In the 1950s children often played games in the streets outside their houses. This was much safer, as fewer people owned cars and there was far less traffic. Children also played different types of games, with more simple toys. Instead of computer games, they had footballs, hula hoops, skipping ropes and cards. 

A Still from a Film of Life on Hull's Street in 1950

The video below shows street scenes in Hull from 1950. It begins with children playing a variety of games in the street, including British Bull Dog and wrestling. There are also shots of children playing hopscotch, pavement chalking, blind man's bluff, ring-a-ring-a-roses and swapping cigarette cards (collectable picture cards that came with packs of cigarettes).