Hopscotch is a children's game played by tossing a small object (like a stone or beanbag) onto numbered squares drawn on the ground, then hopping through the squares to retrieve it. Players draw a pattern of connected squares on pavement or dirt, number them from one to ten, and take turns throwing their marker into each square in order. The challenge comes from hopping through the course on one foot, skipping the square with your marker in it, then picking it up on your way back.

The game has been played for hundreds of years across many cultures, with different regions creating their own patterns and rules. Some versions use a simple ladder shape, while others arrange the squares in creative designs. What makes hopscotch special is its combination of physical skill (balancing on one foot), precision (landing your marker in the right square), and strategy (figuring out the best way to navigate the course).

You might see hopscotch courts drawn in schoolyards, on sidewalks, or at parks, waiting for players to grab a pebble and start hopping.