© mslok / Adobe Stock
In an innocent age, when kids watched Blue Peter on TV, with presenters John Noakes, Peter Purves, Lesley Judd and their famous dog, Shep; we learned how to make all sorts of things with an empty washing-up liquid bottle and some sticky-back plastic.
The kids' cult drama series, Grange Hill, became compulsive viewing, while The Wombles were in the pop charts and we enjoyed TV dinners of spaghetti hoops on toast or fish fingers.
If you wanted a kickabout with a football, or a game of marbles, you went and rounded up your friends in person, rather than texting them or using WhatsApp. In quiet corners of the playground, pupils would trade football stickers, or juggle tennis balls against the wall.
Some of the playground games from the 1970s and '80s are still played today, having been passed down through the generations, but others have been deemed "too dangerous". Read on to find out about the playground games of yesteryear and whether they're still around today...
- Twang/elastics
Twang/elastics was a very simple game that could keep children entertained for hours. Two children would stretch a long piece of elastic around their ankles. Then, others would jump in and out of the elastic, in a kind of fast-paced variation of skipping.
It would usually be accompanied by chanting a rhyme while jumping. One simple rhyme was, "Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around; teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground; teddy bear, teddy bear, show your shoe; teddy bear, teddy bear, that will do!"
The person jumping in and out of the elastic chanted the rhyme and did the actions as they jumped.
- British Bulldog
British Bulldog was infamous because it often became just an excuse to take down your enemy and dish out punishment. It began with one player being the "bulldog"; facing a number of other players, you had to run from one end of the playground to the other without being caught. The people entrapped by the bulldog then became bulldogs too. The game continued until there were as many bulldogs as runners.
The game was banned in a lot of schools, because it became an excuse for cliques to form and simply mete out painful punishments to their enemies. Perhaps surprisingly, in this health and safety-conscious age, British Bulldog has made a comeback in some playgrounds.
- Conkers
Conkers is a simple game dating from the 19th century. It involves picking conkers up off the ground or shaking them off a horse chestnut tree and securing a piece of string through each one.
Children would arrive at school with a stash of conkers; the idea was to swing at your opponent’s conker to try and smash it. Tactics were employed that were supposed to make conkers indestructible such as coating them with nail varnish or soaking them in vinegar and letting them dry out first.
Some schools banned the game because of the risk of players suffering wrist and face injuries, although it's still played today, normally in September and October.
- Marbles
There were two different types of marble games: one was played for fun, giving children the chance to show off their marbles; the second was a more serious competitive game, when you could gamble away your whole marble collection if you lost.
Generally, it was thought to be more of a boys' game in the early 1970s. There is even an annual World Marbles Championship that still takes place today, but girls weren't permitted to enter until 1972!
The idea of the game was to roll the marbles into a marked-out area. Kids would aim to knock their opponents from the space, claiming the marbles if they succeeded.
People who played marbles as a kid will well remember how heavy the box of marbles was to carry around in your school bag all day!
- Stuck in the mud
Stuck in the mud was a very simple playground game. It was a variation of the game "tag", when the person who had been "tagged" would have to stand completely still, as if they were stuck in mud. They were freed only when another player crawled under their legs. They could then join in the game again, until the next time they were caught.
Organised playground games
Some playground games require more organisation and equipment, such as Capture the Flag. Players need strategies, teamwork and the ability to do plenty of running. Ideal for a minimum of ten players, the game has two teams, each with their own domain that is split by a territory marker, such as a rope or cones.
Both teams assemble at the centre and are given a flag each. They must hide the flag in their own territory. When the organiser announces the game has begun, the aim is to find and seize the other team's flag, taking it over the territory line without being touched by the "enemy”.
Any player who is caught must go to "jail". This can be a tree, sitting on a swing, or just a circled-off area. A fellow team member can release a prisoner from jail, one at a time, by "tagging" them. The first team to capture their opponents' flag wins.
This is always an exciting game for kids, as it provides unique challenges and keeps everyone active. The equipment can be stored away until the next time it's needed.
Benefits of outdoor play
Playing outdoors should be encouraged, as it has many benefits for children's health, both physical and mental. Running and chasing around can develop excellent physical fitness, stamina and agility, while also helping prevent kids from becoming obese.
Running and jumping can develop muscles, increase bone density and aid stability, while climbing can develop better coordination, strength and balance. Any time spent away from video games and the television is a bonus.
If you were lucky enough to enjoy the playground in the 70s or 80s, why don’t you introduce the children in your life to some of the best games on the planet?