African Games

Africa is a beautiful continent full of history and culture.  This series of games will keep you moving to the beat.  So turn up the heat and try African Games!

Ampe (Ghana)

Choose one player to be the leader and have the others stand in a semicircle with the leader facing the player at either end of the group.  Have five or six in each circle. The leader and the player both clap hands. They jump in place at the same time, and then  they jump and thrust one foot forward. If the two have put the same foot forward, the leader is out and the player takes her place. If they have thrust different feet forward, the leader moves to the next player and the same routine begins. A point is scored every time the leader is successful.  Every player takes a turn as a leader.  The one who scores the most points wins.

Match my feet (Zaire)

The children stand in a circle.  The leader claps a rhythm and everyone joins in.  The leader then stands in front of another child and makes up a dance to a rhythm.  If the second child copies the dance successfully, he becomes the leader.  If not, the leader chooses a different child and repeats the dance.

Chigora Danda (Zimbabwe)

The players alternate so that three play each game. Place two of the poles (4 to 5 feet long) on the ground parallel to each other and 4 feet apart. The third pole is laid across the middle of the poles. Two players sit at each end of the cross bar, and the third is in the middle—straddling and the cross pole. The two seated players lift the cross pole up and down, tapping the parallel poles. The surrounding players clap, and a rhythm is established. Start very slowly. The third player hops off. The raising and a lowering of the clapping and hopping increase in speed. The game ends when the third player fails to hop on the cross pole. The players rotate so everyone has a turn hopping and manipulating the cross pole.

If you are looking for games to teach children about the wonderful dark continent, try games from Africa.

European Games

Europe is a country rich in culture and full of many interesting games.  Here an article featuring some of its exciting games.

Swap Chairs by the Numbers (France)

Materials: post-it- notes, marker, blindfold

In the French version, all players but one sit in chairs in a circle.  Place post-it notes behind every person’s chair.  Then, the standing player is blindfolded.  The game starts with the blindfolded player standing in the middle of the circle.  He calls out two numbers.  Players with these numbers must exchange seats.  The object of the game is for the blindfolded player to either to catch a player or to find a seat left vacant during an exchange.  No player may slip outside the circle.  Once the game has started, the blindfolded player may move anywhere inside the circle but may not go outside.  When the blindfolded player tags someone, he takes his number and seat.  The tagged player is then blindfolded, and the game continues.

Pass the Orange (Ireland)

Materials: oranges or small soft balls for each team

Two team leaders are selected, and the teacher divides the teams equally with five or six players.  If there is an extra person, they will become the judge.  The teams line up with the leaders at one end.  The leaders tuck oranges under their chins.  At a signal from the judge, the leaders try to pass the oranges to the next player on their team.  Each player must grasp the orange only with his chin. If the orange is dropped, it must be returned to the leader, why starts it again on its way. The team that passes the orange to the end of the line without dropping it is the winner.

Uno, due, tre, Stella  (Italy, France)

The leader turns her back.  The other children creep up, trying to touch her.  She counts to three and on “Stella,” she turns around.  Any child she sees moving before the child touches her back becomes the leader.

Exchange Race (England)

Materials: Ball or beanbag per team

The players of each group stand in a line facing each other about 30 feet apart. The leader of each group toes the starting line and holds a ball or beanbag. At a given signal, the leaders of each file run forward to a center line, exchange balls or bags, run around each other, run back to their own half of the team, give the bag to the next player, and run to the end of their file. This continues until the original leaders hold the bags again. The leaders then run forward, join hands, and raise them above the head level. This last procedure proclaims the winning team.

Ladder Jump ( Europe)

The players are divided into teams consisting of three or four members who are numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4.  Each team stands in single file with first person at the starting line.  The first person jumps as far forward as possible—keeping his or her feet together.  The next person in line then jumps, his or her starting point is the heel marks of the first jumper; the race continues until everyone in line has jumped.  The team that covers the greatest distance wins.

