This one's for the ladies
Posted by LadySlayinem@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 132 comments
I remember this was just the girls. I watched a few boys get snapped and they didn't want to play anymoreš¤£
MaJena@reddit
We used to call this "jumpsies" and would interlock elastic bands to make a chain/loop!
TapeFlip187@reddit
Ok I've seen so many people say this and I've been embarrassed to ask but I cant take it anymore - when you make it from elastic bands, how do you close the loop? š«£
MaJena@reddit
i don't even remember! maybe tied it off and knotted at the ends?
TapeFlip187@reddit
I'm sure it was something like that I just had to ask lol
I remember trying to close a couple jelly bracelets i had linked like that (instead of looping side by side) and was like 'wait WHAT. ok there must be a trick to this..' but I got frustrated immediately and gave upš
toodledootootootoo@reddit
We also called it jumpies! I was so good at this game!! My uncle worked in a garment factory and would bring us underwear elastic rolls. Those were the best!!
Feisty-Lifeguard-550@reddit
Yes , loved this game
jitterfish@reddit
This would be the in thing, then jump rope, then marbles, then gutter ball and back to elastics. I remember it getting banned at one point (and marbles too).
Charming-Insurance@reddit
Why banned!?!?! š±š±
TapeFlip187@reddit
Marbles got banned at my school bc you got to keep the ones you won and it was "gambling". (Basically, sore losers and their whiny parents threw tantrums and that was the school's grounds for shutting it down)
meegaweega@reddit
My 81 year old mother was her school's Marble Queen back in the 1950s and 60s š
The boys would be a sookybubba about her winning their marbles and would show up at mum's house after school, with their mother, to cry about it until mum gave them back just to get rid of them.
Mum's still proudly displaying her marble collections in old glass milk bottles up on the kitchen window sill to look all backlit and awesome.
Goodonya mum š„°š
TapeFlip187@reddit
Ok, that is amazing. Those are one of the few things I would consider actual treasures vs the many, many "treasures" parents tend to save to pass down, haha.
Good for her!
jitterfish@reddit
Yeah as someone else said marbles were because winner kept them. Elastics was because two people broke their arm in quick succession.
Charming-Insurance@reddit
Wow. Thankfully that didnāt happen at my schools. At least when I was a kid.
Historical-Smirk1024@reddit
Don't remember doing this, but does anyone remember tinikling? Two people hold long bamboo poles that they move in/out in a pattern. One or two other people would jump between the poles, sort of like double dutch jumping. Lots of fun, but seemed like a weird thing for Midwestern elementary students to learn.
TapeFlip187@reddit
Ok, my 65yr old mother just Yelled that she knows what this is, is "hella good at it" and she'll "do it right now" š«©
meegaweega@reddit
Go mum, go! š
Get her mates over for a game.
TapeFlip187@reddit
I would Love to see that actually. She is in pretty good shape haha..
CraftLass@reddit
It was featured on the sitcom The Middle! Really funny episode, Sue has to learn it in gym class and sucks, great physical comedy ensues.
And that show is all about sharing the midwest, so I guess it tracks. Only place I have ever seen it (northeastern myself). Found it an odd thing but neat to see that it has accuracy.
DowntownSurvey6568@reddit
I saw something like this done by Filipino dancers.
hikeitaway123@reddit
Yes! Reminds meā¦..Does anyone remember what the finger string game was like this?
coldoldduck@reddit
My friends and I were obsessed with the finger string version!
hikeitaway123@reddit
Me too!
katnap4866@reddit
Catās cradle?
GoldberryoTulgeyWood@reddit
But for your feet!
snakeayez@reddit
I am late 60s born GenX and don't recognize this. I'm from Midwest
repomonkey@reddit
Midwest, what?
snakeayez@reddit
Midwest USA. Kansas
padall@reddit
Really? It's Chinese Jump Rope. I loved it... It was so much fun. We played it at home and at school.
snakeayez@reddit
Yeah this is like the first reference in a long while that I haven't gotten. I'm gonna ask my wife (later 70s GenX) tomorrow.
CraftLass@reddit
Yeah, I notice a lot of Europeans know it, I''m mid-70s from the NYC metro area and this is the first time I have seen or heard of this. But it might have been around, just not at my schools or in my neighborhood. Life was still pretty darn local in many ways, wasn't it?
Sounds like a more static version of double dutch? Which is what we got really into in elementary school.
the_other_50_percent@reddit
MA, it was big. Also a single big jump rope, and double dutch for a few of the most coordinated.
Original_Rent7677@reddit
This was so popular at school in New Zealand.
TheNolaCatLady@reddit
American here and I have never seen this game.
not_bonnakins@reddit
Canadian and also confused about what I am looking at.
TheNolaCatLady@reddit
Maybe this game was kept secret from us North Americans.
