Russian Child Games

Outdoor Games

• Children play hopscotch by drawing a playing field of connected foot-square boxes, some in pairs, some single, and in a row. Players toss a pebble into each box in turn, then hop through the playing field. The player cannot land on the box with the pebble and stops to pick up their pebble, balancing if necessary on one foot, before hopping on to the end. The winner is the first to complete the course

Card Games

• In Russia, P'yanitsa (the Drunkard) or War is played using only 32 cards of a deck. Aces and kings through sixes of all suits are used. Cards are dealt evenly to players (usually two) who keep them face down in stacks. Players turn over one card at a time and the player with the highest card wins both cards on the table. Cards won return to their deck. Play stops when one player wins all the cards.

Individual Games

• Marbles are another universal game played by Russian children. A large circle is drawn on a smooth area of ground. Marbles are placed inside the ring. Players take turns shooting larger marbles at those in the playing circle, hoping to knock opponent's marbles outside the ring. Marbles knocked outside are taken by the shooter -- if no marbles are won, play goes to the next shooter. The game ends when someone wins the last marble.

Group Games

• Hide and Seek is played indoors or outdoors. All players begin the game at home base. The seeker covers her eyes and counts the predetermined number of seconds while the other players hide. After completing the countdown, the seeker goes in search of those who have hidden themselves. Hiders that reach the home base without being detected win to play another round. The first hider discovered becomes the next seeker. Game play continues for an indeterminate period.