Going to Jerusalem (Germany)

Chairs are placed in a row in the center of the room so that alternate chairs face in opposite directions.  The number of chairs should be one less than the number of players.  One player is chosen to be the leader and stands to one side, while the others are seated in the chairs. The leader, carrying a cane, starts the game by walking around a row of chairs as the music begins and chants, "I'm going to Jerusalem!  I am going to Jerusalem!”  Suddenly, the leader stops at the back of a chair and taps his or her cane on the floor. The player sitting in the chair must immediately rise and follow the leader.  The leader continues to recruit the players for his or her trip to Jerusalem until all are following the leader in a single file. When the music stops or on some other signal, the players rush for chairs. The player without a chair is out of the game and takes one of the chairs with him. The game continues until there are only two players encircling one chair.  The player who finds it first wins.

Spanish fly (Spain)

The game is very similar the game of leapfrog as it is played in the United States. While jumping, the leader performs certain feats for the other players to follow. Many different stunts may be introduced. The leader may jump over and touch the back with one hand while waving a cap in the other, jump without touching, make a turn while jumping, or do as he or she desires. Any player who fails to follow the leader takes the place of the tieback to be jumped over. 

Hallihallo (Switzerland)

Materials: ball or beanbag

The players sit in a row and one, the leader, stands in front of the group with a ball in his or her hands.  The leader says, "It is an animal, starting with a B" and throws the ball to the first player sitting in the row. The player replies by trying to guess the name of the animal starting with "B" and throws the ball back. If the guess is right, he or she then becomes the leader and stands in front of the group. The first leader sits at the end of the row.  If the player does not know the answer, he or she throws the ball back to the leader and the play continues to the second player in the row. If, at the end of the row, no player has guessed the name of the animal, the leader this time has to say the second letter of the animal and so on. The leader may ask anything such as the name of a town, country, river, mountain, car, etc. A player should not be allowed too long to think but should throw the ball back rather quickly. So if you are looking for an inexpensive European vacation try these games!

South American Games

Here is a routine about games from our land down south. Get get ready to move and enjoy the warmth that these games will foster. 

Uno, does, tres (Chile)

Materials: beanbags and string

Stretch a string between two objects and mark a line a yard away.  Children stand behind the line and take turns throwing bean bags at the string.  Any child who hits hit it scores a point.

Socorro! (Peru)

A chaser runs after the children and tries to catch them.  When a child is in danger of being caught, she shouts, “Socorro!” If a player comes and hold her hand, they are both safe from being caught. Once the danger is past, they continue to run individually.

Luta de Galo (Brazil)

Materials: handkerchiefs

Players pair up, tuck handkerchiefs in their belts, place their right arm across their chest, and hop around on their right foot. The free left arm is used to reach for the opponent's handkerchief. A player whose left foot touches the ground or whose right arm unbends is disqualified. The player who succeeds in getting the opponent's handkerchief is the winner. Luta de Galo means a "fight of roosters."

A.K.A. Alto Ahi! (Argentina)

Initially, one player takes the ball. In that moment, the rest begin running away from the one who has the ball. When the one who has the ball says, "Stop there, John" (naming one of the participants), the one named must look for the ball. Once he has the ball, he says "Stop there," and everyone must stop. The one who has the ball can give three steps to get nearer to his closest partner and throws him or her the ball.

Cascudinho (Little Bee) (Brazil)

Materials:  Ball

This uses only one goal (with or without a goalkeeper) and both teams compete for goals. The goalkeeper does not belong to any team; his role is keeping the goal. When one team attacks, the other one plays defensively, trying to stop the ball from reaching the goal. When the other team succeeds in stealing the ball, it tries to kick it into the goal and the other team plays defensively in turn.

Asia

Muoy, pi, bey (Cambodia)

Draw two parallel lines in the soil. Say the rhyme and have one child jump from the starting line to the far side of the second line to the far side of the second line.  Repeat the rhyme until each child has had a turn, and then move the second line a little father away.  The game continues until one child is left.

