: There are lots of different ways to play with a skipping rope but the most fun has to be had with a long rope and friends to hold either end!

4. Piggy in the Middle (Keep Away): Two players take turns throwing the ball to each other over the head of a third player standing in between them. If the person in the middle catches or recovers the ball, the last person to throw it becomes the new “piggy” in the middle.

5. Duck, Duck, Goose: An Australian classic circle game beloved by young children in kindergartens, preschools and day care centres.

6. A Tisket A Tasket (I Wrote a Letter to My Love): This fun catching circle game has its roots in a traditional nursery rhyme;

“A tisket, a tasket,
A green and yellow basket,
I wrote a letter to my love,
And on the way I dropped it,
I dropped, I dropped it,
And on the way I dropped it,
A little boy picked it up,
And put it in his pocket.”

To play, children sit in a circle with their hands held behind them. One child skips around the outside of the circle with a small object (envelop, handkerchief, pebble or similar) to represent the letter. As the rhyme finishes, the skipping child places the object into the hands of one of the seated children. That player jumps up and chases the first child around the circle as they race all the way around to sit in the now vacant spot. If they are caught, they must sit in the middle of the circle for one turn. If they make it to the vacant spot, they sit in for the next round of the game. The chaser becomes the next to deliver the ‘letter.’

7. Elastics/Chinese Jump Rope: Played with a large loop of elastic made into a rectangle with two children standing inside the elastic with it stretched around their ankles, this classic childhood game is played with groups of 3+ children. A third player -the jumper – stands in the middle of the elastic to perform a series of increasingly difficult jumps.

Jumps include landing with both feet inside the elastic loop, outside the loop, one foot inside and one outside, and landing with both feet on top of the elastic rope. The elastic loop is raised as each sequence of jumps is completed without error, moving to mid-shin of the holders, then the back of the knees, mid-thighs, hips, armpits, and neck.

8. Red Light, Green Light: A great group game for getting kids moving in large, open spaces outdoors, it encourages them to listen and respond with concentration and controlled movements.

9. Go Home Stay Home: Played with 5+ players, one is chosen to be It. Dedicate a place to be ‘home’ – it can be easy or hard to get to, depending upon the age and experience of the players. It counts slowly to 50 with their eyes covered. The other players hide and, once the counting is complete, try to get ‘home’ without being seen and tagged. Once home, the player calls, “Go home, stay home, 123,” and they are safe. The last player to get home (or to not make it home at all, becomes the next It.

10. Scarecrow Tag: A super fun novelty version of the classic game of Tag, fabulous for classes or groups of children. Also known as Stuck in the Mud in some locations.

RELATED: For more like this, check out our collection of 10 Tag Games for Kids – with more fun variations that kids will love, and a handy printable version of the game instructions for teachers and parents.

11. What’s the Time, Mr Wolf?: A fun form of tag for young players played in countries across the world, from Australia to the United Kingdom and South Africa.

12. Please, Mr Crocodile, May We Cross the River? A great old fashioned outdoor game for play with groups of young children,

13. Kick the Can: A fun cross between tag, hide and seek and capture the flag, click through here for instructions for play.

14. Four Square Handball: A fun, popular game with children ages 8+ years, primarily due to its simple equipment requirements, easy rules of play and the fact that it can be played with groups of children.

15. Flashlight Tag: A fun tag game to play once the sun goes down, the tagger a flash light and play tag as you normally would in a designated area, except the tagger uses the light of the flashlight to “tag” people. Once a player is “hit” with the light they are out. Play continues until everyone has been caught and a new tagger is chosen.

So I am off now outside to draw a hopscotch grid with chalk on our drive, for an afternoon of family fun!

You may also enjoy;

• 7 Outdoor Scavenger Hunts

• 21 Old School Yard Games for Kids

• Best Outdoor Gifts for Kids

Christie Burnett is a teacher, presenter, writer and the mother of two. She created Childhood 101 as a place for teachers and parents to access engaging, high quality learning ideas.

Filed Under: Featured, Grades 3-5, Grades K-2, Outdoor Fun, Physical Tagged With: outdoor play ideas

Previous post: How to Play Hopscotch

Read the comments or scroll down to add your own:

  1. maytey says

    August 8, 2010 at 9:53 AM

    Go Home Stay Home was my fave!
    Reply
  2. Lindsay says

    August 8, 2010 at 8:55 PM

    I loved playing freeze tag, red rover red rover, and flashlight tag as a kid! My 3 year old loves "hopscotch" (the modified version).
    Reply
  3. SquiggleMum says

    August 9, 2010 at 3:54 AM

    I spent hours playing with elastics, jumping and singing with friends.
    Reply
  4. katepickle says

    August 9, 2010 at 5:46 AM

    my girls love these kinds of games... we spent lots of time earlier this year learning how to skip and that is a firm favourite!
    Reply
  5. Gill@OurParklife says

    August 9, 2010 at 7:03 AM

    i loved Mr Crocodile may I cross the river?

