Yard Games

Stink-Up

A high-speed street game combining elements of tag and hide-and-seek.

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Category
Yard Games
Materials
None.

How It's Played

A high-speed street game combining elements of tag and hide-and-seek. The seeker closes their eyes at a base and shouts a traditional warning rhyme. The other players scatter into nearby lanes. If the seeker spots a player and calls out their name and exact hiding spot, that player becomes "stunk up" and must chase the remaining hidden players to pass on the penalty. - **Chant:** "Stink-up, stink-up, smell a rotten egg! Last one to the base is a rotten egg!"

Cultural Roots

A high-energy neighborhood game common in both urban tenement yards and rural villages, fostering lightning-fast running reflexes and stealth under pressure.

Did You Play Stink-Up?

Wherever you grew up — Kingston, Montego Bay, Brooklyn, Toronto, London, Miami — if you remember playing this, we want to hear from you. Send us your story, your photos, or an old video. Every submission helps preserve this game for the next generation.

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