Mazen Al Qurawi (Saudi Arabia)

This game is played with five to ten children. First, choose one player to be the hunter. The hunter counts to ten with his or her eyes closed; everyone quickly runs and hides. Then the hunter begins searching for the other children. If the hunter finds someone, the hiding child tries to escape and the hunter chases. The hunter must catch the runner. The hunter must find all the members in the group and tag them. If the hunter can’t catch all of the members, he or she must say "Clear and start over.” If the hunter catches all of them, he or she joins the other children and the first one who was caught become the new hunter.

 

Taia ya taia! (Egypt)

The catcher shouts, “Taia ya taia!” and starts hopping on one foot.  Two other players chase him and try to tag him.  As they do, he tries to tag them.  Any player he touches becomes the new catcher.

Tock, Tock, Tockeeya (Isreal)

The word "tockeeya" means cap and the "tock" is simply the first syllable of the word "cap" repeated. All players except one sit in a circle. The one is “it” and is outside the circle holding a cap. As “it” walks around the circle, he or she chants, "Tock, tock, tockeeya," and is answered by the circle players with, "Rin, rin, ya jaras (rin, rin, ya JA-ras) which means "Ring, ring, oh, bell." The chants continue alternately until

“it” drops the cap behind a seated player. The player runs, trying to make it around the circle without the cap being discovered by the player behind whom it is dropped. If “it” succeeds, he or she gets to hit the player on the head with the cap and continue as “it.” If the player behind whom the cap is dropped discovers it, he or she chases “it” around the circle and hits “it” with the cap when “it” is caught. It, when caught, joins the circle players, and the next player becomes “it.”

Crab Race (Japan)

If there are many players, the race may be run in relays. If not, the winner will be the individual first reaching a marked goal or the individual who laughs the least. The players race by propping themselves up on their feet and hands—with their backs to the ground; they walk in this position backward like crabs.

Mr. Daruma Fell Down (Japan)

Mr. Daruma Fell Down is well-known as a nice game for Japanese children. First, the person “a tagger” yells to other children, "Mr. Daruma fell down!" When the tagger yells, the other children run as far away as possible. Then he turns his back to them. Next he calls out again. "Mr. Daruma fell down!" After that, he turns around and looks for the other children, because he has to catch them. When a child moves and is caught, he has to go to jail.

Five Session Passing (Taiwan)

In my country, a game called "Five Session Passing is played. Children draw lines on the ground forming 5 squares and divide into two teams. Members of team one should stand on the lines, and members of team two should stand inside the square. Those who are standing on the lines should try to touch those who are standing inside. If someone who is standing inside is touched by someone who is standing outside, he is out. When the time is up, the team that has more members left wins.

Australian Games

Down, Down, Down

Materials: tennis ball

You start off with a tennis ball and throw the ball continuously back and forth until somebody drops the ball. When someone drops the ball, you say "Down on one knee." If the same person drops it a second time, you say "Down on two knees." If the same person drops the ball again, you say "Down on one elbow.” If the players drops it a fourth time, you say "Down on two elbows." The next time, you say “Down on the chin.” If the player drops it another time, that player is out. Players must stay in position to catch and throw the ball. The last person that has not dropped to the floor is the next it.

Stuck in the Mud

In this version of tag, one person is "it,” but when they touch someone, that person is "frozen" in place. They cannot move and must stand with their feet apart.  The only way they can become unfrozen is if a person crawls under their legs.  Play continues until all the players are frozen.  The last person to be frozen is "it" for the next game.

References:

Bernarde, Anita Games from Many Lands, New York, NY: Sayre Publishing Company, 1970.

Children’s Folklore

http://www.geocities.com/childrenfolklore/games.html

Children’s Games from Around the World

http://www.topics-mag.com/edition11/games-section.htm

Dunn, Opal, Acka Backa BOO! New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 2000.

International Games

http://www.gameskidsplay.net/games/foreign_indexes/index.htm

Welcome to Interesting Children’s Games from Around the World