Cat's Cradle
String-loop patterns played solo or between two — pass the loop between fingers to make ever-more-complex geometric figures.
What is Cat's Cradle?
Cat's Cradle is a two-player string game where a loop of string is passed back and forth between two pairs of hands, each transfer transforming it into a named geometric pattern ('Cradle', 'Soldier's Bed', 'Candles', 'Manger', 'Diamonds', 'Cat's Eye'). Solo string figures (Cup and Saucer, Jacob's Ladder, Witch's Broom) are also traditional. Documented in cultures worldwide — Chinese (fanshengr), Māori (Whai) and Inuit variants are especially rich.
Quick facts
Category
Playground Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–2
Where played
both
Country of origin
🇨🇳 China
Estimated origin
Traditional across many cultures — Chinese, Māori (Whai) and Inuit variants documented
Olympic
No
Popularity
global