One of the fun games that can be played by children is the traditional hopscotch. Hopscotch's popularity with children has been documented for at least 2000 years and it can be found in every country of the world in one form or the other. It is natural play that requires just sidewalk space or floor space and a chalk. Hopscotch promotes natural fitness in children and is a fun group activity.

What is hopscotch?

Hopscotch is a hopping game that can be played on a bare patch of ground or on the floor. What it involves is drawing a diagram on the ground and hopping on it. Each player has a different marker such as a stone, a shell, a button, etc. The simple rules of hopscotch are: 1,2 and 3 in a line; 4 and 5 next to each other; 6 on its own; 7 and 8 next to each other on the top.

To play hopscotch you drop your stone on the next number (starting from number 1, then 2, and so on, moving onto 8 successively). It is essential your stone lands in the right number or you miss a turn. If your stone lands on the right number, you hop the sequence on one foot, missing the number. The only time you land both feet on the ground is on 4/5 and 7/8 provided your stone is not on one of them. If you put your second foot down, you have to pick up your stone and try again next time. At 7/8 you turn around and hop back, picking up your stone on the way, without putting your foot down. When you have reached 8, you simply start with 8 and work your way down the numbers. Whoever completes the two rounds, both up and back, is declared the winner.

Hopscotch has been a children's game for generations all over the world. Around the world children have enjoyed this free physical activity by simply drawing grids on the ground and then hopping over them with one foot. Hopscotch has simple easy to follow rules that appeal to children. Hopscotch is competitive but not fiercely competitive and therefore suits children's temperaments.