    Good old Ring a ring a rosy is currently a fave at this house...

    And I hated Dodgeball too...freaked me out when I was a kid! I was actually told by my mentor teacher on my last prac that Dodgeball is a big no no now in schools? Is this correct?
    Reply
  6. Gill@OurParklife says

    August 9, 2010 at 7:04 AM

    oh and like Squigglemum - I played Elastics with my friends for hours

    "England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Inside, Outside, Puppy Dog Tails!"
    Reply
  7. Lara from Silk Playground says

    August 9, 2010 at 10:41 AM

    Leap frog and red rover are all the rage here. When I was a kid it was all about cartwheels.
    Reply
  8. Kelly says

    August 9, 2010 at 9:11 PM

    Love this Christie!
    Reply
  9. Melissa says

    August 10, 2010 at 3:32 AM

    My 8 year old has a dodgeball competition at school at the moment. He LOVES it.
    Reply
  10. Busy Brissy Mum says

    August 10, 2010 at 7:14 AM

    I couldn't tell you how many times I've played Duck, Duck, Goose with kids groups I've worked with. Not really a fav with me but they will play it over and over.

    At home I've shown Miss M the game of hopscotch but it really gets played more like you were expecting Immy to play it. Our absolute favourite is a game of family Hide 'n' Seek.

    I can't wait to get Miss M hoola hooping and skipping, well she thinks she can already do it but clearly she can't - very funny!
    Reply
  11. Tricia at Mom is the Only Girl says

    August 10, 2010 at 11:09 AM

    I'm excited to try some of these, although with adjustments for one 3 1/2 yr old and a toddler! Sometimes I need a good reminder of things I can do with them!
    Reply
  12. Sweet Rustic says

    November 1, 2010 at 1:59 AM

    We used to also play ring a ring a rosie, stuck in the mud and red rover cross over. I also remember loving playing with one of those massive parachutes in kindergarten where you'd put balls on them & make them bounce around or ppl would go under & you'd try & catch them.. Good fun.
    Reply
  13. Linda Scarbrough says

    April 11, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    The list of children's games is intriguing. I do know and play several with my preschool students, but am unfamiliar with others on your list. Have you or could you give the directions or game rules for the games listed below? • Scarecrows • What’s the time, Mr. Wolf? • Please, Mr. Crocodile, may we cross the river? • Elastics Is this like Chinese Jump Rope? • Piggy in the middle • Knucklebones (jack stones) • Marbles
    Reply
  14. Tenecia Tapplar says

    June 24, 2011 at 5:42 AM

    I am looking for old fashion hand jacks. They were small metal 5 prong stars that stood up or stacked up on the floor when you flip them on the back of your hand. It also came with a small rubber ball. I am 51 yrs old played with them when I was 8, 9, 10 on my grandparnets porch. Tenecia
    Reply
    • Rachael says

      July 9, 2013 at 8:02 PM

      You can find Jacks at some dollar stores in their toy isle. My 6yr old loves to play jacks.
      Reply
      • Christie Burnett says

        July 14, 2013 at 8:10 AM

        Thanks for the tip, Rachael
        Reply
  15. kate says

    July 10, 2013 at 4:59 PM

    Loved playing Baby in the Air with neighborhood kids!
    Reply
  16. mrsg says

    June 9, 2014 at 8:17 AM

    Loved playing "kick the can" on summer nights!
    Reply
  17. Dave says

    July 26, 2014 at 12:17 AM

    Nobody mentioned "1, 2, 3, Red Light".
    Reply
  18. Diane says

    September 5, 2014 at 12:54 AM

    My mom used to talk about a game she played in the twenties called RING A LEAP EO? or something like that. Does anyone know what that was? I never asked her.
    Reply
  19. Sandra D says

    November 29, 2017 at 10:46 PM

    Old Grey Mare May I 123 Red light I spy something. Old Maid Marbles, Jacks Jump rope, Tops & Yoyo's Old Grey Mare
    Reply
  20. Sandra D says

    November 29, 2017 at 11:18 PM

    Button, Button, Who's got the button, A tiskit, a tasket, a green and yellow basket, I wrote a letter to my fellow and on the way, I dropped it. (as you can guess I don't remember the name to this one, Just the chant. Hot Potato (Mr. Bush)
    Reply
  21. Bobby Salitrik says

    April 10, 2018 at 1:27 AM

    Does anyone know or remember a game plan yet with a rubber ball called tables
    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Our Kids Are Modern Kids, But You Can Still Keep Them Old School – Lucy Clarke says:
    January 8, 2018 at 3:05 PM
    […] idea is to try working with something that you used to love as a kid too. So why not work on some old-fashioned games with them […]
    Reply

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