Child's Game: Elastics

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,ZOY103
Date: 15 Jun 08 - 01:49 AM

I loved the rymes. My children loved them. I had to go through alot before they went to sleep.We bought the game elastics and it was great fun.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics/ball games etc
From: GUEST,Sue/South Wales
Date: 28 May 08 - 06:55 AM

Enjoyed reading the rhymes, triggered lots of childhood memories. I remember playing french skipping in the 70's. Later reduced to " 'lastics ". Also remembered that it died out in the playground because of minor injuries and incidents. I feel that a lot of these games have died out because of health & safety issues and compensation claims being taken to a ludicrous degree! These games were important in building confidence, team work, social interaction, sharing etc and promoting physical stamina...all of which are sadly lacking with a lot of youngsters these days.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: bobad
Date: 20 May 08 - 07:28 PM

I remember the girls playing this (I would join in on occasion) growing up in a suburb of Montreal back in the 50's. The accompanying rhyme went something like:

Yogi in the geyser (and the Kaiser?)
Yogi yi yay
Tennessee soba
Sado saday

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: Azizi
Date: 20 May 08 - 07:07 PM

I had never heard of elastics before reading this thread. Here's another web page about elastics that I found interesting and helpful in explaining how the game was and {probably still is?} played:

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1841337

Here's a longish excerpt from that webpage which was written by Tem42 on Oct. 21, 2006. Tem42 described how she {he?} played this game in Cape Verde, Africa:

The Basic Idea: You will need three players and a loop of string, rubber bands, or elastic rope. Two players stand inside either end of the loop with their ankles spread slightly apart, the loop pulled tight so as to raise it 3-4 inches off the ground. The third person hops over this rope in a predetermined pattern. If they hop the pattern correctly, the loop is raised up to knee level, and they try the pattern again. Next is hip level (AKA hipsies or underbums); obviously you are not hopping at this point, but leaping. (I have never played with anyone whose hip level was higher than mid-thigh on me, but even so I was exhausted after one round).

Details: The rules, patterns, and penalties vary from player to player, game to game, and often minute to minute. Here are some of the more common variables.

The most common foot placements from which to make patterns are: feet-out-same-side, feet-out-on-opposite-sides, both-feet-in, one-foot-in-one-out (and vise versa), both-feet-out-opposite-sides-but-with-legs-crossed. To these might be added standing on the loop (this doesn't work very well above ankle level), catching part of the loop with your toe, and one-foot hops and jumps.

The loop of string may be crossed in the center (making a figure eight), allowing for more complex patterns. It may be held higher at one end than the other. Turns and spins may also be added. Footwork can get pretty fancy, especially among older kids.

The pattern is usually accompanied by chants, rhymes, and/or clapping. The chants often describe part of the pattern to be hopped...Oddly, there doesn't seem to be much overlap between Chinese jump rope rhymes and everyday jump rope rhymes.

Whether or not you are 'out' depends (usually) on the judgement of the two people playing 'post'. You may be called out for touching the rope, or you may be able to do anything short of falling flat on your face without being called out. Usually it falls somewhere in between, with touches allowed, but trips, catches and stumbles ending your turn. Sometimes it will not be kicking the rope, but breaking rhythm that will be the cause of outs. Often you start your second turn at whatever point you messed up in your first turn"...

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST
Date: 20 May 08 - 03:42 PM

you rule

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Tara
Date: 17 Apr 08 - 01:18 AM

I remember playing elastics in the early 80's at primary school in Perth. When we played, we just sang the moves "side, side, in, out, on, out, criss, cross" etc (Don't remember the pattern!) We started at ankles - then when you passed that level, you went to knees, then hips etc. I wish I could remember all the moves too!

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 08 - 05:08 PM

hey where can you get these elastic things?

