Playing Games: Story #2 of 52

I don’t remember ever feeling bored as a child even though we didn’t have video games or smartphones to amuse us. We were left to our own devices a lot of the time so, I guess we had to come up with ways pass the time. At any given time, especially on weekends, there were always lots of neighbourhood kids around so, invariably, we’d find ourselves playing games like Kick the Can, Red Rover, Hide and Seek, or a pick-up game of baseball.

Kick the Can was a favorite. All we needed was an old tin can and about three or four kids (although there were usually many more) and we would spend hours running, hiding, and trying to escape capture. The game was played much like Hide and Seek but it was more exciting. The can would be placed in the middle of an open area and one person would be “it”. We’d “draw straws” to decide who would be “it”. Drawing straws was the quickest, and fairest way to decide and there were never any arguments. Seems like children can always figure out how to get along…adults could take a lesson from them. Then, everyone else would get ready and one person would kick the can as far as they could. The person who was “it” would have to run and get the can and put it back in it’s starting place while the rest of us would take off like mad fools looking for places to hide.

Once the “seeker” (or the “it” person) had retrieved the kicked can and put it back in the middle they would go in search of the hiders. As he found each one he’d bring them back to stand by the can - they’d be captured - and they couldn’t leave UNLESS one of the other hiders could sneak back and kick the can again! Then, anyone who was captured would be freed and would run and hide again. The goal of the game was for the seeker to capture everyone without the can being kicked. Every time someone managed to make it back to kick that can, the game started over. Only once everyone had been captured did the game end and the last person captured was then “it” and the game started over.

Man, that game would get the adrenaline going! There’d be lots of cheering and screaming and laughing as we tried to help someone sneak out to kick that can so we could be freed. These games were always played outdoors, summer and winter. It was always better if played at dusk or after dark as that added a whole new level of challenge and excitement. I’m sure the whole neighbourhood could hear us as we cheered on one another. We got a lot of exercise and fresh air as we had fun AND we were learning about teamwork and inclusion. There were no age-restrictions with our games. It didn’t matter if you were a boy or a girl, young or old - everyone was included - and, if there were disagreements, we always managed to resolve them. Rarely did anyone get hurt but scrapes and bruises were expected and, in a way, became badges of honor. At the end of the day we'd go home, tired but happy, reliving the best moments.

I don’t see kids free-playing outside much anymore. That’s sad. Now, activities are planned out, structured, and scheduled in so the parents can be there to watch over them and make sure everyone gets along. Some of my best memories are of being outside, being part of a neighbourhood of kids, and playing all sorts of games like this.