Debra Reyland (and all others…
Debra Reyland (and all others looking for a chinese jumprope game), I remember a similar rhyme we used to use in Chicago in the 70’s when playing chinese jumprope: Starting position was : catch the rope with your feet and jump to cross the rope over and stand in the center . (you are now in a “loop” you created with the elastic making an x in front and back of your ankles) Jump in an alternating pattern – spreading your feet apart, then with legs crossed, right foot in front of left, then apart, then left in front of right, then apart, etc. ( remaining inside of the “loop” you created upon jumping in) Jump in this pattern while chanting: “Ching-chong chinaman sittin’ on a fence tryin’ to make a dollar outta 69 cents he missed… he missed… he missed like this! ” On the word ‘this’ the object was to disentangle yourself and land on the now straight rope, one foot on each of the ropes. If you did this correctly, you got to continue: Step to one side, use both feet to catch rope as before and jump alternating now once with left foot in front (ching), then apart, then once with right foor in front (chong), then disentangle yourself again landing on the spead ropes (ONE!). (You are chanting “Ching-chong-ONE!,”) Step to side cross ropes over and repeat- counting your jumps in the same alternating pattern: “Ching-chog-TWO!, Ching-chong-THREE!”,etc. until you miss the ropes. The person who got the highest won. Sound familiar? Or is this yet another variation? I can’t believe how many memories this site has brought back!!!!! Wish I had that energy and coordination now!!!!!