Vintage photos from the 1940s offer a captivating glimpse into the lively street play of children in New York City

   

These interesting black and white photos below were taken by LIFE photographer Ralph Morse around streets of New York City in June, 1947...

 
Girls playing hopscotch in the street.

 

Young boy playing w. his orange crate scooter which he just made by nailing the wheel parts fr. an old roller skate to a wooden plank & adding an orange crate.

 

Girls playing hopscotch.

 

Young boy nailing wheel parts fr. an old roller skate to a wooden plank in the first step toward making an orange crate scooter.

 

Young boy poised to catch ball at home plate (the manhole cover) in a game of stickball.

 

Girls and boys playing hopscotch.

 

Boy diving from top of building on wharf, poised in air over river.

 

Boys and girls jumping rope.

 

Young boys playing stickball in vacant lot next to billboard advertising the Drake's Cake & the movie "Carnegie Hall" nr. apt. bldg. construction.

 

Young boy playing w. his fruit crate scooter which he made by nailing the wheel parts fr. an old roller skate to a wooden plank & adding the crate.

 

Little boy wearing shorts, chasing pigeons across cobblestones in park.

 

Boy running to catch ball during game of stickball.

 

Boy catching ball during game of stickball.

 

Young boys playing stickball in vacant lot next to apt. bldg.

 

Boy hitting ball during game of stickball.

 

Young girl playing jacks.

 

Girl playing stickball.

 

 
Young girl with long hair and raggedy shirt, smiling, wearing seed pod on nose.