Last Updated on January 25, 2024 by Gamesver Team and JC Franco
Most people do not realize how much fun it would be to play kid’s games again. For many adults, childish play is a thing of the past. Hopscotch is a very popular game among children and can be traced back to ancient Britain during the early Roman Empire.
The game brings about fun, of course, but it also brings a host of other benefits with it. As adults, we are preoccupied with so many things that we almost forget how to let go and have good clean fun. If you think back to how much fun you had as a kid playing a simple game of Hopscotch, you might see just how constructive it can be to play games to blow off steam and bond with the family.
Adults can derive many of the same benefits from playing Hopscotch as children do. Playing Hopscotch can be fun and a great way to pass the time while bonding with your kids. Hopscotch is a form of exercise and thus releases endorphins in the brain, leaving us feeling good and releasing creativity within us. Another reason is body fitness and coordination.
These are but a few reasons why you should play Hopscotch as an adult. Keep reading, and you will find more reasons.
1. Keeping Fit
As an adult, when we are busy with various activities at work and taking care of our families, we do not get enough time to engage in activities that help us keep fit. Taking part in a game like Hopscotch will enable you to keep fit, and what better way to whip yourself into shape than by hopping and skipping around?
The game doesn’t take up too much time – just half an hour a day and you could be fitter, healthier, and happier.
2. You Get to Enjoy Yourself for Free
Working and trying to earn a living every day might take a toll on you. However, by engaging in a game like Hopscotch, you get to enjoy that moment and forget about all the work stress and life’s pressure. Unfortunately, in the kind of world we are living in, you need to pay for everything. However, when it comes to Hopscotch, you can have half an hour of fun absolutely free.
3. Brings the Family Together
Playing Hopscotch as an adult is a good way to bring the family together. This is a game you can play with your whole family in your backyard. Every member of the family will feel included and will get to enjoy the day. By playing this game, you can create beautiful memories with the people who matter the most. Have a family day coming up? Perhaps you should all play Hopscotch!
4. Ability to Move Large Muscle Groups
Growing up, we lose the charisma and flexibility we had as kids. Most activities we could easily do as kids become hard as adults. It’s the cost of age! However, by getting back into playing games like Hopscotch, you will be in a position to move large muscle groups and improve flexibility. The more you play, the more balanced and flexible you will be – which bodes well for an aging body!
5. Improve Balance
When playing Hopscotch, balance is key. You require balance to toss your marker and hop in and out of the squares. It’s no surprise that as we get older, we might become less balanced. Older people have to work on and maintain balance if they want to be sturdy on their feet and avoid slip and fall incidents in the future. Hopscotch practice improves balance – play the game for the sake of your future.
6. You Can Improve Your Eye-Hand Coordination
As an adult, most jobs and activities we take part in require us to be in a position to coordinate different parts of the body. Most of the time, we must coordinate the brain, hands, legs, and eyes, all at the same time. By playing Hopscotch, you will improve your eye-hand coordination.
7. Adaptability
Hopscotch is the type of game that requires you to adapt at every turn. The makers ensure that the squares are off-limit to jump into. When you begin to play the game, you need to figure out how to toss your marker, which will determine how you will go on playing. This teaches strategy and forward-thinking in all areas of life. Instead of thinking only about right now, you can think ahead and plan to be adaptable.
8. You Learn Team Work and How To Work in a Group
Hopscotch is a game you can play as an individual, but playing it as a group leads to far more fun. As an adult playing Hopscotch, you can learn the value of teamwork and togetherness.
Getting involved in the game with your friends and workmates will also improve your relationships and help you better understand each other. So if you are looking for a way to encourage team building, Hopscotch is a good choice.
9. It Promotes Rule-Following
Hopscotch is a game that requires one to follow the rules. The different variations of the Hopscotch game come with many rules that every player is required to follow. Following the simple rules in the game equips you with the discipline to forge through life. By playing games with rules as an adult, it’s a refreshing reminder that there’s a reason why rules exist.
10. Minimizing Stress
Play is an effective way to minimize stress as an adult. Playing releases feel-good chemicals known as endorphins in the brain. Get a flood of these endorphins, and you feel good while stress is melted away. If you’re looking for a way to minimize stress without reaching for a drink or comfort eating, set yourself up for a few rounds of Hopscotch.
11. You Will Have More Energy
Never underestimate how much energy you can acquire by simply engaging in a game you love. By playing, you will be improving your immune system and restoring your vitality. A game like Hopscotch is an outdoor game, and it has been proven that engaging in an outdoor game increases perceived energy levels.
So, when you feel drained and exhausted, get a few friends or family members and engage in a Hopscotch game. You will not believe how much you will be relieved and feel better at the end of a session. You cannot even compare playing Hopscotch with having a cup of coffee.
12. Better Sleep
As an adult, taking part in an activity like Hopscotch will improve the quality of your sleep. The more we move around and exercise, the better we sleep – it’s a no-brainer.
While playing, we engage different muscles and tire ourselves out. This will allow us to sleep better and more soundly. For anyone struggling with sleep, a great advice would be to engage in play activities like Hopscotch, and at the end of the day, sleep will come a little more easily to you.
13. Enhancing Creativity
Playing Hopscotch releases endorphins which can really open you up to new experiences and ideas. Creativity is pushed by the fact that you do not need to be too rational or analytical to play the game.
Final Thoughts
It is clear just how important play is in our everyday development. Most of the time, we are more focused on the growth and development of children. We forget that we are also growing and developing as adults, requiring as much care and stress relief as our kids.
Hopscotch is a game that we have participated in as kids. So, it’s a game we can easily relate to, follow instructions and play without much of a struggle. If we only made it a habit of engaging in this game, we as adults could stop turning to unhealthy forms of stress relief that we seem to have made our go-to’s.
This article was co-authored by our team of in-house and freelance writers, and reviewed by our editors, who enjoy sharing their knowledge about their favorite games with others!
JC Franco
JC Franco serves as a New York-based editor for Gamesver. His interest for board games centers around chess, a pursuit he began in elementary school at the age of 9. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Mercyhurst University, JC brings a blend of business acumen and creative insight to his role. Beyond his editorial endeavors, he is a certified USPTA professional, imparting his knowledge in tennis to enthusiasts across the New York City Metropolitan area.