I spent New Year’s Eve teaching my niece how to play Slapsies, the classic children’s hand game where one person tries to slap the other’s hands before they can pull away. It’s a game that tests reflexes, strategy, and courage, and it often includes various rules for winning, missing, flinching, and “free slap” penalties.
It’s a glorious game that I played relentlessly as a child.
I wasn’t surprised that my niece didn’t know of the game, since I’m sure it’s been banned from my school playgrounds by teachers and parents who are constantly softening, neutering, and removing joy from children’s lives.
It’s easier to ban the game from the playground rather than contend with a child complaining that their hand is sore from an especially aggressive round of the game.
Bah.
Every spring, I teach my students a bunch of classic children’s games that many have never played but immediately adore, including Red Light Green Light, Mother May I, Kick the Can, Duck Duck Goose, Statues, and, until about a decade ago, Red Rover.
My school nurse, who isn’t opposed to some old-school fun, advised me not to play this game as it can result in broken arms.
I don’t remember a single broken arm as a child, and we played a hell of a lot of Red Rover, but I acquiesced with much regret.
But Slapsies… that’s a great game, and my niece agreed. We played for about 45 minutes before I sent her off to play with her father.
The next morning, she was back to play some more.
Even better than Slapsies is Knuckles, which is the same as Slapsies except that instead of placing hands atop each other, you press closed fists against each other, and one player attempts to pound the top of the opponent’s hand with their knuckles.
This was a game we played at Scout camp and is admittedly not for the faint of heart.
But that’s what makes it great:
Stakes. Real consequences for losing.
I offered to play Knuckles with my niece, but once I explained the game to her, she wisely declined, sticking instead with Slapsies.
It made sense. No child wants their uncle rapping their knuckles with his knuckles.
My niece was very bad at Slapses when we started, but within ten minutes, she had begun to understand the game and was playing well.
My hope was that she would bring the game to her school and start playing with friends, but I worry that if she does, my sister-in-law will be calling me a day later to tell me she’s been suspended for bringing violence to the playground.
My sister-in-law would not like this at all.
I think my niece would find it hilarious.
