Example of Traditional Games

When you talk about traditional games reference is being made to those games that are played by children but without making use of any complex technology. Thus, a traditional game does not require modern or expensive artifacts since many of them can be performed only with the child's body, or with some utensils provided by nature (ex. sand, stones, branches, etc.).

There are some other games that do require some household objects (ex. fabrics, ropes, papers, cardboard, etc.). Unlike the most current games where a strong monetary investment is required by the parents, for traditional games this is not required. Traditional games are distinguished from other types of games by the following issues:

Characteristics of traditional games

1. Although they can be individual or collective, generally traditional games are based on the interaction that the child establish with other infants.
2. It does not require no technological artifact to carry them out.
3. Some traditional games work only with the child's body
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   , some others with utensils provided by nature or homemade artifacts. There is also the case in which a specific toy is required, but it is a very simple device (eg. marbles).
4. Traditional games have simple rules so that the players follow an order when playing them.
5. Many of the traditional games are played outdoors.

In this way, traditional games range from the game of marbles to card games, always passing through games in which children exploit their physical abilities because the game itself requires them to run, jump, etc.

Many of the games that are characterized by the body expressiveness of the players take place in the streets, which is why they are also called street games. An important characteristic of these types of games is that generally children are not under adult supervision, at least not constantly.

Games that require body movements are developed by children from a very early age, either guided by parents or spontaneously. In this way, these games help babies to present their physical development in a correct way.

Advantages of traditional games

Having explained what they are and what are the most important characteristics of traditional games, it is easy to identify their advantages:

1. In the first place and, as already said, the execution of these games does not require a large monetary expenditure, so that traditional games are available to everyone.
2. On the other hand, traditional games help children develop their motor skills.
3. In addition, because many of these games take place outdoors and without adult supervision, they are encourages the development of the child's interpersonal relationships with their peers, and therefore the creation of a children's culture is encouraged.

Below are some examples of traditional games.

20 examples of traditional games

1. The top: A spinning top is a very simple toy that consists of a top that can rotate on its tip. The person throwing the top must have the dexterity to keep it spinning for a long time.
2. The bearing: The balero is a typical Mexican toy that consists of a wooden stem, attached by a string to a ball pierced by one or more holes. The person playing it aims to embed a thin shaft of the stem into the hollow of the mallet.
3. The marbles: A marble is a small sphere made of glass, metal, crystal, string, or marble. Usually a hole is made in the ground and the game consists of throwing the marbles from a certain distance and inserting them into the hole.
4. The stick horses: This toy is characterized in that children can make it with a broomstick or mop. The stick simulates the body of the horse, and the head of the animal can be made with some simple material. The game consists of the child "riding" the horse and pretending to ride.
5. The paper boats: The interesting thing about the paper boats is that the game does not start when the boat is made, but from the moment it is being made. A child can easily take a sheet of paper and shape it into a boat by making certain folds. Once the boat has been made, it can be placed in a puddle or small stream for it to navigate.
6. Jump the rope: This game only requires a long rope or rope and moves it from top to bottom. Two people stand at each end of the rope and a few more people must jump this rope without falling, whoever can jump the most in a row is the winner.
7. Elastic: Like the rope, for this game you only need to get a long elastic and tie a few knots. Two people stand at each end of the elastic, and put the elastic around their ankles, and one person must do a series of jumps.
8. Hide and seek: This is a necessarily collective game in which one person must stand against the wall and count to a certain amount (usually 10) while everyone else chooses a hiding place. The person who counted must find them all.
9. Freeze tag: This is also a necessarily collective game that is played outdoors. A person is in charge of "enchanting" others. Once someone is touched by this person, he must remain still, not moving. If any of the other people who are playing touches who he is frozen, the latter can move again.
10. The "stop": A circle is drawn on the floor and each player is assigned a country or city. One of the people who are playing stands outside the circle and says "I declare war against my worst enemy which is ..." and then says the name of one of the cities or countries chosen. The person who has this city or country must run and avoid being caught by the other person.
11. The dolls: This is a socially accepted game only for girls, it consists in that those who play, assume the role of mother towards their dolls in human form.
12. The little food: This game is also accepted only for girls. It consists of using utensils to pretend that food is being prepared.
13. Mom and dad: This is a game in which the members assume the role of father and mother, there must also be members who assume the role of the children.
14. The viper of the sea: This game consists of making a line of children to be held by the waist. Once the line is formed, everyone must go under the arms of two other children who are at one end and higher than the others (usually they get on a chair). While they pass, the verses of the song are sung "to the viper, viper of the sea of ​​the sea, they can pass through here, those in front run a lot and those in the back will stay behind, after, after ...". At the end of the song, the children lower their arms and whoever is captured is out of the game.
15. Mrs. White: A wheel of children is formed that must be held by the hands. At the center of the wheel there is a boy or girl who is "Doña Blanca" and another outside the circle, the latter taking the role of "jicotillo". The children begin to turn singing "Doña Blanca is covered with pillars of gold and silver, we will break a pillar to see Doña Blanca." At the end of the song, the person outside the circle should touch the hands of two of the children who form the wheel, then these will come loose and "doña Blanca" must run away, preventing "the jicotillo" from catch.
16. The rue of San Miguel: In this game, the children should stand in a circle and turn while singing “A la Rueda Rueda de San Miguel, San Miguel, everyone brings their box of honey. To the mature, to the mature that turn (insert name of one of the players) donkey ”. The named child should turn on his back and keep turning in the circle.
17. Blind man: One of the children is blindfolded and, without seeing, must chase the others. Whoever gets caught must exit the game.
18. Rock, paper or scissors: Two people face each other and say "one, two, three, rock, paper or scissors." Each player must emulate with their hand the shape of a rock, a paper or a scissors. Within the game, the rock beats the scissors, the paper the rock and the scissors the paper.
19. Overdue: This is a force game that consists of two people standing on both sides of a table and resting one hand on it. They hold hands firmly and from then on they should push each one to their side, without moving the elbow. The one who gets the other's hand to touch the table, without having moved the elbow, is the winner.
20. The lottery: This is a popular Mexican game consisting of 54 cards and an indefinite number of boards containing 16 of the 54 cards mentioned. One person must mention what card it is, while the others are marking with chips those that appear on their board. Whoever manages to fill their entire table with chips is the winner.