When Childen Used to Play

by Richard C. Raynard, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

A lifetime ago, children in grade school played, explored, invented games, and entertained themselves with no electronic media or adult push.


Girls playing Clap Hands



There were 3 recess periods: mid-morning, noontime lunch, and early afternoon. School yard games were passed on for generatios by the children themselves, some games dating back centuries.

Everyone played Hide-and-Seek, Dodge Ball, Keep Away, Kick the Can, Ringo-Leary, Red Light and Red Rover, some games lasting for weeks.  Younger kids played on school sets: Swings, Teeters, Slides, Tetherball and Ladders. Girls had many involved games, like Jacks, Skip Rope, Hopscotch, London Bridge, all accompanied with involved lyrics and chants. Boys gravitated towards Shootout Marbles, Aggies, Races, Knights on Horseback, Frisbee, Baseball, balancing and daring games.

After school, the games continued on outside "till the street lights came on", or when new games took over, like biking, hiking, exploring vacant houses, fishing boating, etc.

Adults helped a bit, mostly in class. Outdoors, rarely, with baseball or volleyball. Singing in class was usually 3 times a week, using the Golden Book of folk songs from all over the world, sometimes with a rhythm band or improvised instruments. Cantatas and other recitals were held 2 or 3 times a years, directed by special music teacher. The arts were taught 1 or 2 tiimes a week, in water color, charcoal, crayon, silouettes, etc. All this, in addition to the usual school subjects.

Outdoor childhood games were killed by two working parents, TV, fear of the drug scene and predators, the media, No Child Left Behind, and video games. A centuries-old children's game culture was wiped out, like the American Indians. Extra-school activities are now highly structured, expensive, parented and pressured. School itsefl is grim, No recess, no gym, no noon break, no in-class lunch, little art or music. No FUN.  Kids now are rarely seen to play in the yards, streets, or woods, or even in playgrounds and parks. A trash culture roars out of TV, ensnaring childen in envy, distraction, loneliness, eye candy, video games and false maturity and fashion.

Play grows your curiosity and interests. Play gives you skill and confidence, prepares you to both participate and lead, and rehearses what you will love as an adult.

It will take a determined offort to overcome the machine of corporate pandering, the media lure, and the made-in-Madison Avenue youth culture. Still, play can happen anytime we show our childen these games, join in the fun, and turn them loose on their own.

About Dr. Raynard
Dr. Richard Raynard is a licensed clinical psychologist with 35 years experience resolving a broad range of emotional problems. As a cognitive-behavioral therapist who has specialized in anxiety and phobic disorders since 1980, he has spent the last 35 years fulfilling a life-long desire to explore and define the true purpose of emotions and how people can easily use emotions to create meaning and satisfaction in their lives. Dr. Raynard's series of books on emotions can be found on Amazon.com. His other books include Don't Panic, and Anxiety & Panic Medications.