Acky Acky 1 2 3

Acky Acky 1 2 3 Playground games and rhymes in Herefordshire Worcestershire 18802010

If you ever played Acky 1 2 3 skipping games or marbles or said Youre on to start a game of tag this book will bring back a flood of memories

Based on more than 20 years of research into childrens games and childlore across Herefordshire and Worcestershire between 1880 and 2010 this book describes the games played the songs sung and the rhymes that were chanted by children in the streets and in school playgrounds across the two counties

It presents a richly detailed record of childrens play from firsthand observations and from adults recalling their own childhood games It is also unashamedly a journey into remembering the pleasures of playing clapping games such as A sailor went to sea sea sea Tag offground Whats the Time Mr Wolf or Kiss Chase and deciding who was going to be on by counting out eenie meenie macaraca or one of the ruder Ip dip rhymes

Contrary to popular belief childrens games are still alive and thriving Children are just as enthusiastic and inventive as they ever were and they still enjoy funny silly complicated or skilful games just as their parents and grandparents used to This book offers an uncensored and comprehensive record of this oftenoverlooked aspect of social history

PLEASE NOTE Readers will find examples of offensive language at various points in the text and should be prepared for that This book records the words used by the contributors without any attempt to censor them

John Turrell is a former teacher and researcher with a longtime interest in childrens play and language

Paperback 288 pages 234 x 156 mm June 2025
21 bw illus
ISBN 9781910839812