Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen's bicycle (behind, L) flies through the air as he collides with compatriot Dylan Groenewegen (on the ground, L) during the opening stage of the Tour of Poland race in Katowice, southern Poland on August 5, 2020. The Dutch rider was fighting for his life on Wednesday after he was thrown into and over a barrier at 80km/h in a sickening conclusion to the opening stage of the Tour of Poland. (Photo by Szymon Gruchalski/Forum/AFP Photo)

Netherlands and England fans arrive at the city ahead of a semi final match between Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (Photo by Markus Schreiber/AP Photo)

Italy's Valentina Greggio during the Women's Speed Skiing at the World Speed Skiing Championship and World Record Attempt in Vars, France, on March 27, 2025. (Photo by Manon Cruz/Reuters)

A snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) raised by a falconer as part of a captive-breeding program, pictured in its enclosure in Vysocina, Czech Republic on October 22, 2025. (Photo by Slavek Ruta/ZUMA Press Wire via Alamy Live News)

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)

A man takes a picture of the mural painted by the street artist Harry Greb depicting the Italian music composer Ennio Morricone, a day after the 91-year-old composer's death, on July 7, 2020 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

A person waits for donations at the exit from the Fred Meyer parking lot on South 19th street in Tacoma, Friday, February 8, 2019. (Photo by Peter Haley/The News Tribune via AP Photo)

Germany's Kira Walkenhorst (L) taps Germany's Laura Ludwig during the women's beach volleyball qualifying match between Germany and Canada at the Beach Volley Arena in Rio de Janeiro on August 9, 2016, for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. (Photo by Leon Neal/AFP Photo)