Broomfield Samson, a rare breed Suffolk punch, and his rider, Alison Carroll, cool off in the River Lune at Loyne Bridge near Gressingham in Lancashire, UK on May 21, 2024. (Photo by James Glossop/ The Times & Sunday Times)

Twelve-year-old Kelia Gallina of French Polynesia after surfing in Heat 1 of the Elimination Round at the Lexus Tahiti Pro on August 8, 2025 at Teahupoo, Tahiti, French Polynesia.(Photo by Brent Bielmann/World Surf League via Getty Images)

Kelsea Ballerini performs at the 59th Annual Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., November 19, 2025. (Photo by Seth Herald/Reuters)

Female members of the Colombian Army take part in the military parade to commemorate Colombia's Independence Day in Bogota on July 20, 2024. (Photo by Alejandro Martinez/AFP Photo)

A mahout rides on painted elephant as they march during a procession near the Grand Palace to pay their respects to Thailand's former queen Sirikit in Bangkok on November 27, 2025. (Photo by Chanakarn Laosarakham/AFP Photo)

A resident jumps as he watches strong waves crash into shore as an effect of Typhoon Hagupit in Legazpi, Albay province, eastern Philippines on Sunday, December 7, 2014. Typhoon Hagupit knocked out power in entire coastal provinces, mowed down trees and sent more than 650,000 people into shelters before it weakened Sunday, sparing the central Philippines a repetition of unprecedented devastation by last year's storm. (Photo by Aaron Favila/AP Photo)

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)

Storm clouds gather over the scene outside the Jewish Community Center in Leawood, Kansas following a shooting, on April 13, 2014. (Photo by John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/MCT)