Your grade schooler and her pals can learn to think on their feet while testing their smarts with this schoolyard favorite.

Alphabet Loop Older kids can play this clever game with some jump ropes and a willing spirit. Choose a subject like names, cities or fruit. While jumping rope in a circle, players take turns calling out a word in alphabetical order every second or third hop. If “fruit” is the theme, one person might say “apple,” the next “banana” and so on. When someone misses, she’s out. All finished? Time for the next hot topic!

Playtime Perk: Hones quick thinking and large-motor skills.