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Explore Play
A first look at the Living Play archive. All entries here areSample Recorddemonstration records drawn from widely-documented traditions. Community-contributed material will expand and, over time, replace them.
12 sample records
Five Stones
Batu Seremban / Otedama / Knucklebones
A family of traditional dexterity games played with small stones, seeds, shells or handmade pieces.
Hopscotch
Rayuela / Marelle / Himmel und Hölle
A jumping game with many regional layouts, names and rule variations.
Elastic Jumping
Chinese jump rope / Gummitwist / Gumica
Players complete increasingly difficult jumping sequences while two others hold an elastic loop.
Red Light, Green Light
Un, dos, tres, pollito inglés / Statues
A stop-and-go game found in many cultures under different names, phrases and gestures.
Cat's Cradle
Ayatori / Berceau du chat
A sequence of string figures passed between players or made individually, often with regional names and stories.
Counting-Out Rhyme
Eeny, meeny / Am, stram, gram / Ene, mene, muh
Rhymes used to select a player, begin a game or assign roles, often preserved through sound rather than literal meaning.
Marbles
Canicas / Billes / Kancha
A family of shooting and target games with distinct local rules for stakes, distances and shots.
Hand-Clapping Rhymes
Miss Mary Mack / A la vibora de la mar
Rhythmic clapping patterns performed with a partner or in circles, carrying songs, jokes and social commentary.
Tag
Tig / Chapadas / Fangen
The simplest of chasing games, endlessly reinvented with safe zones, freeze rules and local names.
Hide and Seek
Escondidas / Cache-cache / Nascondino
One player counts while the others hide; the seeker must find each hider before they can reach the home base.
Kite Flying
Patang / Cometa / Volantín
A seasonal tradition in many regions, often tied to festivals, competitions and the making of the kite itself.
Spinning Top
Trompo / Peonza / Koma
A game of throwing and spinning a top, with local variations for tricks, duels and target play.