Before smartphones and video games took over, Jamaican children spent countless hours playing outside, making memories with friends and family. Our imaginations would always be running wild coming up with new and exciting ways to make today more fun than the day before. With today May 17th being children’s day in Jamaica, here are 12 popular Jamaican childhood games that every Jamaican played.

1. Marbles

This game was like little league gambling on most primary and early high school grounds. Boys would work the angles to obtain the most unique-looking marbles from fellow players. Each match was a test of skill, strategy, and a bit of luck, as they aimed to knock their opponents’ marbles out of a ring.

2. Stucky Pully

This is the Jamaican version of tag. Stucky Pully involved five objects that served as safe zones. What joy it was to dart between these zones as you avoided to avoid being frozen by the designated ‘stucky’. What made this more fun than your regular game of tag was fore-planning and agility necessary to unfreeze “pull’ your fellow gamers while avoiding being made stuck your self. It was a fast-paced and strategic game about agility and quick thinking!

3. One Two Three Red Light

This game was a test of stealth and patience. One person (the “stoplight”) would face away from the group and call out “One, two, three, red light!” while the others tried to sneak up. If the stoplight turned around and caught anyone moving, that player had to start over.

4. Ring Around the Rosey

A classic sing-along game, children would form a circle, hold hands, and skip around while singing. At the end of the song, everyone would collapse in laughter. It was simple, joyous, and a staple of early childhood.

5. Bull inna Pen

This game was pure adrenaline! Forming a ring by holding hands, one person inside the circle (the “bull”) would try to break free while others held on tight. If the bull escaped, a chase ensued to catch the next potential bull. It was a thrilling mix of strength and strategy.

6. Dandy Shandy / Sight in the Middle

Another one of our popular Jamaican childhood games, this one often ending in tears and was not for the faint-hearted. Players would throw a ball at someone standing in the middle, aiming to hit them. The only difference was that you could choose better a hard ball (your typical ball if you had one) or a soft ball ( a box-drink box stuffed with leaves and grass and maybe news paper). The last person standing without being hit would be the winner. It was all about quick reflexes and dodging skills.

7. Chinese Skipping

Hours were spent crafting the perfect elastic band ring for this game. Girls would show off their skills and moves, often competing for popularity. It was a game of rhythm, coordination, and creativity, played everywhere from classrooms to backyards.

8. House

If you never used old tins as pots and stones as a stove, did you even have a childhood? Children would concoct tea and cakes from mud and grass, mimicking the adults around them. It was a game of imagination and role-playing, perfect for long afternoons with siblings and cousins.

9. Finga Mash Nuh Cry

This was another tearjerker. Gathering in a small circle, children would sing “Com guh dung a Emmanuel road gyal and boy fi guh bruk rock stone…” /”come let’s go down by Emmanuel Rd girls and boys to break up stones” while passing a rock around. As the song continued, ” Bruk dem one by one! Gyal and Boy, bruk them two by two! Gyal and boy, finga mash nuh cry! Gyal and boy memba a ramp wi a ramp!” “Break them one by one, girls and boys , break them two by two,, girls and boys. If your finger gets smashed don’t cry, remember we are only playing” the goal became to avoid getting your fingers hit, as the song sped up. It was a game of resilience and bravado.

10. Football

A universal favorite, football (soccer) was played anywhere and everywhere. Whether with a proper ball or a makeshift one, children formed teams and played intense matches, honing their skills and building teamwork.

11. Cricket (Bat and Ball)

Cricket was another staple, with improvised equipment often serving just as well as the real thing. Children would play for hours, perfecting their batting and bowling techniques, and dreaming of becoming cricket legends.

12. Race

Racing was the simplest yet one of most exhilarating Jamaican childhood games. Whether it was a short sprint or a longer run, children loved to challenge each other to see who was the fastest. It was a test of speed, endurance, and sometimes, a bit of friendly rivalry.

These games not only entertained but also taught valuable life skills, fostered friendships, and created countless memories. They are a cherished part of Jamaican childhood, forever etched in the hearts of those who played them.