Thirty years ago, three of my friends, all stay-at-home moms, got together and worked out a system that worked very well. One day a week, each of us took our children to our friends’ home for a ‘play date.’

It allowed each of us to take one full day to shop, go to doctors’ appointments, get our hair done, all without our darling children in tow and all without spending money we didn’t have on child care. Sometimes, we didn’t run errands; we simply spent time alone, soaking in ‘quiet’.

The amount of family caregivers across United States that could do something like this is mind-blowing. In fact, statistics most readily quoted are that on any given day, fifty million families are caring for a loved one.

Chinese Jump Rope found me as a child and once again, through my profession as a physical educator. The game is funny like that, popping up from generation to generation, verbally passed from one to another like a folk tale.

Chinese Jump Rope is a challenging game played by anyone anywhere.

The simple rules test skill and coordination of all players. An elastic rope is only equipment needed for play. The game is easily learned and always fun! Chinese children first played Chinese Jump Rope in 7th century. Rediscovered by English children in 1960's, Chinese Jump Rope remains as popular as ever.

Chinese Jump Rope is no ordinary "rope skipping" game. "Enders" hold an elastic rope while a "jumper" jumps rope in special ways. The challenge? To jump successfully!

RULES

A Jumper jumps until a jumping mistake or "miss" is made.

-A miss can be made if a jumper jumps "out" instead of "in".

-A miss is also made if a jumper touches rope incorrectly while jumping game.

After a miss, jumper trades positions with an ender.

The jumper starts from very beginning of game on next turn.

Every Chinese Jump Rope game begins with rope held in basic position.

Enders:

1. Face each other and step inside rope.

2. Place rope around ankles.

3. Step back until rope is stretched.