Geen ledig uur moet ooit den kinderen vervelen: / Zie hier een vijfentwintigtal onderscheiden spelen. / Elk kies nu onbeschroomd het geen hem best geval; / Maar 't kin dat wijs is, kiest het schoolwerk bovenal 1806 - 1830

This undated print by Jacob Plügger, now at the Rijksmuseum, depicts twenty-five distinct children's games, advocating that children occupy their time wisely, choosing schoolwork above all else. Note the presence of the hoop game, evoking ancient Roman practices, where hoops were rolled with sticks as both exercise and military training. Its reappearance here, centuries later, highlights the enduring human impulse to play, but also how the meaning of such play shifts. What was once preparation for war becomes a simple pastime. Consider, too, the psychological dimension: the circular form of the hoop itself might represent the cycles of life, the endless pursuit of progress, or the containment of childhood within prescribed boundaries. These motifs are not merely illustrative; they engage viewers on a subconscious level, reminding us of our own childhoods, and the cultural forces that have shaped us. This work is not just a snapshot of children’s games, but a mirror reflecting our own cultural evolution.