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English Cultural Games to Teach Children

There is a universal memory that most people have about their childhood. We recall time we spent playing and the games we enjoyed with our neighborhood friends. English children engage in many of the outdoor games that their parents enjoyed as children. These games have stood the test of time and become part of the fabric of English children's lives. There is no fancy equipment needed and any number of children can play. Best of all, these games take children away from the television and outside to socialize and exercise.

Elastics
- Step inside the elastic and hold it up with your ankles.
  
  Although widely known as "Elastics," this game has many other names. All that is needed is a piece of elastic, approximately 9 feet in length. Tie shorter lengths together if needed and connect the ends of the elastic. The "enders" stand inside the looped elastic, feet apart and holding it up with their ankles. The player, or "jumper," must enter the loop of elastic and perform skillful jumps in and around it. The enders chant to accompany the jumper and help her keep rhythm. When she completes it, the elastic is raised in height and she starts over.
Conkers
- The conker is found inside the prickly shell of the horse chestnut fruit.
  
  Conkers are a long-standing British tradition each fall. Gather the prickly produce from the Horse Chestnut tree to find the perfect, symmetrical conker. Pierce a hole through it before threading it on a knotted string or shoelace. You will need an opponent to play the game. Hold out your conker at arm's length. Your opponent must take aim at your conker with her own, swinging it in an arc as she strikes. Take turns hitting each other's conkers until one of them breaks. The conker that remains intact is deemed the winner.
"Please Mr. Crocodile"
- Mr. Crocodile must capture himself a meal.
  
  Kids will have fun trying to cross Mr. Crocodile's waters. Pick one child to be Mr. Crocodile, while the others line up a short distance away. Facing the crocodile, the children chant,
  
  "Please, Mr. Crocodile,
  
  May we cross your waters
  
  On a cup and saucer?
  
  If not, on a dirty piece of soap?"
  
  There are many variants of the request. Mr. Crocodile responds with, "only if you are wearing yellow." He may pick any color he chooses. If any of the children are wearing Mr. Crocodile's chosen color, they may pass him to safety. If the color is not worn, Mr. Crocodile must chase and catch each remaining child. The last survivor becomes the next crocodile.
"Queenie, Queenie"
- Use a ball small enough to hold in one hand.
  
  Queenie, Queenie should be played with a small group of friends. Select a child to be the Queen. She turns her back on the rest of the group and throws a small ball over her shoulder. One of the children must catch the ball. The whole group hides their hands behind their backs, before chanting,
  
  "Queenie, Queenie -- who's got the ball?
  
  See I haven't got it,
  
  See I haven't got it,
  
  Queenie, Queenie -- who's got the ball?"
  
  The group shows Queenie their hands, one at a time, and Queenie must guess who has the ball. There is much bluffing involved. The child with the ball has the task of swapping it from hand to hand behind her without dropping it.

Kids Games