Thanks for your response, Bill.

That's interesting information, especially the part that boys between 8-14 years old in those decades didn't mind playing what I learned are called "play party" games {but I haven't actually heard that term used}. In the USA, I've found that those singing games are adult initiated with children around 3-6 years old.

Btw, for what it's worth, re the games you mentioned "I sent a letter to my love", "The farmer's in his dell", "Musical Chairs" and "Pass the Parcel" I know a rhyme called "A tisket A tasket" with the line "I sent a letter to my love", but I don't think that it's that commonly known among American children nowadays {I didn't know it as a child}. And I don't know of any game that was played with this rhyme in the USA.

I know Hokey Pokey and Farmer In The Dell {but those are played at adult direction with pre-school children {3-4 years old more than 5-6 years old}. And re "pass the parcel", I don't know that one at all.

Again, thanks Bill for sharing this information for my curiosity's sake and for the folkloric record.   

Best wishes,

Azizi