A walk down memory lane leads to an amazing discovery: how little children’s games have changed over the years, and how many of them are still in play-all over the world!
While visiting a friend who has small children I took a long, and unexpected, walk down memory lane…
We were all in the garden, and as shouts of “you’re it” and “safe” reached us, our conversation turned to the games we played as children. Often the games were the same, or very similar, but with different names as we grew up in different countries: my friend in England and I in South Africa.
Amazingly enough, we had trouble remembering some of the games-these same games that we spent many hours playing as children. Eventually, the children came over to see what we found so amusing and were, in equal parts, horrified and incredulous that Mom and Aunty Gen not only played their games but were ever children at all!
We asked the kids to remind us of a game’s name or rules, and it amazed us how little the games have changed over the years and how many of them are still in play—and all over the world!
Below is a rough age guide to some of the more popular games and their “rules,” although many of the games can be adapted to suit a particular age.
Games for Children Three and Older
Simon Says
One person is Simon and gives the other players orders like “Simon says clap your hands” or “Simon says hop on one foot” while the others follow the instructions. If Simon gives an instruction without saying “Simon says,” players are not to follow the instruction or they are out of the game. The player left once the others are out becomes Simon for the next game.
Do This, Do That
This game is very similar to Simon says. If the leader says “do this,” players must follow the instruction, and if the leader says “do that” they mustn’t or will be out of the game. The last person left wins.
Red Light/Green Light
The player who is “IT” stands on the finish line while the others are on the start line. Then IT turns his back on the others and says green light and counts to five. He then shouts red light and the others must stop and not move. If he sees anyone moving that player must return to the starting line. The game continues until a player reaches the finish line.
In a variation of this game called Letters, a child shouts a letter instead of “red light/green light.” If a child’s name contains that letter, she takes the corresponding amount of steps (for example Lee would take two steps forward if “e” was called). Play continues until someone reaches the finish line.
In a second variation, IT stands on the finish line with his back turned to the other players and counts to 20 (or whatever number is agreed upon) while the others advance. If someone touches IT before he is finished counting, IT turns around and gives chase back towards the start line. Once he catches someone, that person becomes IT.
What’s the Time Mr. Wolf?
One person (Mr. Wolf) stands on the opposite side of the room with his back to the others. The other players ask, “What’s the time Mr. Wolf?” If Mr. Wolf says two o’clock, the children take two steps forward (three steps for three o’clock, etc). When Mr. Wolf feels they are getting closer and they ask what the time is he can then answer “lunch time” and turn around and chase after them. The first person caught becomes Mr. Wolf.
I-spy Colours
A child says “I spy with my little eye something blue” and the others must guess the object that is the colour the child names. This game is great for younger children who can recognise colours.
Broken Telephone/ Telephone/ Chinese Whispers
All the players sit in a circle and one person whispers a message to the person to her left. The players pass on the message through whispers until it reaches the person to the right of the original whisperer. The final player says the message aloud. This can be hysterically funny when the two messages are compared.
Games for Children Four and Older
Touch Tag
In this version, IT shouts out something the other players have to touch to make them “safe” from tagging (tree bark, for example). Only one person can be safe at one place at a time and can call out “safe” to show they are touching something suitable. If you are not “safe” you can be tagged and become IT.
Freeze tag/ Stuck in the Mud
When IT touches someone, that person has to freeze and stand with his feet apart. The only way to unfreeze is to have another player crawl between their legs. Play continues until all players are frozen and the last person to be frozen is IT in the next game; or the first person to be frozen three times becomes IT. 
Hide and Seek
One child is IT and has to count to 20 (or number chosen) while the others hide. The seekers then says “ready or not, here I come!) and hurries to find everyone. If he sees a hider he has to shout out her name and where she is hiding, and then the two race each other back to “base.” If the seeker reaches base first, the hider becomes IT. If the hider gets to base first, she is safe and can either wait at base for the others to be found or help seek them.
In another version, once someone is caught he “goes to jail” and can only be freed by another hider while the seeker is not looking.
Sardines
In this version of Hide and Seek, only one person goes off to hide. The others count to an agreed upon number and then split up to find the hider. When someone finds the hider, he or she joins in the hiding spot. As more seekers find the hiding place, it gets more cramped. The game usually ends when the hiders give themselves away, rather than the last seeker finding them!
Everyone is IT
In this game all the players run around trying to tag each other and the last person not tagged it the winner.
Games for Children Five and Older
I-spy
In this traditional game, someone says “I spy with my little eye something beginning with…” and chooses the first letter of the object they want the others to guess. Play continues until another player guesses the identity of the object or gives up.
Blind Man’s Bluff
Blindfold one player and spin him around three times. The blindfolded player then tries to tag one of the other players who tease the “blind man” to let him know where they are. Whomever is tagged becomes the blind man. 
Capture the Flag
Two teams, each with a flag, has five minutes to hide their flag in a pre-designated area of the yard or fort. When the flags are hidden, the teams meet in the middle and then go look for the other team’s flag. If a player is caught by a member of the opposite team he has to go to “jail” and can only be freed by a team-mate when the other team is not looking. The first team to capture the flag wins.
Celebrity Head
This is a game adults still play! Each player writes the name of a celebrity (fictional characters optional) onto a piece of paper and it’s placed into a hat. The papers with the names are then mixed together and then each player chooses one without reading it. This piece of paper is stuck to the forehead (usually with spit!) for everyone else to see, and players take taking turns asking questions to guess who they are. Only one question per turn is allowed and the first person to guess his or her identity correctly wins.
Kick the Can
This is a great hide and seek/tag game. The person who is IT stands by the can (or bucket or whatever kids have at the time), closes his eyes and counts while the players hide. Then he has to run all over the neighbourhood to find everyone. Once a player is found, he and IT race to the can, and the found person tries to kick the can before IT tags him.
Marco Polo
In this popular water game, one person is IT and has to keep her eyes closed while trying to tag the other players swimming around. IT calls out “Marco” to which the others reply “Polo” for her to gauge where in the pool they are. If IT suspects someone is out of the water she can call “fish out of water,” and if she is right, that person becomes IT, otherwise play continues until a player is tagged.
Water Balloon Toss
Two players toss a water-filled balloon to each other, and every time they catch it they have to take a step back so the distance between them lengthens. Eventually one of them will miss and will probably be splashed when the balloon bursts.