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Guest - teacher Peace River AB. Can
Date: 12 Apr 08 - 02:03 PM

I played elastics growing up in Montreal early 70's and we played this all the time but we did it differently. We did 0 to 9 ( I think - that was a long time ago) and each number had a different step to it. 0 was you just jumped over it, 1 was you jumped and landed on both strings, 2 you put one foot under and one over on the first side and then switched. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? I'd like to teach it to the students in my classes.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 05 Apr 08 - 08:57 PM

Played elastic in the 70's & 80's in Sydney & have just spent the past hour or so trying to teach my 8 year old daughter how to play elastics. Its been great fun! Haven't had to jump so much in years.
All the moves are coming back very slowly thanks everyone!

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Apr 08 - 06:36 PM

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,MrsBrown AUS
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 10:04 AM

I played elastics in country Victoria, Australia in the mid seventies.
My children are now early primary school and I found "elastics" on the shelf at the toy shop... so I am researching and introducing it to my BOYS(to my husband's dismay - as it is a "girl's game") when we go camping next week.

The rhymes I remember are:
ENGLAND, IRELAND, SCOTLAND FRANCE, INSIDE, OUTSIDE, MONKEY PANTS
ENGLAND, IRELAND, SCOTLAND WALES, INSIDE, OUTSIDE, MONKEY TAILS

"OLD LADY LEARY LIT A LANTERN IN THE SHED, WHEN THE COW KICKED IT OVER SHE WINKED HER EYE AND SAID, THERE WILL BE A HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN TONIGHT, FIRE FIRE, WATER WATER, JUMP LADY JUMP, AHHHHH SPLAT!"

"SLAT" of course was when you landed with both feet on both elastics after an intricate series of ins and outs and overs, in progressive heights as describe above.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: freda underhill
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 02:12 AM

Guest 2 Jan 07, re the one you posted (repeated below) - this is one we did in Canberra in the early 1960s

freda


Hello Hello Hello sir
meet you at the show sir
no sir
why sir
'cause I've got a cold sir
where'd you get the cold sir
at the north pole sir
what you dioing there sir
catching polar bears sir
how many did you catch sir
one sir
two sir
three sir
four sir
.... ten sir
all the rest were dead sir
how did they die sir
eating apple pie sir
what was in the pie sir
three dead flies sir
what was in the flies sir
three dead germs sir
what was in the germs sir
I don't know sir
shall we start again sir
no sir
why sir
because I've got a cold sir....

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Mar 08 - 04:03 AM

In the land of France
Where the elephants all dance
One wouldn't dance
so they kicked him in the pants.
The pants he wore
cost a dollar eighty four.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,lesley
Date: 20 Mar 08 - 07:51 PM

My daughter came home last week with a new skipping game that her teacher had taught her, that you play with a long piece of elastic. Imagine her surprise when I was able to keep up with her, when she was showing me how to do it! I told her that it was not actually a new game, that I was doing it in school in the mid 80's...but how naive I was! I thought it was a new game back then!

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Cathy
Date: 12 Mar 08 - 12:47 AM

We played French Skipping when I was a little girl in Kenya in the 1960s. I went to Hospital Hill School in Nairobi, which was run along the British educational system. My friends were British, Asian (Indian), and African. I was almost the only American. I loved French Skipping but could never quite get up to chesties! For years I have tried to remember how we played it -- the rules, the rhymes. I'm so glad I found this site. We used a long piece of elastic like you would find at the top of your knickers! We knotted it in one place. By the end of the day, it would be red with the color of the Kenyan soil. I have never seen French Skipping played in America where I live now, but I am going to introduce that brilliant game as soon as I can. Love to all!

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Lindsay
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 07:24 PM

Morticia mentions "By the window stands a lady" - and I remember it as a playground skipping song in the 50s but with someone's mother's washing line, not the "French Skipping" with the elastic bands that was done down here in Wales but never at home in St Albans.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: Greenacres
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 08:43 AM

I have just remembered we used this rhyme for French skipping (elastics):
Jelly on a plate, jelly on a plate
Wibble-wobble-wibble-wobble, jelly on a plate.
(that was - left (straddle the left band)/ middle/ right/ middle/ left-right-left-right, middle/ stamp). The rhythm was filled out by little snatch-backs onto the balls of the feet (/).

