Who has not played hopscotch at some point of their life? We see children playing this popular playground game at any given time and at any given place. But, this has not always been the case. A list dating from the 6th or 5th century BCE (before common era) shows that Gautama Buddha lists several games that he would not play and that his disciples should likewise not play. He believed them to be a 'cause for negligence'. One such game was 'parihāra-patham' being a form of hopscotch.

Hopscotch as we know it today, of course consists of a court which is laid out on the ground often with chalk on concrete or etched into the ground. Designs vary but typically they are interspersed with blocks of two lateral squares. The court normally ends with a "safe" or "home" base in which the player can turn before completing. A marker called a "lucky", "piggy", "torr" or "taw" (depending on which culture) is thrown down and should land in a square and not overlap a line. The play then hops through the course skipping the marker's square.

An interesting fact about hopscotch.

- The current Guinness Book of World Records holder for the fastest hopscotch game is Ashrita Furman, at 1 minute and 8 seconds.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org