101 Playground Games

A Collection of Active and Engaging Playtime Games for Children

Thérèse Hoyle

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9780367338565
• eBook ISBN: 9781000394412
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education General

101 Playground Games is a collection of active and engaging school playground games that will encourage active learning and social development among children at playtime, this second edition has been updated to include a wealth of new games from around the world.

The school playground plays a crucial role in developing all aspects of children's behaviour and interpersonal learning, and yet there is a growing awareness that children today do not play in the same sociable ways as previous generations. Encouraging children to play games can be hugely beneficial not only for their physical health but also for their social, emotional and mental health.

This brilliant resource includes a practical toolkit of photocopiable and downloadable materials along with clear instructions for adults on how to organise a range of different types of games, including:

• traditional games

• chasing and catching games

• singing and dancing games

• skipping games and rhymes

• parachute games

• quiet games

• co-operative games

Ideal for teachers, lunchtime supervisors, breakfast and after school club leaders as well as group leaders for organisations such as scouts or guides to promote lively and enjoyable games, this book is particularly suited to children aged 5–11 years but can easily be adapted for older children. 101 Playground Games is a book that will make any playtime a richer experience for all.

1 Traditional Playground Games

1. Farmer, Farmer, May We Cross Your Golden River?
2. In and Out the Dusty Bluebells
3. What’s the Time Mr Wolf?
4. Grandmother’s Footsteps
5. Fishes in the Sea
6. Duck, Duck, Goose
7. Captain’s Coming
8. The Keeper of the Treasure
9. I Sent a Letter to My Love
10. Mother May I?

Traditional Playground Games

Play is an essential part of the development of all children and traditional playground games have been played for hundreds of years all over the world.

Once a child reaches school age and begins to play with other children, play becomes a social occasion and games become elaborate rituals.

When playing traditional games, children have an incredible capacity to be poetic and creative. In contrast to when they are taught games in PE where the rules are fixed, in the playground they can influence how games are played. You may notice children’s love of rhymes with these old traditional games. I have found that these are often adapted and can exist for the pleasure of themselves and to help children to make sense of the world and reflect cultural fears. I remember the rhyme, ‘My mother said, I never should, play with gypsies in the wood’; this reflected some of our cultural fears at the time. In and Out the Dusty Blue Bells used to have the ending, ‘You will be my master’. Most children now say, ‘You will be my partner’. This reflects the passage of time and more cultural and ethical awareness and sensitivity. While listening to children playing, you may also have heard some rhymes verging on the taboo!

In the playground, children have the freedom to be themselves, unencumbered by the rules and regulations of us adults. There is what Opie and Opie (1969) call a ‘juvenile code’.

When it comes to rules, children often have their own for games or they find ways to make them more co-operative and fair or just more fun!

A few years ago I played the game, Duck, Duck, Goose with a group of children. They had made up different rules that made the game even better and I have included their ideas in this game. When the goose was caught by the trapper, he reverted to being a duckling and had to squat down in the centre of the inner circle and make duck-like noises and gestures with his arms. This child remained in the centre of the circle until another duck was caught.

Traditional Games in This Section

I have chosen many popular games that children regularly play in the playground and games that I loved to play in my childhood for this section of 101 Playground Games.

Game number seven, Captain’s Coming, used to be a favourite game of mine at Brownies and is still frequently played by Guide, Cub and Scout groups.

Grandmother’s Footsteps is a popular game throughout the world and was another favourite of mine. I have chosen to call it the name that we used. In many books you will see it referred to as Statues or Red Light, Green Light. You will find that some games have alternative names and the children may want to re-name or adapt them. Do add their ideas and suggestions when you photocopy the games and please email me new games and any suggestions that make these games even better.

Traditional playground games and games in general have, over the years, been handed down from generation to generation. Many of these games were played in playgrounds, streets, playing fields and the countryside, in my childhood. However, sadly many of our children do not have the freedom of these open spaces with fears of stranger danger and busy roads. In addition, our children are spending ever-increasing amounts of time inside playing games on screens and watching TV, which inevitably means they are getting less and less time to play.

I feel very strongly that part of my legacy is to pass on these traditional games so that the children I work with can then teach them to the next generation. Please help me by teaching these traditional games to your children, so that we can all leave a legacy.

If you have any additional games you would like to add to my collection, please email me at [email protected]

1. Farmer, Farmer, May We Cross Your Golden River?

• 
  Time: 15 minutes
• Age Range: 6–10
• Ideal Number of Players: 6+
• Equipment Needed: None

How to Play

One player is named the farmer and stands in the middle of a designated area of the playground.

The other players stand behind a...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-Title
• Endorsements
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Using the Online Resource
• Acknowledgements
• Foreword
• About the Author
• Introduction
• Why Encourage Children to Play Games?
• How to Use This Book
• 1 Traditional Playground Games
• 2 Tag Games
• 3 Chasing and Catching Games
• 4 Singing and Dancing Games
• 5 Skipping Games and Rhymes
• 6 Circle Games
• 7 Parachute Games
• 8 Quiet Games
• 9 Co-Operative Games
• 10 Games from Around the World
• Appendix
• Bibliography
• 101 Playground Games Online Resources
• Index