Jacks

I got jacks back in the 50's. I practiced picking them up daily. The neighbor kids all practiced too. We had jacks contests to see who would be the daily jacks champion. We started with "onesies, twosies", etc, and then moved on to "pigs in the pen" and then "jacks over the bridge and the more difficult "jacks under the bridge." I, on a whole, was usually the "jacks queen" of the neighborhood. Now I've given bags of jacks to my granddaughters to play. Of course, I have to teach them the separate games so they too can practice. Wish more kids would play jacks today.

- Gail, Kaukauna, WI

This story was submitted as part of the 100 Toys Project at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Vote for your favorite and share a toy memory through Aug. 17, 2012.

When I was about 10 or 11, I spent a whole summer playing jacks. I played in my room on the wood floor, in the hallway, in the kitchen; until I was chased out; on the porch. It was a little like gambling -- if I could only get to the end to pick up all the jacks at once, then I will stop and do something else. Of course I always started over, like the slot machines at a casino. I had a good time. Thankfully, the compulsion and the gambling addiction did not stick; just a happy memory.

- Hope, Indianapolis

This story was submitted as part of the 100 Toys Project at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Vote for your favorite and share a toy memory through Aug. 17, 2012.

A lot of us, mostly girls, would carry them with us everywhere we went and play whenever we could. We got to be quite good at the game, too! It was a usually quiet game so it kept us out of trouble.

- Karen, Duncanville, AL

This story was submitted as part of the 100 Toys Project at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Vote for your favorite and share a toy memory through Aug. 17, 2012.

My sister and I would play jacks all day long. We never went anywhere that we didn't have our jacks with us in a little drawstring bag. A couple of years ago, I found a set of jacks at the State Fair and got them and sent them to her. She called when they arrived and we talked and laughed about our memories of playing. What a wonderful childhood memory that is!

- Chris, Avon, IN

This story was submitted as part of the 100 Toys Project at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Vote for your favorite and share a toy memory through Aug. 17, 2012.

I never mastered the game, but I do remember my poor dad stepping on my jacks in the middle of the night where I had left them in the hallway!

- Natalie, Evansville, IN

This story was submitted as part of the 100 Toys Project at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Vote for your favorite and share a toy memory through Aug. 17, 2012.

As an "almost" only child (my brother is 8 years older) I could entertain myself for hours practicing how many jacks I could pick up in one bounce - then I was ready to compete during elementary recess!

- Gisele, Indianapolis

This story was submitted as part of the 100 Toys Project at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Vote for your favorite and share a toy memory through Aug. 17, 2012.

I am the youngest of four children and grew up in the 1960s in Indiana. My father was in construction and for several years we moved frequently. As a result, my siblings & I were very close because there were times when we only had each other. The family income was minimal but fortunately, the 1960s was a time when life was simple, including toys. I recall playing Jacks with my two sisters and it would occupy some of those long summer days when we were out of school. If we weren't playing Jacks, we would play with our paperdolls or have a game of tetherball. Life was good. Life was simple then.

- Terri, Springville, IN

This story was submitted as part of the 100 Toys Project at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Vote for your favorite and share a toy memory through Aug. 17, 2012.

Me and my older sister, just liked getting on the floor and playing Jacks, I thought it was the best game to play growing up!

- Tammy, Indianapolis

This story was submitted as part of the 100 Toys Project at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Vote for your favorite and share a toy memory through Aug. 17, 2012.

This was a most wonderful toy! I spent thousands of hours playing with mine. We played jacks on tables or (most often) on the floor. We did them all up through the tensies then baby high chairs, the cow jumped over the moon, and all. We even had contests. Kids are missing a lot these days!!

- Linda, Liberty, IN

This story was submitted as part of the 100 Toys Project at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Vote for your favorite and share a toy memory through Aug. 17, 2012.

Back in the 40s we loved playing Jacks. We played everywhere you could bounce the ball. I remember playing out on the sidewalks in front of our house. I got a birthstone ring for my birthday and the stone got all scratched from picking up the Jacks off the rough sidewalk. We still loved the game and tried to get from ones, twos, threes all the way to picking up all 10 Jacks at the same time. Live and Learn.

- Barb, Indianapolis

This story was submitted as part of the 100 Toys Project at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. Vote for your favorite and share a toy memory through Aug. 17, 2012.