Children's Games for the Renaissance

During the Renaissance many games were played by both children and adults. Some of these games had been around for centuries and are still played by modern society. "Dwyle Flunking" was played in pubs by adults, as well on the street by children. The modern version of "Bilboquet" is called "Cup and Ball," an inexpensive toy used by many children. "Get the Hat" is not unlike "Keep Away."

Like American football, without rules or goals, the point of this game is to get the hat from the other team. This Elizabethan game begins when a hat is dropped between the two teams or children. Both teams run for the hat and when one team gets it the other team chases after them to capture it back.

Bilboquet was played in 16th century France although its origins are unknown. A ball or ring is tied to a handle with a piece of string. The handle has either a cup or a hook. The object is to move the handle quickly in order to get the ball to land in the cup, or the ring to land on the hook. The child who catches the most balls or rings is the winner.

Think about a pinata without the candy. A bag was filled with a stinky liquid and suspended above the players. The child who was "it" used a long stick to break the bag and try to get the other players wet. Who ever got hit first was it and a bag was filled again. Popular in England, this game could be played with water balloons instead of stinky liquids.

Hopscotch was invented by Roman soldiers as a pass time while they were stationed at Hadrian's Wall. During the Renaissance hopscotch, leapfrog and tag were played by both children and adults.