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: Greenacres
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 07:19 AM

We played this "French skipping" in Southport, Lancs in the late 60s. I was under the impression my mum (b.1940) knew it - she certainly did it with us and contributed some rhymes (but maybe they were from her two/three balls repertoire).
As per Sophie's comment, I does indeed look as though some of the 'nonsense' rhymes are corruptions of Japanese - counting from one to ten in Japanese:Ichi, ni (nee), san, shi, go, roku (loku), shichi (hichi), hachi (youtsu), ku, ju, matches "Itchy, me, star, shee, Lo*, go*, hutsy, yutsy, kill, it" (*these two have switched position) and "Hootchie Kootchie" (8-9-10, which could be interpreted as the 8th and 9th place in the rhyme "Eeny meeny pepsi seeny, Ala-bama, boo! Hoochie kootchie, donna loochie, OUT GOES YOU!".
Also "Yoka ana Tysa, Yoka ninety-ay, Tang in de soeboy, Sooey sooey ay" sounds like Japanese: Yoko = side, ana = hole (middle?), soba e = to the side, sore sore-e = yeehaw!

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Shropshire Kim
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 08:00 AM

Here in Shropshire in the 50s and 60s it was definitely called French skipping. It was just as popular as cat's cradle, British Bulldog, one ball, two ball, three ball (etc), puss in the corner, tick off ground, bluebells of Scotland, Farmers in his den and that old favourite - push the smallest kid in the school pond then run off before Mrs Bray turns up.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Cath.
Date: 01 Mar 08 - 05:12 AM

Elastics used to be something everyone played... [Aus, Sydney]

Yeah, we used knickers elastics too, and it went from ankles, to knees, under-bums, hips, armpits then necks.

Some rhymes;

Jingle Jangle, inside outside, jingle jangle on. [You basically, straddle one side, bounce until you get to the next word. At inside outside, you do just that, jump inside then out side, continue the bouncing, then step on it.]

England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales. Inside outside inside on. [Basically the same.]

Something called triangles where it required three people to hold the elastics to make a triangle, then others straddled the elastics and moved around. I'm not sure of this game as I haven't ever played it, but my sister has.

And then Chinese, just plain Chinese.
Jump on one side, the jump the other, jump off while swiveling in midair, hook the rope closest over the further one to make a triangle. The 'hooker' is usually the last person in a team to jump on and off the ropes, and 'hooks' the elastic while the team jumps in and out of the triangle. Then, the 'hooker' jumps out.
It gets more complicated as we got bored. Such as; no moving except for the jumps. No 'galloping' [both feet must land at the same time]. Jumps, then hops [you'd jump with both feet on the elastics, complete the stage then only hop]. Two feet, then one foot [both ankles, the one holding the elastics. From under-bums up, you'd turn sideways.] And various others I'v forgotten.

Then there's jump rope with 'Teddy Bear, teddy bear, turn around," etc.

My auntie Anna, plays the piana, 24 hours a day, SPLIT.

I've forgotten everything else..

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Livi1
Date: 24 Feb 08 - 05:41 PM

we played elastics too in the 1980s in Surrey Uk

the elastic would start at ankle -ees, then knees-ees then thighs-ees etc.

The rhymes i remember were: "England Ireland Scotland Wales, inside outside inside on" and also "Jingle jangle centre spangle jingle jangle on"

Also the way in which you jumped would change depending on the level you were at. It would be jumping but also 'shuffle-eez' which is kind of like jogging on the spot - does anyone recall any other variations / rhymes?

