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French Skipping

Blacksmith

master brummie
Do any of you remember French skipping? It used to be played by linking knicker elastic together in to a loop. Two children would then stand inside the elastic, with it around the back of their legs.

A third child would then perform a series of jumps or challenges into, onto and out of the elastic. The elastic would gradually be raised higher up the children's legs, making the tasks harder.

Now I come to the real reason for my thread. I've bought some French skipping elastic for my grandchildren - not knicker elastic, you'll be pleaded to hear. My problem is, I've forgotten what the challenges were, and no instructions came with the elastic.

So, can any of you clever people out there give me an idiot's guide to French skipping challenges?

Many thanks

'Grandad'
 
We used to make our ropes from elastic bands. The skipping involves hopping on one leg whilst putting the other one in and out like the "Hokey-Kokey" about six time each leg I think, (it's along time ago!!). Then the elastic is pushed with the foot over to the other side over the elastic, six times each leg, the the far one is pulled back over etc. Then the elastic is raised slightly, and start again.
I hope this makes sense!!
I've just remembered "Cat's Cradle" with wool over the hands, now that would be tricky to explain!!!
rosie.
 
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]I found this on a website describing playground games.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]We play this game with a really long piece of elastic, about 2cm wide and 3 metres in length. We tie the ends of the elastic together to make a loop.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]Two children stand inside the loop so they are stretching it relatively taut around their ankles. A third person performs a series of hops and jumps, chanting appropriate rhymes. When finished, the height of the elastic is raised to knees, then thighs, then waist.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]Start with left foot inside the elastic loop and right foot just outside. Jump over to to the other side so right foot is inside the loop and left foot is outside.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]Here is one of the rhymes we say:[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]'Chocolate cake, when you bake,
How many minutes will you take?
One, two, three, four.'[/SIZE]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]On ONE: jump up and land with left foot outside the elastic loop and your right foot inside.
[/SIZE]
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]On TWO: jump up and land with both feet together inside the elastic loop.
On THREE: jump up and land with both feet outside the elastic loop.
On Four: jump up and land sideways to the elastic, with your left foot on top of the back elastic and your right foot ahead (in front) of the front elastic.[/SIZE]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]If the current player fails to execute the correct jump their turn is over and play passes to one of the people inside the circle of elastic, who then tries to out do the previous player.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]Here are more of the rhymes we use:[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]'England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales
Inside, outside, inside, on!'[/SIZE]
[/FONT]​
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]'Old Mrs Mason broke her basin
On the way to London Station.
How much did it cost?
One, two, three, four.'[/SIZE]
[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=+1]'Charlie Chaplin sat on a pin
How many inches did it go in?
One, two, three, four.'[/SIZE]
[/FONT]​
 
That's great, Anne, thanks. That will give me something to start them off with.

Does anybody know any other moves, please.
 
Have a look on YouTube, lots of it there, there may be some variations on the name internationally, but its what I know as French Skipping.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-nyeSgowBo&feature=related


Of course there is now a modern version, with a new namecalled Jump Bands, the main difference is you buy some hellishly trendy andvery expensive elastic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBnccQLAg9I&feature=related

And the quiz for tonight folks is to make a well known phrase from the following words:- Wheel the Reinvent
 
Thanks for those, Morturn. Yet more ideas. As you say, though, nothing is new. It's like all those games we used to play that are now mass produced with bells and whistles. Who needs all this fancy stuff to play Battleships when all you really need is a couple of pencils and some paper?
 
I can remember playing French skipping with elastic bands, and the games described above, but can't think of any more, will ask mom tomorrow
Sue
 
I seem to think we called this Chinese Skipping, or is that something different, and we made a kind of cat's craddle with our feet.
Do any of you remember French skipping? It used to be played by linking knicker elastic together in to a loop. Two children would then stand inside the elastic, with it around the back of their legs.

A third child would then perform a series of jumps or challenges into, onto and out of the elastic. The elastic would gradually be raised higher up the children's legs, making the tasks harder.

Now I come to the real reason for my thread. I've bought some French skipping elastic for my grandchildren - not knicker elastic, you'll be pleaded to hear. My problem is, I've forgotten what the challenges were, and no instructions came with the elastic.

So, can any of you clever people out there give me an idiot's guide to French skipping challenges?

Many thanks

'Grandad'
 
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