MaJena@reddit
it was big in the suburbs of 1980s Toronto.
meegaweega@reddit
Australian here, we fkn looooved playing "elastics"
TheNolaCatLady@reddit
I'm going to have to see if I can find a video of this on YouTube. I'm wondering how it was played.
meegaweega@reddit
Here's an instructional video from a kiwi (Aotearoa / New Zealand)
https://youtu.be/ag9Ou0YpD0o
Stoked to see kids playing elastics. First time I've seen anyone play it in decades š¤©
TheNolaCatLady@reddit
Ok, I just watched a YouTube video and it's the first time I've ever seen this game played. I grew up in the 70's & 80's and it's not a game we played here.
Intelligent_Salad_70@reddit
Why was it removed by moderator?
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
If you have a question or concern, contact the mod team directly and do not post in the sub.
Remarkable_Class824@reddit
Whoa! Xennial, hereāI can't believe how many Xers are asking what this is. Was it regional? Californianāwe called it Chinese jump rope.
Technical_Button7095@reddit
I've never seen it- midwesterner....
onlymostlydead@reddit
54yo from the PNW (Seattle area specifically) and it was all over school with the same name.
We also had a large number of Vietnamese refugees who brought a similar game with them that was popular too, but can't for the life of me remember anything about it.
Remarkable_Class824@reddit
Thanks to everyone who replied. š I kept scrolling and didn't see any answers calling it Chinese jump rope. After I answered, I saw more responses from others calling it the same. I assumed it originated in China, thus the name, but questioned it's popularity/reach when so many said they didn't know.
A time was HAD playing it, either way! š¤Ŗ
beegsyboo@reddit
I played it when I lived in Hawaii
AntheaBrainhooke@reddit
I played it in New Zealand
Informal_Visit2574@reddit
I played it in AustraliaĀ
padall@reddit
Well, I'm from NY, all the way on the other side of the country, and we played it all the time, too. š
Decline_of_Humanity@reddit
I've seen the girls playing this in Connecticut.
baadkitteekittee@reddit
šÆ %. California girl here and I can confirm that she is right about it being called Chinese jump rope ā¤“ļø don't know why
GenX-ModTeam@reddit
Moratorium - Some posts may be removed due to temporary moratoriums on its content.
Currently, photos of Redditors are not permitted.
padall@reddit
In, out, side, side, on, in, out
unicornsparkle86@reddit
Came here to say this! For us it was āside by sideā
the_other_50_percent@reddit
āSide to sideā for us
YouMustBeJoking888@reddit
In my neck of the woods it was called Chinese Jumprope. No idea why, but it was fun as hell.
0209061@reddit
We use to say/shout/sing:
England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales Inside, outside, inside, on!
stinkyswife@reddit
French Skipping (west midlands, england)
My friend and I were really good at this.
England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales. Inside, outside, puppy dogs' tails!
chawchat@reddit
The girls played this at recess in my school time and that was in the late seventies, early eighties in The Netherlands. The called it "elastieken" and I never understood what exactly they were doing.
PRC_Spy@reddit
They used to rope the boys in too, so I remember it well.
Edexote@reddit
Elastics play in Portugal. Only girls played it.
Ahg082860@reddit
Iām 65, never seen this before.
unicornsparkle86@reddit
55 here. This was our entire recess game.
NotEasilyConfused@reddit
53, same. Someone .... please explain WTH this is.
science_nerdd@reddit
āChinese jump ropeā a large springy elastic rope/band. You could play like these girls and do a mix of hopscotch and jump rope, or use your fingers to do cats cradle.
sparkGun2020@reddit
"French skipping" though I don't know where the name came from
CompetitiveSoil7901@reddit
Yep I do remember this . Now that I think about it was about rules and how freaking good we were about it lol and we the kids made the rules and everyone understood.
SimpleVegetable5715@reddit
We spent more time trying to trip each other than actually playing the game. Like I spent more time drawing the hopscotch. I just realized, I didnāt know it was the last time I would jump rope or hop scotch. My knees now could never.
Emotional-Section981@reddit
Called it elastics in England
AntheaBrainhooke@reddit
Elastics! OMG I sucked so hard at that game!
ErisianSaint@reddit
Me, too.
LauraLand27@reddit
Core memory unlocked
RedditWidow@reddit
Chinese jump rope and Chinese jacks were crazy popular at my elementary school circa 1980
DannyA88@reddit
Had genX bros and sis' .. this a red rover thing or like a sack race?..
TapeFlip187@reddit
It's kind of like jump rope hopscotch? Two people hold the rope and one person is the jumper. The cord is elastic and moved up to increase difficulty rather than a rope moving faster. You jump a combo between the ropes then land on them.
thatstwatshesays@reddit
Thank you for this! I played it every single day for a stretch, but Iām wracking my brain as to how it was played. Memories unlocked š„¹
DannyA88@reddit
Thank you for your help lol.. im going to look this up and have my nieces and nephews play this at next fam party to see if borthers and sisters interject.
