Sitting around with my family, we were reminiscing about family gatherings past.

Remember that year we had the bad ice storm on Easter Sunday?

… or the time when Zipper (the dog) ate that plate of baked beans that Randy spilled?

… when we all went to the school yard and played softball?

…  that time when we played ‘Red Rover’ and Kailey got clotheslined?

My kids interrupted: “What’s ‘Red Rover’?”

Made me think about all the games that we loved to play when I was a kid, in addition to Red Rover–freeze tag, marbles, leap frog, four square, hot potato–games that my kids don’t really know anything about. And they should!

Go Out and Play! by KaBoom! (an organization that helps to create kid-designed outdoor playspaces, including the one at the Oklahoma River front, near the Devon boathouse) lists games new and old in sections (tag games, hide-and-seek games, ball games, etc). Some games require supplies but most don’t; age ranges on each activity tell you what ages might enjoy each game the most.

This is a great book for any of us who may have forgotten how to make the most of a sunny summer afternoon–by playing. This book is a great way to reconnect with the simple, low-tech games of our childhoods. And the KaBoom! project is an awesome project to learn more about as well–since 1996, they have built over 2,000 playgrounds across the country. Find the book at your favorite bookseller and learn more about the organization at kaboom.org.