José María Larocca of Argentina riding Finn Lente soars over a water jump in the Rolex Grand Prix in Falsterbo, Sweden on July 13, 2025. (Photo by Petter Arvidson/Bildbyran/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

In a simpler time all a child or an adult needed to enjoy the outdoors was a ball and a stick. Or maybe an old tire tied to a high branch to fashion a swing. And the only instruction given to children was to “be home before dark”. Now there are iPads and computers and television screens and shrinking safe public spaces. But despite the distractions and limitations of space, these images show the charm of kicking a ball or skipping rope endures. Sometimes with modifications as a nod to changing times. Here: in this Saturday, June 20, 2015 photo, a boy runs while playing with a motorcycle wheel in Samugari, Ayacucho, Peru. (Photo by Rodrigo Abd/AP Photo)

Kamila Valieva, of the Russian Olympic Committee, reacts after competing in the women's free skate program during the figure skating competition at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Thursday, February 17, 2022, in Beijing. (Photo by David J. Phillip/AP Photo)

Colombia's Mercedes Isabel Perez Tigrero competes in the women's 64kg weightlifting competition during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo on July 27, 2021. (Photo by Edgard Garrido/Reuters)

Colombian fans during the International Friendly match between Canada and Colombia at Sports Illustrated Stadium on October 14, 2025 in Harrison, Nueva Jersey. (Photo by Leonardo Ramirez/eyepix via ZUMA Press Wire/Alamy Live News)

Germany fans cheer after the 2-0 goal for Germany during the UEFA Euro 2024 football match between Germany and Hungary at the public football viewing area in Berlin, Germany on June 19, 2024. (Photo by Jörg Carstensen/AFP Photo)

Nadezhda Sergeeva, of the Russian Olympic Committee, looks at her time in the women's monobob heat 4 at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Monday, February 14, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. (Photo by Pavel Golovkin/AP Photo)

Canadian escape artist Dean Gunnarson attempts to work his way out of a straight jacket while hanging from a crane by a rope which is on fire during a Royal Melbourne Show preview at the Melbourne Showgrounds on September 23, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. The Royal Melbourne Show officially kicks off tomorrow, and continues until October 4. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)