Back to the old school

Old-fashioned games are making a comeback, according to recent research. Evans explores their appeal.

Back in the muddled preamble to the first lockdown, alongside hand soap and thermometers, skipping ropes were hastily acquired for this household.

In the midst of uncertainty and clamour for loo rolls, the fight-or-flight response turned its attention to occupying the children, finding an outlet for their boundless energy.

I figured skipping would give us all something to do that didn’t involve the inevitable bickering of competitive family sport.

And as an activity, it could still be gainfully employed even in the case of selfisolation.

Skipping ropes (portable, cheap and cheerful) duly arrived and we trotted off to the nearby field where I marvelled at the oodles of joy to be had with this simple toy. And it turns out I wasn’t alone.

According to a recent nationwide study, old-fashioned childhood games have undergone a resurgence over the past 18 months, with children returning to the simple activities enjoyed by their parents and grandparents. Skipping ropes have seen a revival along with hula hoops and games of that old playground classic - tag.

More than three quarters of the 3,500 parents polled claim their children have been enjoying playing oldfashioned games because they spent so long inside during lockdowns and are actually now bored of their screens.

The research revealed that almost a third said that playing catch was now a family game mainstay.

Skipping, rounders, tag and even hula hooping had all also seen a comeback, according to the data.

Frisbees have been dug out of cupboards in 18 per cent of households, while more than one in 10 parents and grandparents are now playing cricket with the little ones in the family.

And a fifth of children have been introduced to the wonder of a traditional game of Stuck in the Mud.

The research, by leisure operator Everyone Active, paints a picture of families wanting to live life to the full this summer, getting off the sofa and exercising.

The data found that almost three quarters of families claim they had become much more active over the last 12 months, spending more time than ever before playing sports and games together.

Maybe it is the spontaneity of these simple, affordable pleasures that many of us found so appealing during lockdowns, particularly in the context of a pre-pandemic world dominated for lots of families by after-school activities.

Perhaps it’s their ageless and timeless qualities bringing children and adults together from across the generations. Or maybe it is just the opportunity for pure play that they present which is part of their enduring charm.

According to Sport England (using data for the academic year 2019/20), less than half of children and young people aged five to 16 in England are meeting the Chief Medical Officer guidelines of taking part in sport and physical activity for an average of 60 minutes or more every day.

Meanwhile 31.3 per cent that’s 2.3m children and young people - do less than an average of 30 minutes a day.

So any indication of enthusiasm for physical activity must surely be greeted with open arms amid concerns about childhood obesity and poor mental health.

And it’s not just classic games that are back, as 44 per cent of families are now regularly playing football together, a third (33 percent) are swimming, and the same number have taken up cycling, according to Everyone Active’s study.

“Our research indicates that all types of group activities from rounders to cycling and football are back this summer, with families hoping to enjoy exercising together more than ever before,” said David Bibby, Everyone Active managing director.

Eight per cent of families are now doing yoga together, and six per cent have taken up boxing training with their children.

And while the shift in working practices due to the pandemic has not been without its pitfalls, there have been definite health benefits for some.

The study found that almost half (45 per cent) of parents said they were exercising more regularly because they now had the time to do so as their working patterns had changed, while 34 per cent said the pandemic had given them a new focus on health and fitness.