9 Classic Outdoor Games Modern Kids Might Not Recognize

In the past, playing outdoors was an integral part of growing up. Parents weren’t necessarily aware of the benefits of fresh air, physical activity, and socializing for a child’s growth—it was more about keeping us occupied and out of their way for a while.

Back then, heading outside to skip rope or join a game of kick the can with neighborhood friends was as routine as having breakfast. Nowadays, such activities are so rare that childhood development specialists have labeled them 'Unstructured Play' and are urging parents to revive these practices, which are fading like cursive writing and chalkboard cleaning. How many of these games do you remember?

1. HOPSCOTCH

While colored sidewalk chalk is still widely available today, children seldom use it to sketch a hopscotch board. In the past, we typically had limited options, like plain white or occasionally yellow chalk (often borrowed from the classroom when the teacher wasn’t paying attention) to create the game’s layout. A key part of the fun was hunting for the ideal throwing stone, preferably with a flat side to prevent unwanted bounces. Interestingly, hopscotch wasn’t always just a children’s pastime; Roman soldiers played it in full armor as part of their training.

2. KICK THE CAN

This activity blends elements of hide-and-seek and tag, but instead of physically tagging players, the seeker must spot them, leap over the can (or another available container), and announce their location: “Over the can on Sandy—behind the large evergreen in Kosnik’s front yard!” If correctly identified, the player was out. However, while the seeker wasn’t looking, hidden participants would sneak over to kick the can unnoticed. Similar to flashlight tag, this game often involved running and hiding across the neighborhood, sometimes trespassing, which likely inspired the classic “Stay off my lawn!” complaint.

3. JUMP ROPE

Jump rope offered the flexibility of being a solo activity or a group game with no limit on participants. All you needed was a piece of rope (or something similar; even an extension cord could work in a pinch). There were countless skill-based games, each with its own rhythmic chant. For instance, 'High, low, jolly, pepper' challenged jumpers to leap over the rope at varying heights, crouch while skipping, spin mid-air, and keep pace as the rope spun faster. Missing a step meant forfeiting your turn, and the next player would attempt to outlast the song without tripping.

4. CHINESE JUMP ROPE

Despite its name, Chinese jump rope originated in China and involves jumping, but the 'rope' is actually a stretchy band. The setup typically included a durable elastic band sold in stores during the 1960s or a makeshift loop of thick rubber bands tied together. Two players held the band around their ankles, while the jumper performed specific moves inside and outside the band to advance to higher levels.

5. JACKS

Jacks is a game with ancient origins, though players in 400 BCE used small sheep ankle bones instead of the six-pointed metal pieces paired with a red rubber ball in mid-20th-century party favors. While some of us struggled to progress beyond 'twosies,' the game was said to enhance hand-eye coordination, even if it wasn’t always enjoyable for everyone.

6. FOUR SQUARE

The rules of four square varied by region, with some areas enforcing strict scoring systems while others played a more relaxed version where bouncing the ball twice or hitting a line meant you were out. Regardless of the rules, all you needed was a playground ball and a flat surface. If chalk wasn’t available, driveway tar lines or sidewalk cracks worked just as well to mark the playing area.

7. RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT

Red light, green light required at least three players, with no upper limit. The game revolved around sprinting when the 'Traffic Light' turned away and shouted 'green light!' However, when they turned back and yelled 'red light!,' everyone had to freeze. Anyone caught moving was sent back to the starting line.

8. TAG

Tag had countless versions, including frozen tag, TV tag, and shadow tag. Flashlight tag was particularly popular due to its nighttime setting, adding an eerie thrill as players darted through the neighborhood, hiding behind sheds and bushes. Some lessons were learned the hard way, like avoiding construction sites where stepping on a nail could lead to an ER visit and a tetanus shot. Just a word of caution.

9. RED ROVER

Red Rover was a playground favorite, thriving with larger groups. Two teams faced each other, linking hands while their captains called out, 'Red Rover, Red Rover, let Jack come over!' Jack would then sprint to break through the opposing team’s chain, ideally targeting the weakest link. If he failed, he joined the other team; if he succeeded, he returned with a captured player. The game’s physicality likely makes it unsuitable for modern playgrounds.