The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-28
GAMES VIE Used TO PLAY
Old-Fashioned Sports Revived for
New Children.
Educators Have Great Faith In the
Pastimcs of Colonial Times, Many
of which Were Imported From
England-Their Value as Amuse-
ments for the kindergarten Glass.

Miss Jessie H. Bancroft, director Of
physical training in the schools Of Brook
Ign, has just issued an interesting pamph-
let describing the games played by the
| children during the recess hours. The
games are classified as ball, bean bag.
and miscellaneous circle and singing
| games. In all there are sixty FIVE va
| rieties.
| 1t has been said that the teachers are
opposed to teaching and participating In
these games This is apparently not so.
The physical director is authority for the
| statement that teachers discovered and
| introduced many Of the games described
! in the pamphlet. Besides, the teacher
| often becomes so attached to their charges
| that anything that interests the pupils
| doubly interests them. 1t Is also true
that taking part in the games with the
children gives the teachers helpful relaxa-
tion from their official duties.
Included in the educational exhibit OF
Brooklyn at the Paris Exposition were
five moving pictures showing school chill
dren at play. These pictures created quite
stir among the people at the fair who
were interested in educational work. The
Russian Minister Of Education thought so
| much of them that he asked permission
to have the pictures exhibited in Russia
after the fair authorities were through
with them. This request was granted.
Nearly everyone Is familiar with the
bean bag games. These are played exclu-
sively by the primary classes. There is the
bean bag race. bean bags in circle. where
as many bags as possible are used. the OBJ
ject being to keep the bags going at the
one time, the bean bag box and the bean
bag board. Sling shot, is another game
where one player stands in the centre and
whirls rope with bean bag attached
to the end. Those in the circle are re-
quired to jump as it comes to them. The
one who is caught by the rope has to ex-
change places with the player in the CEN
tire. 1t is also possible to play the game
previously mentioned by using bean bag
instead of ball.
Then there are what are called circle
games. In skip away" the children stand
in a circle, holding hands. The player
who is "it' runs around the circle and
tags one Of the players. The enc tagged
runs in the opposite direction to the play
er by whom he was tagged and the player
who first reaches the vacant place in the
circle wins SLAP jack is played the
are running meet they must stop and shake
hands. Squat tag in circle, drop the
handkerchief" slap CATCH" and Fox and
farmer" are very much alike.
Three Deep; or, Third Man." Is one q
the most popular scenes. Tie players ar
range themselves in two circles one with
in the other. Two extra players for whom
there is no extra place in the circle stand
on the outside as .'chaser" and runner"
The latter may save himself from the
chaser by standing in front of any two
players (that is, inside the circle), thus
making line three deep. He then is safe:
but the cutter one Of the three is then
third man." and may be tagged. To
save himself, he must run and take
place in front Of another couple, but not
the couple adjacent to him on either side.
II player is tagged, he becomes chaser,
and the enc who tagged him the runner.
The game may be varied by having two
circles face each other, with space te-
tween them for running. The runner, in
seeking refuge, places himself between
two players. and the one toward whom
he turns his back be tagged Cat and
the Rat" and Have You Seen My Sheep"
are included in the circle games
Under the head of miscellaneous games
are many that are familiar to every boy.
Lame Goose 'Ded Rover" Last Pr
Pass" Gathering Sticks. Prisoners
Base" and Relay Race do MT nesd 10
be explained. The Bell Chase" is de-
scribed in the pamphlet in the following
manner: The children stand in two lines
facing each ether. at considerable dis
lance. A dumbbell is placed on the
ground in the centre of the open space
between the lines. The end players OPP
posite each ether start, up-n signal, to
get the bell; the one reaching 1t first
must pick 1t up and return to his place
before his opponent can tag him. II he
does this, the opponent becomes his pris-
oner. and must stand behind him. II he
is tagged before reaching his place. Ee
becomes the opponents prisoner, and
must stand behind him.
For the kindergarten classes the singing
games have been found to amuse the chill
dren greatly. Where space is limited
some Of the following games are played:
1.-THE Snail,'' Let Your Feet Go Tramp,
Tramp. Tramp" THE Cat and the
Mouse" when We're Playing Togther,'
LOBBY Loo. London Bridge, Round
and Round the Village" and Farmer in
the DELL
These are only few Of the games that
are played in the kindergarten classes.
They serve to show. however. as the New
York SUM- says, that there Is no difficulty
in providing even the smaller children
with plenty of exercise. The pamphlet
also describes many different ways OF
Jumping the rope, another amusement
popular with the children.