Opie collection of children's games & songs

Recording of children demonstrating songs and discussing playground games with Iona Opie

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  • Type

    sound

  • Duration

    00:12:44

  • Shelf mark

    C898/52

  • Subjects

    Children's games; Children's songs

  • Recording date

    1975-07

  • Is part of (Collection)

    Opie collection of children's games and songs

  • Recording locations

    Dorchester, Dorset, England

  • Interviewers

    Opie, Iona (speaker, female)

  • Speakers

    unidentified (children)

  • Abstract

    Part 1 of 1. [00:00:00 - 00:12:44]. This recording, from Dorchester, Dorset, 1975, was taped during Iona Opie's visit to a local play area. Here she meets a group of  eight children aged between three and ten and discusses with them children's games and songs. The recording begins with some of the children singing the skipping songs: 'I'm a Little Bumper Car' [00:00:00 - 00:00:11] and 'Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear' [00:00:12 - 00:01:12]. The children then begin to discuss and explain games that they around the play area. They describe to Iona a game that they call 'Polo'. To play, the children must decide upon a 'topic' e.g. 'horses' (they then choose different breeds such as 'Shetland' or 'Shire').  One player then shouts a breed of horse and the player who chose this breed then has to race this particular player. Iona can be heard asking the children: 'what are all these names here?' The children are reluctant to tell her and one girl can be heard remarking: 'it's not true'. Iona notes that the writing states a girls name who is 'for' a boys name. The children explain that this means the two children are in love [00:05:33]. Iona asks the children if they play 'Hopscotch'. One boy replies: 'oh yes!' The children then draw a 'little one' for her and demonstrate the game [00:06:24 - 00:07:50]. The recording ends with the children explaining that this is a good place to live because they can play on the road as it is not very busy. They play games such as 'Bulldog' here and on the 'long piece of grass' they play cricket, tennis and badminton.  The play area is very busy 'especially on Sundays' [00:01:06 - 00:12:44].

  • Description

    Item notes: Recording of children demonstrating songs and discussing playground games with Iona Opie. Speakers' notes: Group of Dorchester schoolchildren. Recording notes: Slight L/R imbalance, variable throughout.

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