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 03:26 AM

I used to play this in Brisbane, Australia back in the early 90s. The rhymes I can remember are:

England
Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Inside
Outside
Inside
Out

Banana, Banana, Banana, in
Banana, banana, banana, out
Banana, banana, banana, on
Banana, banana, banana, out
(On banana, you straddle one elastic - ie one leg in, one leg out, so that you are juming to and fro over the elastics, on "in" you jump inside the elastic, the first "out" involves straddling the elastic with both legs out, whereas the last out was jumping clear of the elastic to finish. Oh and "on" meant you had to land on the elastics.

Cats (straddle one elastic) in (both legs in)
Dogs (straddle the other elastic) out (both legs out)
In out in on
Out twist (jump, straddle the elastic and twist so that it gets twisted around your legs) out

In on in out (jump clear of the elastics to start/finish position), out (straddle both elastics) twist out (back to start/finish position)

OK, it turns out that it's harder to explain this than I thought. Hope you get the general idea. If anyone has any more rhymes, I'd love to hear them. I teach in Japan and elastics sounds like the perfect way to get my kids revved up! And it's a bonus that they only need to know about 10 words all together!

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Feb 08 - 11:21 PM

Does anyone recall the movement that went with the above

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,janelle
Date: 04 Feb 08 - 11:19 PM

"Down the Mississippi if you miss a loop you're out" Being chanted during elastics in the 1950s in Sydney

Subject: Origins: elastics
From: GUEST,happy
Date: 21 Nov 07 - 01:07 AM

I GOT SOME ELASTICS THE OTHER DAY

bUT I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PLAY OR THE RYHMES

COULD SOMEONE HELP ME OUT

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Susan Rains
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 09:34 AM

Hi played Elastics in South England in the late seventies which we called chinese skipping,
but Im really interested in the RYMES that go with the throwing of two balls against the wall,

any suggestions might jog my memory as I want to teach my daughter this and elastics.

Unfortunately the ball in the stoking game was banned from our primary school after it wrapped around someones neck!! they were ok though.

Sue

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Kathy P
Date: 02 Nov 07 - 11:29 PM

I played ELASTICS in Melbourne Australia in the late 60's - early 70's. It was only played by girls. I cant remember any of the rhymes, but some of the ones that are mentioned above sound familiar. We also used to play balls, with two tennis balls against a wall. I think I could remember some of the moves, so I might try and find a couple of tennis balls and an empty wall.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: Susan B
Date: 21 Sep 07 - 11:11 AM

Just for the record, I remember others playing this in the playgrounds in Southampton in the early 60s (then, as now, I was always too clumsy and broke the elastics!) and it was being played in Manchester when we moved up there in the mid 60s. French skipping was the name in both places.
The method of "knotting" the elastic bands together was that each was looped through the previous, then through itself.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,karenblythe
Date: 20 Sep 07 - 02:18 PM

Hi played this in the 70's in Northern Ireland. I just bought a large box of coloured elastics in Tesco's for £1 and made my daughter the elastic band rope. we are making up the rules as we go along but everyone's suggestions are great. Her friends are now playing in the kitchen. Hopefully it will help keep them fit!!

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 10:23 AM

Jini North Yorks hoping to include elastics at our street party for National Children PlayDay 1st Aug 07. I played this in West Yorks in 70s with different coloured bands looped together. I dont remember any ryhmes being said as we did all the moves. It seemed to be a very complicated process and everyone was concentrating on getting your feet squarley back on the elastics after each jump. One move was to stand at one side, with the elastics uder on foot and over the other and you jumped to opposite strand and repeated this but were out if foot not compleatly under.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Sarah
Date: 29 Jun 07 - 11:19 AM

this is amazing. I used to play elastics growing up in Brisbane, Australia. I played it in the mid-80s at primary school. I can remember doing

England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales
Inside, Outside, Inside, Out.

I seem to remember having bizarre rules for being allowed to put on of the elastics on your shoulder, and trying to jump it for chest height, but looking back, I'm not sure how we ever did that.

