School playground games

No matter where you are in the world, be that a bushy field in Africa, a back street in Naples or a main road in Orlando, kids play the same sort of games. Playground games seem to be universal, which is an interesting development, since many of the various cultures across the world have never been in contact with each other prior to developing those games. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular ones.

Skipping

Skipping is always a firm favourite, not in the least because you can play it alone or in entire groups. By yourself, you can challenge yourself to skip more, to twist the rope around you twice before your feet hit the floor again or even to skip backwards. With groups, there are tons of games that you can play involving two people spinning the rope. For added difficulty, you could have four people spinning two ropes and have more than one person jumping.

Tag

Playing tag is another firm favourite that is played across international playgrounds. With tag, it is simply a case of chasing after each other and touching each other. Whoever gets touched is the next one who is “on”. Generally, these games also have a “den”, where people can stand and catch their breath and not get tagged. A variant of the famous tag game is to play “hide and tag”, which combines hide and seek with tag. If someone is found, they have to run towards the den. If they get tagged, they are next on.

Any Ball Games

Give a child a ball and they will develop a game. This is why we have so many ball games in existence today. We have tennis, basketball, baseball, rounders, football, and so on. All of these games have been developed by kids playing on a playground with a ball and inventing rules as they go along. Football is believed to have originated somewhere in Ancient Egypt. Children can develop balls out of absolutely anything. Those who are unable to get a hold of a good quality ball with make them out of rubber bands, pig bladders or anything else that they can use. The ball truly is universal.

Clapping Games and Playground Rhymes

There are various “clapping” games, where children clap their hands together in elaborate patterns whilst singing different songs to accompany the clapping. Generally, it is girls who engage in these games, but most boys actually now the movements and the words to the songs as well – they just don’t want to get caught! Interestingly, the lyrics of the songs are different all over the world, but the rhythms used are generally exactly the same, as are the actions. Some scientific research is being undertaken in this at present to see whether music is actually an international language.

Freeze Games

Last but not least, there are a number of so called “freeze” games. The most common one is where children start at the end of a playground, with one child standing at the other side, with their back towards the rest of the children. The kids then have to run towards the other side, but as soon as that child turns around, they have to freeze. If they move, they have to start from the beginning again. Generally, these games are accompanied by sayings such as “one, two, three, SUNSHINE!”, to alert the children that the front one is going to turn around.

Author’s Bio

Kathy has been traveling through America for a long time, and whenever she rents a car in the USA, she looks around playgrounds to see if any new games have been developed.

 

If you are trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, a trip to New York, accessible by flights to the USA, or even direct routes to New York, might seem like a voyage into a cavern of indulgent temptations. Almost every second restaurant is a fast-food joint selling greasy fat-laden treats and it is easy to jump in a cab to wherever you need to go. It’s no wonder obesity is an epidemic in America!

Can you experience the culture of New York City without adding pounds to your waistline? Of course you can! There is a healthy side to this city and enjoying a bite of the Organic Big Apple is lots of fun and better for you as well. Here are a few ideas of healthy things that you can do on a day out in New York City:

Walk It Off

While you are in New York you will want to see all of the popular tourist sights of this great city, but why do that while sitting on a crowded tour bus when you could be burning calories on a walking tour? Taking a walking tour instead of a bus tour is a great way to get some exercise while you are sightseeing, and see New York up close. You will have a huge variety of walking tours to choose from, as there are dozens of tour companies offering them in downtown New York City.

You could take the New York City PhotoTrek Walking Tour which encompasses some of the most iconic landmarks of the city and includes photos of you in front of them. If you are interested in history you might enjoy the Revolutionary Era Historical Walking Tour from Patriot Tours. There is also a tour which takes you through the locations in Central Park where famous movie scenes have been shot, delivered by a company called “On Location”. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a bottle of water!

Healthy Eats

After all of that exercise you will probably be hungry, but instead of gorging on fat and greasy New York street food why not check out some of the excellent healthy fare that this dynamic city has to offer? There are many deliciously healthy places to eat in New York City, such as the Organic Grill on First Avenue which uses locally grown produce to make its hearty and flavourful dishes. You could also do some grocery shopping at one of the many natural marketplaces in New York City such as Westerly Natural Market on 8th Avenue which offers only organic produce and meat which is free from antibiotics and hormones.

Relaxation

We all know that being stressed out is bad for your health, so why not take some time out of your holidays in New York City to treat yourself to some peaceful relaxation time? It might seem like strange to seek tranquility in this fast-paced city but there are many ways that you can find a moment of calm here in New York. You can participate in free meditative yoga classes at the Integral Yoga Institute in the Meatpacking District on Fridays at 5pm. If gazing upon beautiful works of art is what lowers your blood pressure, take a slow meander around the Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, or the Metropolitan. There are also many spas in the city to choose from where you can treat yourself to a massage, such as the Exhale Spa in the Upper East Side or Dorit Baxter Spa in mid-town.

Enjoy your healthy day out in New York City!