1. Hunting and Gathering: Children would play games that simulated real-life activities such as hunting and gathering. They would use sticks, stones, and other objects to represent weapons, animals, and plants, engaging in pretend hunts.
2. Knucklebones: This game involved small bones from animals' joints which were tossed and caught on the back of one's hand. The goal was to land the bones in a certain pattern or order, often accompanied by rhymes and songs.
3. Hoops and Rings: Children would play with hoops made of wood or metal by rolling them along the ground or using them as targets for throwing objects. Rings could be tossed around sticks placed in the ground or thrown over a target as well.
4. Tag and Chase: Variations of running and chasing games like tag were popular among children, with simple rules and no specialized equipment required.
5. Ball Games: Children played various games with balls such as catching, throwing, and kicking. Simple games similar to modern soccer, or kicking the ball into a goal, were common.
6. Hide-and-Seek: This classic game involved hiding in designated areas while the seeker tries to find the hidden players.
7. Dolls and Puppets: Children made dolls and puppets from scrap materials like cloth and wood, and used them for storytelling and imaginary play.
8. Stilts: Stilts were used to walk at a great height, and were popular as they often involved balancing skills and challenges.
9. Marbles: Children would play games with marbles, rolling them towards a target or flicking them to strike one another.
10. Leapfrog: Children held hands or formed lines to play leapfrog, in which they leaped over each other while moving forwards in a group.
Overall, medieval children's games were largely simple and often drew inspiration from daily life, encouraging physical activity, problem-solving, and social interaction among playmates.