Can't believe people are still playing - this is fantastic. My husband (who is American) had never heard of it, and thought I was making it up.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST
Date: 27 May 07 - 02:06 AM

i used to play elastice in 94 in primary school.

have just bought a colourful new one for my step children to teach them - suprised that i remembered any of the rhymes but our version was
England Ireland Scotland wales inside outside inside out.

we had so many more but as the years go by.

we used to go up to treetops
which was holding the rope above our heads
dont know about getting that high these days

good to hear the tradittion is still around

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 26 May 07 - 06:24 PM

'I am trying my darndest to remember the words to one song "in the land of france, where the alligators dance....???" any takers?'

I hesitate to do this but ... the version I remember from the schoolyard (Windsor, Ontario) - but definitely NOT sung by the girls at yogi - is:

There's a place in France,
Where the people wear no pants;
And the men wear glasses,
So they can see the ladies' asses.

(Sorry - just trying to be helpful!)

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Annette Snow
Date: 26 May 07 - 03:44 PM

We played elastics all the time growing up in Newfoundland. I am 36 now so I would have been playing mid 70s to 80s. I don't remember calling it anything other than skipping but it was more popular than the turn the rope games.

The rhymes we used were MISSISSIPPI with the actions as already described. We also used the verbal variant of M-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-crooked letter-crooked letter-I-humpback-humpback-I

B-I-N-G-O-BINGO was also popular - especially when you got to under-bums as it was considered an easy one. B-I-N-G were each done straddling alternate lines, O was in the middle and BINGO was both feet out.

Super-kala-freja-lipstick-expi-alla-do-chez (apologies to Mary Poppins for the spelling) was also popular. The actions were both feet in, both feet out, both feet in, one foot on each line- straddle one line, straddle the other, then both feet on one line and finally jump across with both feet on the other.

Finally, we also played a lot of triangle which was more popular when we got a bit older (you know - double digits and all). Triangle was played with a rope like elastics, but with three girls each holding a corner with one ankle (or a suitable inanimate object). Then the remaining girls would go through the sequence of moves until they messed up and had to take their place in the ropes. The sequence of moves was as follows: two feet - in/out around the triangle until back to the beginning; two feet - on the rope/in/on the rope/out/on the rope/in, etc until back to the start; one foot - in/out; one foot - in/on the rope/out. Sometimes we got fancy with backwards and eyes closed, but the first four moves were the basic sequence. Once you completed ankles, you moved on to knees and under-bums. The second time around you had to do each part twice before moving on...

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Gusto89
Date: 23 May 07 - 12:12 PM

There is a book published by the Klutz publishers that has "Chinese" jump-rope games. There are many diffferent routines and My kids and I have lots of fun with them.. No rhymes though. When I did this as a kid in Connecticut (70's) we didn't do any rhymes just a lot of fancy footwork. The rhymes we used were for hand jives or jump-roping.

Jump rope rhyme:
Teddy bear, teddy bear turn around,
teddy bear, teddy bear touch the ground,
teddy bear, teddy bear show your shoe
teddy bear teddy bear, good for you!

Keep on playing!

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Canada
Date: 06 May 07 - 12:58 AM

I remember playing YOGI back in the 60's...I'm also in Canada and it was definately called YOGI here. I wish I could remember the routine we'd go through...it was tons of fun and we would play for hours. I was doing a search for this to try to teach my six year old granddaughter. I wonder if there are any videos up on You Tube...I'd love to have a visual of the game. Reading directions can be so confusing for me!!! I must be getting old.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,PLW
Date: 04 May 07 - 12:25 AM

We played this game all the time here in Canada. (30 years ago)It was called "YOGI". I am trying my darndest to remember the words to one song "in the land of france, where the alligators dance....???" any takers? Also remember MISSISSIPPI-IPPISSISSIM.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Kaz
Date: 03 May 07 - 05:18 AM

I remember playing balls! The chant that always sticks in my mind is:
"Mrs White, got a fright, in the middle of the night. Saw a ghost, eating toast, half way up a lamp post!.

I also used "oxters" !!

