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
- A nostalgic toy that was popular in my childhood
- [Let’s Make and Play!] Handmade Toy Ideas You Can Create Yourself
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- [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-time games. Fun children's play (21–30)
World Play! ‘Please Statue Play’
The American game “statue game” is basically a form of tag.
However, the tagger plays the role of a sculptor, and anyone who gets tagged has to freeze into a statue within the time it takes to spin around twice, becoming whatever statue the tagger calls out.
If the tagger says “frog,” everyone who’s been caught has to hold a frog pose and can’t move until everyone is tagged, so depending on the type of statue, it can be pretty tough.
Once everyone is caught, the tagger chooses their favorite statue and names that person as the next tagger.
Top 5 most entertaining tag games in the world
Tag, a classic outdoor game for children, is actually enjoyed in many countries around the world.
Tag from around the world… you’re curious what those games are like, right? This time, we’ll introduce five versions: the Filipino tag game “Buwan-Buwan,” the Sri Lankan tag game “Gini Hangima,” the Moroccan tag game “The Hen and the Caterpillar,” the German tag game “The Spinning Top on the Rock,” and the Bangladeshi tag game “Chi-Buri.” Depending on the country, the rules and ways to play vary—like having the tagger move only along lines or adding a treasure-hunt element—so give these different kinds of tag a try and enjoy a twist on the usual game!
Adults going all out at the park!
Games we used to play as kids can be surprisingly fun even after we grow up.
So why not enjoy some outdoor games for the first time in a while? Here we introduce two types of tag games: “Kotorokotoro” and “Hyotan Oni.” In Kotorokotoro, players are divided into one chaser (oni) and the children.
The children line up, placing their hands on the shoulders of the person in front.
The oni faces the line, and wins if they can tag the child at the very end.
In Hyotan Oni, you draw a gourd-shaped safe zone on the ground, and the children run around inside it.
The oni reaches in from outside the gourd, and if they manage to tag someone, they swap roles with that person.
Showa-era game! “Rice Field Character T”
Imagine the kanji “田” and draw four large square grids on the ground.
Decide one person to be ‘It’ with rock-paper-scissors, then start the game.
‘It’ moves along the cross-shaped lines at the center of the squares to catch the others.
The players choose one of the squares as their starting point, move clockwise from square to square, and return to their starting point.
If someone is caught by ‘It’ along the way, that person becomes the next ‘It’ and the game restarts from the beginning.
‘It’ is not allowed to jump between lines; they must move only along the lines.
Tōryanse
“Tōryanse” is played along with the song.
Choose two taggers from among the participants; they join hands to make an arch.
The remaining children form a circle and, in turn, pass under the arch to the rhythm of the song.
When the song ends, the taggers drop their arms and catch the child who is under the arch.
The caught child switches places with one of the taggers.
You can vary the play by changing the song’s speed or by having the children link together like a train as they pass under the arch.
As the song nears the end, everyone may start to feel rushed, but be careful not to run or push the person in front of you.
7 park games kids can play without equipment
Park games that everyone from small children to adults can enjoy together without any preparation are great because they can be played with whoever happens to be there.
Hopscotch, hand-pushing sumo, number games, playing house, shadow play, and drawing are all familiar activities that don’t require any equipment.
You can also use natural materials like pebbles and sticks, which makes it easy to invent games and come up with original rules with friends.
Let’s make the most of the wide-open space of the park and have fun moving our whole bodies with games that can only be enjoyed in such a setting.
Traditional playground games techniques
Kendama and spinning tops may seem difficult at first, but when you keep trying and finally succeed, you’ll feel a real sense of “I did it!” As you practice, you steadily develop fine finger movements, body balance, and hand-eye timing—that’s a key benefit.
Focusing while you play also nurtures perseverance and a never-give-up attitude.
If you practice and show off your tricks with friends or family, their “That’s awesome!” will give you courage and confidence.
These toys help both mind and body grow while having fun, so give them a try!
