Traditional Games for Children

Traditional games were a part of the growing up years of the previous generation. Unfortunately children of this generation are exposed to play stations and video games and have missed out on the pleasures of playing outdoors with friends and siblings under the shade of trees inside the compound or on alleys outside their homes. Let us take a look at some of the traditional games.

The Spinning Top

Known as Bambaram in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Bongarala Aata in Andhra Pradesh, Lattu in North India, this is a game that was extremely popular with boys. The components of the game are a wooden top, a pointed nail to get it spinning on the floor and a string to help the top spin.

Did you know there were even tournaments organized among teams and individuals and there was even an India-Pakistan spinning top competition in the bygone years?

Laghori

This is also known as the game of seven stones. It is also known as Lingocha in Andhra Pradesh, Satoliya and Pithoo in the North, Ezhu kallu in Tamil Nadu, Dabba Kali in Kerala. It is a game played between two teams in an unlimited area where one player belonging to one throws a ball at a pile of stones to knock them over. The seekers then try to restore the pile of stones while the opposing team (the hitters) throws the ball at them. If the ball touches a seeker, he is out and his team continues without him. But a team member can always safeguard himself by touching the opposite team member before the ball hits him.

Come summer and the soaring temperatures confine the children within the confines of their homes. Children are glued to television sets or play games on the mobiles. But there are many traditional games that can be played indoors. A great advantage of these games is they improve the concentration, eyesight and the motor skills of the players.

Gutte

This is also known as Five Stones in many states or Kuzhangal in Tamilnadu. It is so called as you need 5 smooth stones. This can be played by both adults and children. The player throws one stone in the air and picks up the other 4 stones from the ground without dropping any stone. Players start by picking one stone and the process is repeated until you progressively pick up 2, 3 4 and finally all the 5 stones.

Kancha- Goti

This traditional game used to be a perennial favorite with boys and was a common gully sport. Players are required to hit the selected target called kancha using their marble. The winner gets all the kanchas or marbles of the rest of the players. The concentration with which the player would hit the target is amazing with one eye closed for better focus. Boys would proudly showcase their collection of marbles as a prized trophy. Players would come out with innovative versions and this would keep them occupied for many hours.