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Vicky
Date: 29 Apr 07 - 11:51 AM

Hi there,
I played this game in primary school in the mid 80's in Auckland, New Zealand. It progressed from ankles, to knees, and then hips. Once those levels had been completed, we used only one one leg for ankles and knees, and turned sideways to make the elastics thinner for the hips level. Each level had a different chant. There was also a level called carrots, where one person had two legs supporting the wide end of the elastics, and one person had one leg supporting the thin end of the elastics causing a triangular, or carrot, shape. The only chant I remember is the "jingle jangle" one, which we used for the ankles level. There were three or four different jumping sequences that we played with, one involving crossing the elastics over, then jumping to release them, and one involving jumping onto the elastics. The jingle jangle chant was used for the simplest sequence which involved jumping within, without, and straddling the elastics.
I'm in Japan now and was reminded of the game when I heard about "gomutobi", literally "rubber-flying/jumping". A woman I work with told me it was very popular when she was in primary school during the 50's, when they used to loop rubber bands together, and that it originated sometime during the war.
Perhaps if enough people submit their memory of the game to this thread, I will eventually remember the entire game accurately, as I played it all those years ago!

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,momof13
Date: 12 Apr 07 - 06:44 PM

oh i so remember this game and was trying to explain it to my kids who are now at that age.
It was called Yogi here in Canada and we played for hours.
We used a piece of 1/4" elastic about 8" long and knotted it together to form a ring. The elastic was then strung between the ankles of 2 people who then stood with their feet about a foot apart and leaving about 4" between the two persons who stood facing each other. It is true we did also play it using two chairs from the kitchen table whose legs were not much wider really than a person standing with their feet apart. I don't recall any rhymes as much as the moves. The jumper would jump into the middle with both feet and then jump to the outside. Then they would jump with one foot in the center and one foot to the right and then switch so the left foot was in the center and the right on the outside then they would jump to one side and while holding their left foot under the first elastic closest to them they would hook that elastic and bring it over the other one and then they had to jump into the middle with both feet inside the elastic while it twisted like a diamond around them. Then with both feet jump up and out but they had to land on the elastics and trap them under their feet and hold them to the ground. Then that is all I can remember right now but the game was definitely called YOGI>

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: Sherbs
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 03:05 PM

I played elastics in the 1970's in South Wales. We called it Chinese skipping and used bought flat elastic about a centimetre wide. The only rhyme I can ever remember doing isthis one.

England
Scotland
Ireland
Wales
inside
outside
backwards
ON!

I think someone should start a whole separate thread for ball games

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 02:13 PM

wow!!! this site has been most helpful i too have just been put in charge of playground games have lots of ideas but thought wouldnt hurt to look got the kids at our school some of these french skipping elastics then couldnt remember the rymes thankyou so much every one if any one can remember ayn more rymes would be greatly appresiated.

judy

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Sophie
Date: 07 Mar 07 - 04:51 PM

"The strangest rigmarole came from North Hinksey, on the outskirts of Oxford, in 1985: 'Itchy me, star shee, Logo hutsy yutsy. - kill it', and the game was called 'Itchy me'." (From Children's Games With Things, Iona & Peter Opie, 1997 (Oxford University Press), quoted above)

I went to North Hinksey primary school in 1985 and I remember that rhyme (we called the game "elastics" and also used the "England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales..." one). I learnt a few words of Japanese a while ago and the numbers 1-10 struck me as familiar: Ichi, ni, San, Shi, Go, Roku, Shichi, Hachi, Kyuu, Juu - not quite the same but sounds like a corruption, particularly the first part. There weren't any Japanese children at the school when I was there. I was surprised the rhyme was so local. I can't find any other references to it on the internet.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: Alice
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 01:17 PM

We played this on the playground in the 1960's (Montana). We called it Chinese Jump Rope. You could buy the elastic, a decorated rubber cord just the right size. I wish I could remember the rhymes. Too long ago and lost from my memory.

