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)

Subway passengers walk past bronze sculptures representing the Soviet people at the Ploshchad Revolyutsii metro station in Moscow, on November 14, 2012. The station was opened in 1938. (Photo by Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP Photo)

A woman wears false flag eyelashes during the St Patrick's day parade through Dublin city centre on St Patrick's day, on March 17, 2013. (Photo by Julien Behal/PA Wire)

In this May 12, 2017 photo, Pupy, an African elephant, stands in the doorway of his enclosure at the former city zoo now known as Eco Parque in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A year ago the 140-year old Buenos Aires zoo closed its doors and was transformed into a park. The first director decided that the animals should be housed in buildings that reflected their countries of origin. A replica of a Hindu temple was built for the Asian elephants. (Photo by Natacha Pisarenko/AP Photo)

A cafe-restaurant staff stands outside as people drink coffee in Monastiraki district of Athens, on Monday, May 25, 2020. Greece restarted regular ferry services to its islands Monday, and cafes and restaurants were also back open for business as the country accelerated efforts to salvage its tourism season. (Photo by Petros Giannakouris/AP Photo)

A demonstrator gestures during protests around the Argentine Parliament in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 10 March 2022. Serious disturbances were registered in the surroundings of the seat of the Argentine Parliament when demonstrators protesting against the new agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) clashed with the police of the city of Buenos Aires. (Photo by Juan Ignacio Roncoroni/EPA/EFE)

Supporters of presidential candidate Gustavo Petro, with the Historical Pact coalition, celebrate after his candidate won a presidential runoff in Bogota, Colombia, Sunday, June 19, 2022. (Photo by Fernando Vergara/AP Photo)

Colombia's Egan Bernal pedals as he warms up ahead of the 10th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, an individual time trial from Lucca to Pisa, Italy, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (Photo by Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP Photo)