I absolutely loved playing hopscotch as a child..all you needed was a stick to draw the hopscotch squares and a rock to use as a marker. I played many a game of hopscotch with Kathy who was a neighbor gal whose Mom used to take care of my baby brother and I while Mom was at work at the Boat Factory.
I suppose it was a girls game, you could play it whilst wearing a dress..as long as you were careful bending over to pick up your rock on the way back.
Times have changed..now we have sidewalk chalk. In town there is hardly any dirt left to scratch around in.
Jo made the squares last summer at the Grand Re -Opening of Main Street. There was some discussion about numbering the squares amongst the older ladies. When I got there I added the numbers..because I have never played hopscotch without the numbers in the squares. Jo said she hadn’t either..and the older ladies didn’t say a word.
I am thinking that I would like to have a permanent hopscotch course on one of the sidewalks that lead up to the Historical Museum. Colorful squares with numbers and perhaps some old timey objects..a top, a doll, a train…you get the idea. Something that would catch a youngsters eye and bring back a memory for the oldsters.
I suppose I have to get permission for the project from the Country Commissioners, then approval from the Historical Society Board, then get a donation for the paint..and then find an artist to paint it. My one little project is no longer an easy one.. In the meantime I have lots of sidewalk chalk that I can use up.
I have lots of little projects swirling around in my head. The ground work is being laid this winter…some will work out and come to fruition and others will die a sloooow death:)
I likr your idea. gw
ReplyDeleteWell, they couldn't complain about the chalk...but you'd have to reapply it every time it rained. ;)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't get down there to draw it anymore--LOL! I love your idea, though. :)
I played hopscotch when I was a kid. I saw a few girls playing it last summer and I stopped to watch. I loved the game, that and jacks. I wore my fingernails down on my left hand from scooping up the jacks. We used a golf ball, it bounced much better. :-)
ReplyDeleteGo for it, I think hopscotch would be a wonderful addition. Plus a great way for little visitors to burn off some energy. Stay warm
ReplyDeleteI love your idea! I bet you'd even find some old ladies trying their hand... er... foot at it! A few years ago my good friend and I were walking around her block and came across a hopscotch 'board'. You bet... we stopped to play! It is a lot harder now!
ReplyDeleteYou might be able to get a paint store to donate rejects... although the colors might not be quite as bright as you envision... or maybe the could add tint to some rejects.
What a great idea to have a permanent hopscotch in front of the museum. You're never too old to play!
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE that idea! Now you've flung a hopscotch craving on me!
ReplyDeleteThanks, you are right about Google Chrome!! I am just lazy and for get to use it.
ReplyDeleteI always loved goin' to visit my cousins in Albuqureque NM. The had sidewalks where we could play hopscotch and roller skate! Woohoo!!!
ReplyDeleteCountry meets city!
God bless and enjoy your weekend sweetie!!! :o)
When I was a kid, I think we always used chalk on the driveway or the sidewalk. I supposed though, it depends where you live:) Not a lot of big patches of bare ground around my house.
ReplyDeleteI think your idea is great. It wouldn't take much paint, and if your knees are good, you could probably do it yourself. That's one way to get it done the way you want it, do it yourself. And no-one can do it as well as you:)
Sounds like an excellent idea. Visitors would love it.
ReplyDeleteYour idea is perfect, but to add to the fun collect a basket or bucket full of hopscotch stones.
ReplyDeleteI always searched for a round, flat stone when I played. I numbered the boxes, too, when I played. I also had a large circle at the top that was split in half and a small box at the end to allow someone who had played completely through to play again from the other end. I often played hopscotch by myself on the farm and have such good memories of the games there and at school.
We used chalk and numbered the squares. I love your idea of a permanent hopscotch game at the museum. Maybe you could begin by drawing it with sidewalk chalk and then when the powers-that-be hear your proposal you can point out that you've had it for months/years/whatever and people love it.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea and I also played hopscotch and jacks and marbles. The problem is I can't remember how or what the object was...how did you win? I remember the hopping on one foot and picking things up but the rest is history...I can't remember...uh oh!
ReplyDeleteHi Sam I Am, You tossed a rock onto square number one..then you skipped that square and went on through the others,hopping on one foot..two when you got to the double squares then you used two feet.. at the big circle at the end you turned around and went through and picked up your rock on the way back. You could not use more than one foot in a square or touch one of the lines..you continued on throughout all nine squares. Of course the object was to do it perfectly and not mess up so your turn was missed:)
DeleteSounds like a great idea, Far Side. I look forward to seeing which ideas bear fruit!
ReplyDeleteWhere ever hopscotch has been played there are many discussions as to how it's played. As in the beginning of your post you took a stick to make the grid. Kids made their own apparatus...part of the fun. Some grids were pretty wild looking.
ReplyDeleteI loved hopscotch and I was a demon at jacks. For hopscotch we used to beg old rubber heels from the shoemaker.....they were dandy and better than rocks for marking the square because they stuck right where you threw them. Sigh. Sob.
ReplyDeleteWe loved playing hopscotch, too! And you draw the board just as we did. It has to have numbers!!! Just checked Wikipedia for the rules. It's been so long since I played - - - and wonder if arthritic knees could do that game anymore. I like your idea of having it painted on the sidewalk leading to the museum. Very clever idea.
ReplyDeletefunny you should post about this.....was just thinking about hopscotch the other day for a project I need to be working on!
ReplyDeleteBTW..I did upload Chrome...just so I could comment here! Yours was the only one with a problem, so far!
ReplyDeleteSee...I went and downloaded Chrome so I could comment on your blog now, and they didn't show up! Hmmmm. Anyhow, funny thing you wrote about this as I was just thinking about hopscotch the other day for a project I'm working on! Great minds think alike???
ReplyDeleteOh my, you have brought back memories from the cobwebs of my mind. Hopscotch and 4 square! Do kids play those games anymore? I mean, they are all so busy in the house with their indoor games. Oh my, times have changed.
ReplyDeleteJust thought I'd mention that we've let the kids paint on the sidewalk with kid's craft paint. It's fun to paint welcome messages, for example. And it wears off in about half of a summer season.
ReplyDelete