Old-time play: fun children's games
Kids are geniuses at play, aren’t they? They can have a great time even in open spaces without playground equipment, and they come up with ways to play with toys that adults would never imagine! Of course, kids today are creative too, but back in the days before smartphones and game consoles, children played in even more inventive ways.
Many of those old-fashioned games are still fun for kids today.
In this article, we’ve gathered lots of classic, enjoyable games from the past.
We’re also introducing plenty of activities you can try right away, so be sure to check them out!
- Nostalgic games that were popular when we were kids
- Fun Indoor Games for Elementary School Kids Without Any Equipment
- Recommended outdoor games you can enjoy without any equipment
- [Let’s Make and Play!] Handmade Toy Ideas You Can Create Yourself
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- A special feature on nostalgic toys and the trends we craved as kids—loads of the things we wanted back then are here!
- [Active Outdoors!] A roundup of garden games you can enjoy with your kids
- [Make with Kids] Handmade Outdoor Play Toy Special
- [For Kids] Today’s Handmade Craft Ideas
- [For Kids] Today's Recommended Recreation Idea Collection
- [List] A roundup of games and recreational activities kids love
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- Elementary School Fun Day a Big Hit! Indoor Game Idea Collection
Old-fashioned games. Fun children's games (1–10)
Daruma-otoshi
I remember that Daruma Otoshi was quite difficult.
You don’t see it much anymore except in souvenir shops, but it used to be a popular game with children, too.
They came in sizes from very small to fairly large—I even remember playing a version with cushions during PE class or recreational activities.
It’s a game that really requires some technique.
Beigoma (spinning top)
This is another game steeped in Showa-era nostalgia.
You spin iron tops and smash them into each other to battle.
It offered heated, sumo-like matches.
Just as gear-spun tops that don’t use strings have made a comeback and are popular today, it’s a timeless pastime that remains a close companion to children no matter how many years go by.
Menko
A quintessential Showa-era pastime, “menko.” Many adults today probably still remember the designs on the menko cards they used to play with.
The rules were simple—slam it down and flip the other card—but the matches could get pretty intense.
Plus, there was a collectible aspect: some people took pride in gathering lots of designs, like baseball or superhero menko.
Old-fashioned games. Fun children's games (11–20)
buzzing top
I think many people have done this in elementary school art class—it’s the nostalgic “whirligig” button spinner! You punch a hole in the center of the disk, thread a string through it, pull both ends taut, and when you tug, it spins with a buzz from the centrifugal force.
The patterns and that buzzing sound were so fun, weren’t they? I remember being a little moved back then by how beautifully it spun with a design of my own.
Cabbage Patch Kids
Released by an American toy manufacturer as dolls born from cabbage patches, the Cabbage Patch Kids came with birth certificates and names, and each one had unique features like different facial expressions and hair colors, making every doll one of a kind.
While the head is plastic, the body is made of soft cloth, offering an ideal tactile feel for children.
Since each one is different, some children may have wanted to collect many of them! Their individual personalities likely made doll play even more engaging.
balancing toy (Yajirobe)
A balancing toy that supports itself by keeping balance with thin arms extending to the left and right from a slender body.
Many of you may have made one using an acorn for the body.
Once the body is set, insert bamboo skewers or similar sticks on both sides, attach weights to their ends, and it’s complete.
Try playing with it and see if it balances—feel the excitement as you test it!
hopscotch
Even now, you sometimes see chalk marks for hopscotch drawn on the asphalt, don’t you? It’s a game where you combine landing with both feet apart and landing on one foot, and you hop along the circles you’ve drawn.
It reminds me of the time I once drew an insanely long hopscotch course.