Playground Games! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hopscotch

In New York City it is called "Potsy," in Brazil "Amarelinha," in Cuba it is "Pon," and in India it is "Kith-Kith." Hopscotch is played around the world with a large variation of different rules.

Answer: Kickball

Kickball, arguably the most beloved of all playground games, was invented on the playgrounds of Cincinatti around 1917 by Nicholas C. Seuss. Originally called "Kick Baseball," it soon became better known as simply "Kickball." Kickball is also very popular in South Korea where it is known as "Balyagu."

Answer: Stuck-in-the-Mud

Stuck-in-the-Mud is also sometimes called "Freeze Tag," "Scarecrow Tag," "Sticky Touch," or even "Statues Tag." The game is only over when the tagger has "mud-stuck" everyone or when the tagger drops to the ground in complete exhaustion.

Answer: Simon Says

"Simon Says" has been around for centuries and no one is completely sure how it began. Some suggest it originated from the Latin version "Cicero dicit fac hoc" meaning "Cicero {the famous Roman politician} says do this." History also suggests that the "Simon" refers to Simon de Montfort who captured King Henry III in 1264. Until Henry's son Edward rescued his father, none of the King's commands would be recognized.

Answer: Oranges and Lemons

Two children will make an archway and in a line the other children will pass underneath singing the following song: "Oranges and lemons, Say the bells of St. Clements. You owe me five farthings, Say the bells of St. Martins. When will you pay me? Say the bells of Old Bailey.

When I grow rich, Say the bells of Shoreditch. When will that be? Say the bells of Stepney. I do not know, Says the great bells of Bow. Here comes a candle to light you to bed, And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!" The chopper comes down and the arch traps one or sometimes two children.

They then become the arch for the new game.

Answer: British Bulldog

British Bulldog is a tag game known also as "Bullrush," "Seaweed," "Bullies," and in Rhode Island, "Cock-a-Rooster." One or two Bulldogs start in the middle and have to catch the other players before they cross the playing area. When the game is played in the swimming pool it is sometimes called "Sharks and Minnows."

Answer: Red Rover

Red Rover is similar to British Bulldog but involves trying to catch members of the opposite team. Researchers suggest the game began in the early 1800s. "Rovers" were Viking pirates and perhaps "Red Rover, Red Rover, let Lucy come over," was a way of daring the Viking raiders to break the English ranks.

Answer: Conkers

To play "Conkers," children search out the largest, shiniest, and strongest horse-chestnuts. They then drill a hole through the middle and put the "conker" on a string. Next, two players will take it in turns trying to hit the other's nut. The one that breaks first is the loser. Can you believe there is actually a world championship for this playground game?

Answer: Sardines

In 1931, A.M. Burrage wrote a ghost story where he called this game "Smee." One person hides and then everyone scatters to find them. Once the person is found, the finder remains with the hider until there is only one person left searching. The last "finder" then becomes the next "hider."

Answer: Kick the Can

"Kick the Can" is also sometimes called "Tip the Can." One person is 'It' and counts to one hundred while everyone else hides. The seeker then has to find people and return to the can to identify who they see and where they are hiding. Once caught a player goes to prison. The only way out is if another player races to the can and kicks it before the seeker can get there.