Tree Games from Around the World | Sprout Nature Explorer Series

By: Tom Baal

Sprout had just finished tying his shoelaces when the wind whistled through the grove, carrying a whisper of laughter across the world. He blinked, tilted his head, and asked the nearest tree, “Did you hear that?” The tree, a tall chestnut with bark like ancient armor, said nothing aloud but nudged a single leaf toward the boy. It spiraled to the ground, landing near his toe. Sprout picked it up, turned it over, and there – etched in dew – were words he could read: Come play with us.

And so he did what any brave nature explorer would do. He followed the leaf.

It led him to a clearing where stories grew thicker than thickets and games sprouted from memory. There, gathered beneath trees older than empires, children from every corner of the Earth waited, ready to show Sprout how they played where they came from.

In Kenya, a girl named Amina taught Sprout a game called “Mbube Mbube.” “It means lion,” she whispered. One child stood blindfolded in the center while the others formed a circle. They chanted “mbube, mbube” louder as the “lion” got closer to the “goat” hiding somewhere in the circle. Sprout laughed when he finally pounced right into the goat – who squealed and ran away again.

Under a banyan tree in India, two boys invited him to play “Pithoo.” They stacked flat stones, then threw a small ball to knock them down. The team that knocked the stack down had to rebuild it while the others tried to tag them out. The banyan’s low branches made a natural boundary – one that protected the players like an elder’s arms.

In Japan, beneath cherry blossoms, a soft-spoken boy named Haruto showed Sprout how to play “Kendama,” a traditional wooden toy game passed down for generations. Though it wasn’t a running game, the game was a challenge of patience and precision. Sprout’s tongue stuck out the side of his mouth as he tried to balance the ball on the spike. He missed, then missed again, but Haruto smiled and showed him a trick. This time, Sprout got it. The petals cheered, falling like claps.

Sprout met Luna in Mexico, where she taught him “La cuerda,” a jumping rope game played under jacaranda trees blooming violet. She swung the rope with rhythm and chants, letting Sprout jump in after the count of three. They played until their legs felt like jelly and they flopped on the ground, laughing up at the branches that shaded them from the sun.

In Iceland, children played “Hide and Troll.” This game, a blend of hide-and-seek and local folklore, dared kids to hide behind twisted trees while one child – the Troll – crept, calling out in sing-song, “Where are the mossy ones?” If the Troll found someone, that child became a tree for the next round, frozen with arms out like branches. Sprout was good at this one. He held his breath behind a boulder and wasn’t found until twilight.

Everywhere he went, trees were part of the game. They were bases, safe zones, score markers, or even playmates themselves. In Australia, aboriginal children shared “Emu chase,” where trees were obstacles in a mock hunt that taught tracking and movement. The eucalyptus trees watched, swaying like quiet judges.

In Brazil, Sprout joined kids climbing mango trees in a game of “Who Can Sit the Highest.” It wasn’t just about climbing – it was about knowing the tree, feeling its strengths and rests, and choosing a branch that welcomed your weight. Sprout sat near the top, mango juice on his chin, wondering how the trees never seemed tired of holding joy.

In Romania, a girl named Elena introduced him to “Păcălici cu frunza” – a leaf bluffing game. One child held a leaf with a hidden symbol under it, and others had to guess its meaning. The game wasn’t about winning. It was about storytelling. “The tree gave this leaf to me because it wanted to tell us something,” she’d say. Sometimes it was a secret. Sometimes, a riddle. Always, magic.

By the time Sprout returned to his own grove, the sun was setting. He sat under his favorite tree – a sycamore – and laid out the leaves he’d collected from every game. Each one still held the echo of laughter, footsteps, chants, and whispers. They told a story not just of games, but of how every culture plays close to the trees. Of how trees stand patiently, watching generation after generation dance, jump, climb, and imagine around them.

Sprout didn’t need a plane or a passport to go on his adventure. Just wonder, and a willingness to play. Trees had always been part of childhood – even when children didn’t realize it. They made shade for hopscotch, gave roots for balance beams, dropped seeds that became pretend food, and offered twigs that transformed into swords, wands, and walking sticks. In every place he visited, the trees remembered.

The wind returned to his grove, curling around him like a bedtime story. Sprout tucked his leaves into his pocket, gave the sycamore a grateful pat, and promised: “Tomorrow, I’ll show someone else how to play.”

And the tree, though quiet, seemed to smile in reply.

Sprout Needs Your Help

Hey tree friends, it’s Sprout!

Now it’s your turn! Grab your friends or family and ask,

“What tree games did you play growing up?”

Try a few from Sprout’s journey or make up your own with nearby trees.

And don’t forget – every time you play under a tree, it’s like you’re adding your laughter to its memory.

Snap a picture, share your story, and tag us using #SproutTreeGames!

Remember: Every safe tree has a brave helper like you. 

Did You Know?

Tip Top Arborists

Since 1976, Tip Top Arborists has been Southern California’s trusted partner in professional tree care. Based in Lancaster, CA, and surrounding areas – delivering expert tree trimming, removal, and maintenance services with safety, science, and integrity at the core.

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