Hopscotch

Pebbles

Tipsy got the pebbles…

Chalk

…Vanilla got the chalk…

Toss

…Vanilla threw first – she got as far as Five for silver – yippee…

oops

…oops – her foot went on the line…

Tipsy’s Toss

…Tipsy got as far as Six for gold – yay…

oops again

…her foot went on the line too…

hop

…oh well, Vanilla says she drew the squares too small…

Fun

It is fun to play together anyway…

Two for Joy!

The way we learned to play is: stand on the “Earth” to toss the pebble, then say a part of the rhyme as it is thrown. Starting by tossing the pebble to square one, and say One for sorrow. If it rolls out, you forfeit your turn! But if it stays in the square, you hop over the pebble on the way to “Heaven” ( always landing with one foot on the single squares numbered 1, 2, and 5; and two feet on 3/4 and 6/7 and heaven!) Turn around with a two feet jump still in heaven, and return the same way, picking up the pebble on the way back. If you make it back without stepping on a line, or falling over, you throw to the second square and say line two. Carry on through the squares in sequence, one through seven, or forfeit your turn if you make a mistake.

The whole rhyme is:

One for sorrow,

Two for Joy

Three for a girl,

Four for a boy

Five for silver,

Six for gold

Seven for the story that never was told!

The rhyme is also used for counting magpies (though we don’t have any on Vancouver Island).

The Quimper Hittys wonder if other kids play hopscotch any more?

Tags: chalk, hopscotch, pebbles, playground game, Quimper Hitty, Quimperhitty

15 thoughts on “Hopscotch”

Becky on August 19, 2020 at 5:24 am said:

How fun for these two QH girls to play hopscotch together. Yes, friends are a most important part of our lives.
Although I played it in the distant past, I’d never heard a rhyme to go with it. We just jumped through the squares and went on our way. Thanks for the total picture of this childhood game.

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- Quimper Hitty on August 19, 2020 at 8:59 pm said:
  
  I used to love hopscotch! I am always glad to see a chalked out hopscotch pattern, and I know there are many many variations with and without rhymes. Next time I see my granddaughter I will see if she knows the game!
  
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lifebyacompassnotaclock on August 19, 2020 at 5:59 am said:

We have magpies here in Melbourne Australia and I always always wait to see two or more in my backyard.
I loved the game of Hopscotch with your QH girls 🥰

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- Quimper Hitty on August 19, 2020 at 9:04 pm said:
  
  We definitely don’t want to see a single magpie! I think hopscotch is a delightful pastime, I spent many hours playing sometimes on my own and sometimes with a friend…
  
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Mary Anne on August 19, 2020 at 7:00 am said:

This story is absolutely adorable. The girls look precious (as usual). This brings back such happy memories. I wish I could remember the rhymes we sang but my memory isn’t cooperating. I’m going to introduce this game to the children in our family (via their parents) who are looking for games to play with the kids now. Loved this…thank you.

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- Quimper Hitty on August 19, 2020 at 9:08 pm said:
  
  You are welcome, and there are many different ways to draw the track! Just a lot of fun to play, hopping, skipping and jumping! I hope the children in your family enjoy it!
  
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magpiesue on August 19, 2020 at 1:35 pm said:

I seem to think we had a rhyme for hopscotch but it wasn’t the one you shared. Can’t bring it up from the mists of time at the moment – it’ll probably come to me in the middle of the night! I’m glad someone is recording the games we played generations ago. 🙂

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- Quimper Hitty on August 19, 2020 at 9:10 pm said:
  
  I know this must be a very old game, played all over the world, and with endless variations! Just plain fun is the best kind of fun, we think!
  
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dogsdolls on August 19, 2020 at 9:21 pm said:

Goodness this brought back some playground memories! The girls are adorable.

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- Quimper Hitty on August 20, 2020 at 6:40 am said:
  
  Thanks! We think they are adorable too – our playground memories are mixed, but hopscotch, skipping, and marbles were always fun!
  
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nanacathy2 on August 19, 2020 at 11:23 pm said:

I have occasionally seen hopscotch drawn on pavements. I played as a child but I don’t recall a rhyme.

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- Quimper Hitty on August 20, 2020 at 6:40 am said:
  
  I am glad kids are still hopping and playing, rhyme or no rhyme!
  
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DawnGillDesigns on August 20, 2020 at 1:53 am said:

And of course, here in the UK, we have to salute a magpie (otherwise it’s serious bad luck)

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- Quimper Hitty on August 20, 2020 at 6:42 am said:
  
  I wonder why that is? Here too, and you wonder how people in a rational society could still feel a frisson of anxiety while they search for a second magpie!
  
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  - DawnGillDesigns on August 22, 2020 at 1:29 am said:
    
    I rather love that about people.