When we got a chance to take in the fresh air as kids, there were–and are–all kinds of different activities, based on the simplest toys, or just our own imagination. A lot of those games have stayed the same over the years, but let’s take a look at what outdoor games we played as kids through the generations!
Boomers (and beyond)
Here’s a game that, though you don’t see it as much these days, it was popular for quite a long time, from the 30s, even into the 70s! Kick the Can! Someone kicks a can filled with rocks as far as they can and the person who is It has to return the can to its starting place before tag the others, who end up in jail when tagged. If anyone can kick the can without being caught, everyone goes free.
Red Rover was a game from a bit earlier, into the 30s, even. But not something allowed a lot these days on playgrounds. Two teams least three people would link arms, the teams at least a few feet apart. one person would be called over from the opposite team to try to break their teams chain. If the chain is broken, the person runs with one of the broken links back to their own team. If the chain holds steady, the individual joins that unbroken chain. It goes until everyone is on one team.… or someone gets hurt.
Generation X
Foursquare is one I have seen a lot of talk about in the 50s and 60s. A large square is divided into four corner squares. One player is in each square at a time, with a ball being served from one square into another. If you don’t manage to hit the ball after it bounces in your square, you’re out and the player next in line is in.
Another popular outdoor game was roller skating, or a bit more indoor roller derby. But roller skates had a bit of a boom in popularity in the 70s. I feel like that’s a piece of equipment that had friends making up their own games just to get out and have fun.
Here’s one that hasn’t been around much SINCE the 70s: Lawn Darts. The original one with the sharp darts! A hoop was put some 20 feet away and the goal was to throw your dart into the hoop from the starting line. Versions of this game were recalled in the late 80s, as kids were getting injured. But I think you can still find safe versions in some stores now
Millenials
How about TV Tag! One person was it, and you could avoid being tagged by crouching down and calling out the name of a television show. No repeats, though. I played this a bit as a kid, and ten second rule was in effect if you called out a show.
Millenials, you might remember SPUD! Everyone has a number. One player tossed a ball in the air while calling out another players number. That player has to catch the ball and freeze while everyone else ran. Once the ball is caught, everyone freezes and once again the ball is thrown at someone. If they are hit, they gain a letter of the word SPUD and are the next thrower.
Generation Z
Getting into Generation Z’s games: grounders. I know some folks did play this as Millenials, but seems quite popular in the early 2000s. Tag on the playground where the person whose “it” has their eyes closed unless they are on the ground.
Here’s one from Gen Z that I’m not sure if this is a game so much as an activity: Parkour. Basically trying to get from one spot to another by running, jumping, rolling without equipment.
Multi-Generation Classics
There are some games that have passed through many generations, like clapping games. The ones you know might be a bit different, depending on when you grew up. Miss Mary Mack is one of the tame ones from the 80s, or playing Concentration where you had to name items from a category to the beat.
Here’s another outdoor game that bridges the generations: Tether-ball! This is one I rarely got the chance to play, but it involved a ball suspended from a metal pole by a rope. Two or more players would hit the ball back and forth with the goal to wrap the rope around the pole enough that your opponent couldn’t hit it back. That’s been a game for decades now, but I’ve not noticed a lot of tether-ball poles that are still operational.
What games do you remember playing outdoors with your friends and siblings?
– Tie-Dye Tam
