Touch tag is a game that has literally been played by children since ancient times, and it is a game that has been known by several different names over the centuries. It has been called touch, touch tag, tig, tag, and even tick. No matter what a person calls it, however, it is probably a game that they have played at some point in their life.

It is also a game so revered that it has earned its own holiday. A holiday that is observed annually on October 8th and is known as American Touch Tag Day. It is the perfect day for parents to introduce their children to this childhood game and encourage them to go outside and get some exercise.

The Origins of Some Playground Games

We wanted to do a little bit of history on touch tag and other playground games that have been played by children since time immemorial, so we put together this little section where we go over the origins of some of the most popular playground games.

• Jacks goes back to ancient Greece. However, a ball and jacks weren’t used back then. Instead, it was sheep bones and rocks.
• Blind Man’s Bluff was a favorite in the court of Henry VIII.
• Kickball was invented in 1917 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was called Kick-Baseball but was shortened to kickball in the 1920s.
• Hopscotch was invented by Roman soldiers stationed in the British Isles.
• London Bridge is an ancient game that dates back to ancient Rome.
• London Bridge became especially popular during the Middle Ages.
• Marbles have been played since ancient times in Egypt and South America.

Observing American Touch Tag Day

Grab a group of friends, your children, or your coworkers, and head outside for a spirited game of touch tag. That’s all you have to do to celebrate this holiday. After you’ve finished that game of tag, don’t forget to use the hashtag #AmericanTouchTagDay to spread the word about this holiday around the world.