The age-old game of hopscotch has somehow survived the rush of modern entertainment systems, with their snazzy graphics and electrifying soundtracks, to remain a staple playground game for many young children in the United States, as well as many other countries throughout the world. The great advantage of hopscotch is that it does not require a power source, high definition television or new-fangled controller to provide hours, if not years, of enjoyment. All it takes is a slab of concrete, some willing participants, and something with which to draw a grid.
Interestingly, it is this last requirement, the grid, which elicits a lot of pre-game groaning, and could possibly kill a hopscotch game before it has begun. Fewer kids today have the patience to take chalk in hand and draw out the playing field, and the resulting boxes are typically uneven and easily scuffed out by feet stomping. Fortunately, ready-made hopscotch grid stencils are now readily available for purchase, made of sturdy plastic that will endure many, many applications of paint before they even begin to deteriorate. This translates into a whole lot of exciting hopscotch matches, and a lot less headache.
Preparing a hopscotch grid with a hopscotch stencil is fairly easy, if you pay attention to where you’ll be painting your play area. Since you’d rather not be painting dirt and stones that will easily get kicked or blown away, make sure the location is free of debris before you lay down the stencil. Bring a broom with you and give the pavement a good sweeping. Once the area is clear, set up the stencil on the ground. You may want to take some masking tape along, too, to make sure that the stencil does not shift while you are painting. A few strips along the sides of the stencil should be sufficient.
With the hopscotch stencil secured, start painting! Spray a single coat of paint evenly, taking care not to linger too long in any particular area. The more paint there is, the longer it will take to dry, so unless you expect the hopscotch grid to be used frequently on a daily basis, remember that you’re not necessarily going for permanence. When you are done, give the paint time to dry, of course – you don’t want kids complaining that their brilliant new Nikes got ruined because they tacked paint on them. If you didn’t plan ahead and have a bunch of anxious kids sitting around, take them for ice cream or something like that first, so that the hopscotch grid will be ready for action when you return.
When you are done with using the hopscotch stencil and you haven’t been coerced into joining a few games, clean off the grid as best you can. Don’t worry if dried paint lingers on the stencil – if you’ve bought a tough plastic construct, the paint won’t do much to harm the integrity of your purchase. Tuck away the hopscotch stencil somewhere dry and cool, so that it won’t warp, and will be ready for use the next time your kids and their playmates want to enjoy a pick-up hopscotch game or three.