Playground games that disappeared (or nearly did)

Until just a few decades ago, peonza (spinning tops), canicas (marbles), chapas (bottle-cap racing), goma (French skipping), comba (skipping), truque or rayuela (hopscotch) and cromos (collectible picture cards) ruled the playground. Many of these games haven’t disappeared, although they’re no longer a common sight at breaktime.

Games played with objects

• Canicas: gua (hole marbles), triángulo (triangle marbles)… with rules that changed from one neighbourhood to another.
• Peonza: getting a top to dance on your palm was almost a badge of honour.
• Chapas: bottle caps became the riders in full-blown cycle tours along the pavement.
• Cromos: there was «sí, sí, no» (yes, yes, no) and the game of flipping cards over with a slap of the hand.

Games that only needed you

Comba with its songs, goma, pañuelo (drop the handkerchief), escondite (hide-and-seek), «un, dos, tres, pollito inglés» (Grandmother’s footsteps) and truque, known as rayuela or avión (hopscotch) depending on the area. All you needed was a piece of chalk and a bit of enthusiasm.

Why did they fade away?

Less free time spent out in the street, more tightly regulated playgrounds and, of course, screens. But many have been brought back in schools and summer activities because they teach children to take turns, negotiate rules and be good losers.

Just like card games

Playground games and card games have something in common: they’re passed down from older generations to younger ones. We explore other examples in forgotten traditional Spanish games. And if you fancy reviving a tabletop classic, Escoba (Broom) is perfect for playing with children.