List of children's games

File:US Navy 110301-N-4920H-107 Chief Operations Specialist Steven Rowlands avoids a tag during a game of nap lungdy during a community service event at.jpg

A child playing tag.

This is a list of games that are played by children. Traditional children's games do not include commercial products such as board games but do include games which require props such as hopscotch or marbles (toys go in List of toys unless the toys are used in multiple games or the single game played is named after the toy; thus "jump rope" is a game, while "Jacob's ladder" is a toy). Despite being transmitted primarily through word of mouth due to not being considered suitable for academic study or adult attention, traditional games have "not only failed to disappear but have also evolved over time into new versions."<ref>Lindon, Jennie (2001). Understanding Children's Play, p.83. Nelson Thornes. Template:ISBN.</ref>

Traditional children's games are defined "as those that are played informally with minimal equipment, that children learn by example from other children, and that can be played without reference to written rules. These games are usually played by children between the ages of 7 and 12, with some latitude on both ends of the age range."<ref>Sierra, Judy and Kaminski, Robert (1995). Children's Traditional Games, p.xii. Oryx. Template:ISBN.</ref> "Children's traditional games (also called folk games) are those that are passed from child to child, generation to generation, informally by word of mouth," and most children's games include at least two of the following six features in different proportion: physical skill, strategy, chance, repetition of patterns, creativity, and vertigo.<ref>Sierra and Kaminski (1995), p.3.</ref>

History

Template:See also From the 18th century onwards, researchers have taken a greater interest in the value of traditional games in elucidating cultural values and identities. The modern Olympic Games were influenced by this thinking, and were founded by Pierre de Coubertin on the basis of "All games, all nations", though this aspect of the Olympics was never fully realised and quickly faded away after a few years, with mainly only Western sports being played. In some European countries, the revival of traditional games has served as a way for regional identities to be expressed in a political or educational way.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Hiding games

• Hide-and-seek<ref name="Gryski"/><ref name="Oryx"/>
• Peekaboo
• Sardines<ref>Gryski (1998), p.15.</ref>

Jumping games

• Ampe, from Ghana
• Double Dutch (jump rope)
• Jumping Jacks
• Jumping rope<ref name="Gryski" /><ref name="Oryx" /> (Skipping rope)
• Jumpsies (also known as Chinese jump rope, elastics, or gummitwist)
• Leapfrog<ref name="Gryski" /><ref>"Leapfrog", Merriam-Webster.com. Accessed June 27, 2015.</ref>

Hopping games

• Hopscotch<ref name="Gryski" /><ref name="Oryx" />
• Langa (game)
• Squid (game)

Memory games

• Chinese whispers (Telephone<ref name="Gryski"/>)
• Concentration
• Here Comes an Old Soldier from Botany Bay (Old Soldier)
• I packed my bag
• Kim's Game

Parlour games

• Hunt the Thimble<ref name="Gryski"/> (Hot and Cold)
• Huckle buckle beanstalk<ref name="GryskiThimble"/> (Hot buttered beans<ref name="GryskiThimble">Gryski (1998), p.16.</ref>)
• I spy
• Truth or Dare?
• Wink Murder

See also

• Game
• List of open-source video games
• Outline of games
• Papers-and-Pencils games
• Street games
• Children's toys and games
• List of skill toys