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Lizzyn42
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 11:09 AM

Wow so glad I found this page. I have recently started a job in south yorkshire where my specific role is lunchtime activities co-ordinator. Basically teaching all the kids to do what we did (and have been talking about here)to do..Do you realise that playground rhymes and games and skills are a dying art...Kids these days are to into computers and they don't 'play out' as much as we did either (my own children included) I would be gone for hours playin skipping and elastics with my friends and I'm only 32..how things have changed...I am on a mission to show them how we should be playing...this site will help no end....any more rhymes for elastics or skipping please post as I will be reading reg..Thanks.xxx

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 07 - 12:48 AM

Hello Hello Hello sir
meet you at the show sir
no sir
why sir
'cause I've got a cold sir
where'd you get the cold sir
at the north pole sir
what you dioing there sir
catching polar bears sir
how many did you catch sir
one sir
two sir
three sir
four sir
.... ten sir
all the rest were dead sir
how did they die sir
eating apple pie sir
what was in the pie sir
three dead flies sir
what was in the flies sir
three dead germs sir
what was in the germs sir
I don't know sir
shall we start again sir
no sir
why sir
because I've got a cold sir....

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Sharron
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 07:06 AM

I have just bought my eight year old daughter the game elastics (boy have they come a long way - they are now decorative pieces of elastic!). Memories of the game described here come flooding back, but I also rememebr playing a version where four people were in the corners and you completed a series of moves at each level. I remember jumping around the square, hopping and "skipping". Does any one recall this version and what other moves were there?

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: oggie
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 04:52 PM

Now called 'Chinese Jump Ropes' these are still available from Hawkins Bazaar or from shops that sell the TOBAR range of pocket money games. We've just sold out so there arestill some kids (or parents) keeping the old games alive.

All the best

oggie

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: GUEST,Liz Hodge
Date: 18 Dec 06 - 01:18 AM

I played elastics at school in Wellington NZ in the early 90s.

We had quite a complicated system. The elastic began at ankle height and shoulder width. If the jumper completed the rhyme at a certain height, the elastics were moved up from knees, to "under-bums", to hips, waists, under-arms, necks and even "sky" or "tree-tops" if we were really keen, which is as high as the holders can reach. When the rhyme has been completed at all levels, the game is made more difficult: skinny (using only one foot to hold the elastics), wide (legs as far apart as possible), blind (jumper's eyes closed), cross-over (the elastic closest to the jumper is crossed over the far elastic and the rhyme completed in the resulting triangle of elastic), running (when you take two steps instead of a jump), double jumps etc. The game was also played in teams, where, if the first jumper makes a mistake, the second jumper must complete the rhyme twice, and if they make a mistake the third jumper completes the rhyme 3 times etc. This makes it even more exciting.

The main rhymes we used were:

England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Inside, Outside, Puppy Dogs Tails

(jump for each word: left foot in and right foot out, right foot in and left foot out, left foot in and right foot out, right foot in and left foot out, both feet inside, both feet outside, both feed ON the elastics.)

Jingle Jangle Spingle Spangle Inside Outside On

(jump for each word: left foot in and right foot out, right foot in and left foot out, both feet inside, both feet outside, both feed ON the elastics.)

Cut the Cabbage with a knife

(jump for each word: right foot in and left foot out, both feet inside, left foot in and right foot out, both feet out (on RHS of elastics) repeat going back the other way)

I hope this game doesn't die, I used to play every lunch break, morning tea, after school, any time I could find someone or something to hold the elastics, and I was SO fit then!! Maybe this is the answer to childhood obesity!

Good luck and keep passing on the game.

Cheers, Liz

Subject: RE: Child's Game: Elastics
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Oct 06 - 07:35 AM

Hello, GUEST,Oak! Thanks for providing that resource. Here's the hyperlink to that site:

http://www.folksong.org.nz/pdf_copies/Bauer_elastics.pdf
[New Zealand Playground Language]