You’ll need
Setting up
Draw numbered squares from 1 to 8 on the ground in chalk: single squares and side-by-side pairs follow one another, with a semicircular “heaven” (or bell) square at the top. Make each square about an adult’s step across; draw them smaller for little ones.
The story of the game
Hopscotch is one of those rare games with a name almost everywhere in the world: marelle in France, hopscotch in England, campana in Italy. A pavement, a piece of chalk and a flat stone are all it takes. Hopping on one foot works the ankle and the muscles of the sole, and bending down to pick up the stone tests balance once more.
How to play
- Throw the stone into square 1. If it lands on a line or outside the square, it’s the next player’s turn.
- Hop to the top without stepping in the square with the stone: one foot on the single squares, two feet on the side-by-side pairs.
- Rest on both feet in the heaven square, then turn back.
- On the way back, stop on one foot in the square just before the stone, bend down and pick it up, then hop over that square and out.
- A player who gets back without a mistake throws the stone into the next square. Stepping on a line, putting both feet down or losing your balance passes the turn on.
- The first to complete square 8 wins. If you like, a player can claim a square as their “house” and write their name in it.
Variations (3)
- Snail hopscotch (Marelle escargot): the squares are drawn as a spiral that winds inwards.
- For little ones: skip the stone and just hop through the squares. On the paired squares you can hold hands.
- Draw letters, colours or animals instead of numbers, and say their names as you hop.
For parents
Children under 4 may not manage more than a few seconds on one foot, and that’s normal. Add more paired squares for them. If your child always hops on the same foot, saying “now the other foot” halfway through the game works both sides.
What to wear on their feet
A shoe with a flexible sole, or bare feet on a safe surface. Stiff, thick-soled shoes make hopping harder.
Safety
Choose a flat surface that isn’t slippery. Don’t play on a wet pavement or near traffic. Always play these games with an adult watching, in a way that suits your child’s age and the surface underfoot. Keep games with small pieces (marbles, five stones, mangala) away from children under 3.