TapeFlip187@reddit
I grew up hearing it called "Chinese Jumprope" (it actually originated in China, it's not just a horrifying olde tyme nickname) but I've never really looked it up to see if it has a real name. It's pretty fun haha.
DannyA88@reddit
I was adopted.. id like to report back tmwith my findings lol.
Snoo14546@reddit
In out side by side in out in on and out !!!
7eregrine@reddit
I cannot be the only one that has no idea what this is..
TapeFlip187@reddit
Really? It's 100s of years old.
StarDewbie@reddit
Chinese jump rope!
whirlydad@reddit
That's not the preferred nomenclature, Dude.
TapeFlip187@reddit
But it's Chinese? And you jump the rope?
ExaminationFancy@reddit
Thatās what everyone called it back in the day.
304libco@reddit
I mean, thatās what it said on the box that came in
304libco@reddit
Out of curiosity, I googled it and itās a Chinese game.
SpaceAdventures3D@reddit
Chinese jump rope.does seem to the common name.Ā The game can be traced back to China.Ā It's not derogatory.
Firm_Confusion_1692@reddit
Really! So insulting! The nerve of this guy, he needs a ban. Lol
KookyComfortable6709@reddit
We called it that too.
benibigboi@reddit
That's what we called it.
hernwoodlake@reddit
In Out Side Side In On Out Scoopsies
beegsyboo@reddit
Helllllll yah
beegsyboo@reddit
10, 20, 30, 40.... Sooo.good. Chinese jumprope. This and double dutch.
Intelligent_Salad_70@reddit
In the UK we called it french skipping, we were obsessed!!!
glorieuse@reddit
And in Québec we called it "to play elastic" (jouer à l'élastique).
housevil@reddit
TF is this?
Impressive-Health670@reddit
You missed out on yours of playground fun and the occasional ankle chafing! š
ExaminationFancy@reddit
Chinese Jump Rope!
cherryberry0611@reddit
We used so many rubber bands to make these lol
tango421@reddit
Iām a guy and I do. I was quite flexible due to martial arts training as a kid. My male and female cousins played this too, we were all in the same class.
RiversSecondWife@reddit
WTF is this? Sincerely, a Xennial.
JoyDVeeve@reddit
Nope. No effing clue.
PuppytimeUSA@reddit
Random memories returning. Loved watching my classmates do this.
Apprehensive-Move947@reddit
We played this in Singapore too! We called it āzero pointā
LevelCan764@reddit
Crisscross applesauce
missmarimck@reddit
I would play this right now!
Glokas7@reddit
Girls would do this and us Boys played RUNDOWNNNNN (With a Tennis Ball though).
Was fun as hell waiting for the bell to ring before they let us in, in the morning and after lunch.
trini440@reddit
Played this in primary school in Trinidad & Tobago. It was mainly the girls, but we fellas got in on the action too! Memories!!
AgapeLv@reddit
This is the only reason I can spell Mississippi!
Charming-Insurance@reddit
Is that where the āhunchbackā came from? I remember the rhyme...
turtle0831@reddit
I donāt even know what the hell this is. Much less play it.
EttaJamesKitty@reddit
In, Out, Side, by Side, Twist, Untwist and Out!
I remember this but I don't remember what I did last week. Lol.
CardinaLiz4@reddit
In, out, side, by side, stepsies, in, out š
leebelle9@reddit
After school everyday
snark_maiden@reddit
I vaguely remember! I preferred double Dutch.
Feisty-Lifeguard-550@reddit
Loved that too , we called it doublers , sang oh livia jump oh livia jump jump jump , two ropes
BeDeRex@reddit
Nah, double Dutch is two ropes and two spinners. This was called, where i lived, for better or worse, Chinese jumprope. I never understood how it worked.
Best-Investigator261@reddit
Played this for years in garde school (SW Ontario, Canada). So many other rope games too. I wish my knees and other joints would allow doing them now!
UnicornFarts1111@reddit
I have no idea what this is.
lonefighter77@reddit
In. Out. Side. By side. Upon. So many hours spent playing this.
put_simply@reddit
Ours went
In it.On it.Side.Side.On it.In it. Out it.
DMGlowen@reddit
Ladies? The guys at my school played too.
PracticalApartment99@reddit
Never did figure any of that crap out. My sister and I were usually playing basketball with the boys, anyway.
FallenValkyrja@reddit
A guy in my class was one of the best ones at this.
PigletTechnical9336@reddit
Yes! This takes me back.
Large-Delay-1123@reddit
M I S S I S S I P P I
benjtay@reddit
Iām a guy, and I was all in with the girls at recess šæ
Haunting-Prior-NaN@reddit
Dude here, I actually played a couple of games of this.
Nolaborn09@reddit
Yes! š and we would sing songs while we did it.