An Ivorian supporter celebrates after winning at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 final football match between Ivory Coast and Nigeria at Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan on February 11, 2024. (Photo by Sia Kambou/AFP Photo)

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)

American students going wild during their Spring Break week-long recess in Cancun, Mexico on March 10, 2007. (Photo by Keystone USA/ZUMA Press/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

In this photo provided by Mickey Nuttall, members of an international team of skydivers join hands, flying head-down to build their world record skydiving formation, Friday, July 31, 2015, over Ottawa, Ill. (Photo by Jason Peters via AP Photo)

A model backstagee is pictured before the Philipp Plein Spring/Summer 2016 collection during Milan Fashion Week in Italy September 23, 2015. (Photo by Alessandro Garofalo/Reuters)

A person performs during the 2022 NYC Pride parade, in New York City, New York , U.S., June 26, 2022. (Photo by Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

Nina Bahinskaya, 73, poses for a photo holding an old Belarusian national flag at an entrance of her apartment building in Minsk, Belarus, Thursday, September 10, 2020. The 73-year-old former geologist has become one of the most recognizable faces of Belarus protests, fearlessly waving a huge opposition's red-and-white flag in front of riot police. (Photo by AP Photo/Stringer)