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MEMORIES:
Tasha remembers...This was excellent exercise. I jumped rope all the time in elementary school with my friends. I could do tricks ... More »
Posted on 03/05/08
PHOTOS:
Manufacturer:
Sometimes the simplest toys are the ones that boast the greatest longevity. Such is the case with the beloved jump rope, an activity that has been around for perhaps thousands of years and given kids the opportunity to exercise for hours on end – without even realizing they are doing so.
The history of the jump rope likely goes as far back as rope itself. Some date this children’s activity back to the time of the Egyptians. Accounts of jump ropes in American history go back to the days when the first settlers arrived, although at the time, it was primarily an activity for boys. Eventually girls would get into the action and not only excel, but eventually embrace the game as their own. Countless rhymes and songs would be composed over the years to accompany the game and keep everyone in sync.
And just as many variations would materialize over the years as well. While one could certainly enjoy a solitary jump rope session, it was even a more appealing group activity. Rather than do their own rope twisting, one could simply focus on the jumping part while two accomplices turned the rope. For the more adventuresome, two ropes turned simultaneously by two rope turners made things far more interesting – a variation known as double dutch. Then there are the countless games that have developed over the years, such as Chase the Fox, The Clock, and Spoons, to name only a few.
Of course, spend any amount of time with a jump rope and it becomes painfully evident that not only is a superb sense of timing required but also quite a bit of stamina. In fact, professional athletes, especially boxers, have long recognized the cardiovascular workout that a jump rope provides. And as a result, it is one of the few physical activities that know no age barriers – one where a 250-pound bruiser and a nine-year-old girl are on equal footing and, in fact, the smart money may be on the little girl.
In the world of Playstations and X-boxes, there is something to be said for the charming simplicity of the jump rope, a toy that has provided more hours of fun-filled activity than probably any video game ever conceived - not to mention the additional benefit of exercise that is so often missing from many a kid’s daily routine. In fact, centuries from now, video games may be long-forgotten but on a street corner somewhere, you just may find a few kids twirling a piece of rope and having the time of their lives. Everything eventually comes full circle.
