Red light, green light

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Red light, green light is a game played mostly by children. The "it" person stands at one end of the playing field, with the rest of the players at the other end. "It" turns their back to the others and calls out "Green light!" The players then run as fast as they can towards "it". At any time, "it" can face the players, calling out "Red light," and the others must freeze in place. If anyone fails to stop, they are out or must return to the starting line. Other variations include calling out "Yellow light" as a diversion, or where they must walk instead of run to "it". Calling Yellow Light has no consequence. The first player to reach the person who is "it" wins and becomes "it" for the next round. In certain regions this game may be known as "sneak up on granny"; in this version the person who is "it" is the "granny", and does not call out "red light" or "green light".

There is also another version of Red light, green light played mostly by teens. It involves a vehicle and a set of traffic lights. When you pull up to a set of lights which are red, every participant must exit car and run around the vehicle. The first one back in or with the most laps around the vehicle wins. This is also known as a "Chinese fire drill".

Japan: In episode 14 of Ouran High School Host Club (anime) the members of the club are playing a variation of this game. The person who is "it" calls out the sentence: Dharuma-san ga koronda (だるまさんが　ころんだ) which meanse "the Dharma doll fell". The players must stop moving on the last syllable.

Another version of Red light green light has a silly object like a rubber chicken or a stuffed animal, at the base of the "traffic light". The "cars" work together trying to rescue the rubber chicken and bring it back to safety. However, if the person who is pretending to be the traffic light can see the rubber chicken when she/he turns around, then the whole group must go back. This game builds team work and is quite fun to watch!

Possibly, and finally; Red light, green light, also embodies a game as part of the rites of passage with teens; obstenibly a sexually charged "dare" contest, one in which the aggressive participant engages in "feeling up" one or the other of the passive participant's legs, (usually a skirt or prom dress), until he, or she expresses: "Red light", as a means of establishing the limits of their particular "no-fly zone". If there is some desire to explore further, then "Green light" is communicated until "Red light" prohibitions are established once again.