by Ethel Smith

Created on: February 11, 2010

Great Britain, in the fifties and sixties, was a much safer place in so many ways. There was little traffic on the roads in the fifties and, even in the sixties, many town and city streets had much less traffic than today.

Of course, we all look back through rose coloured glasses but, in reality, there were fewer hazards for children when they played out doors. Many children lived in areas where they were well known to the residents, Extended families often resided within a short distance of each other and this added to the feeling of safety.

All of this meant that children often played outdoors without the need for parental involvement. In ordinary working class areas, children would play ball games in the street. One or two balls would be bounced against a resident's sidewall as a rhyme was chanted. Those who were able would amaze their friends by juggling three or even four balls.

Skipping ropes were popular in the fifties and were often used for group activity. A large skipping rope, often what in reality was a washing line, would be held across a street or path. Two children would hold and turn this rope as other children skipped under the rope. Chants such as, Sausage in a pan, sausage in a pan, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sizzle, sausage in a pan, would be followed by Jelly on a plate, Jelly on a plate, Wibble, Wobble ,Wibble, Wobble, Jelly on a plate. Very unsophisticated by today's standards, but great fun all the same.

Of course, all of these outdoor games also helped keep children active and healthy. Hide and Seek, Tag and Alley Alley Oh would involve children running around the streets, giggling with delight. Some of these games also involved rhymes, such as What time is it Mister Wolf.

Group activities would often see a gang of children playing Cricket or Rounders. It was rare for the children to actually have the right equipment for the game though. Rounders is a very basic form of American Baseball. However, it is worth mentioning that British Rounders pre dates American Baseball. The children would lie something such as a coat at each base. Unlike Baseball, though Rounders was more popular with girls.

Many children and their parents had bicycles in the fifties and sixties. This meant that sometimes the whole family would enjoy a bike ride away from the town.

There were a few outdoor swimming pools and Lidos in the UK in the early sixties. Sadly, many of these have closed in recent years.

Outdoor games such as Knocking Off Ginger were the

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