Wednesday, December 04, 2002
Playground games from around the world
For those of us who wonder whether children still know how to play together, this collection of playground games from around the world is enough to warm the collective cockles. In case we are left with any doubts about the veracity of this collection, the games are photographed, described, and, in some cases, carefully annotated. As advertised, it's a "growing" collection, which makes it all the more valuable in restoring our faith in the inventiveness, playfulness, and social development of our children.
This game is from Holland, and called "Conquer New Land." The instructions follow:
EACH CHILD HAS ITS OWN COUNTRY (ONE PIECE OF THE CAKE). IN HIS/HER SECTION HE/SHE WRITES THE NAME OF A COUNTRY.
WHEN THE GAME STARTS, EVERYBODY STANDS WITH ONE FOOT IN HIS OWN COUNTRY. ONE CHILD SAYS: "I DECLARE WAR TO ……(MENTION ANOTHER COUNTRY). ALL THE CHILDREN RUN AWAY FROM THE CIRCLE. ONLY THE CHILD THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED WAR TO, STAYS IN THE CIRCLE AND SHOUTS "STOP!!!"
AT THIS SIGN ALL CHILDREN MUST STOP RUNNING.
NOW EVERYBODY MUST TRY TO GET BACK IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY BY WALKING SLOWLY TO THE CIRCLE. THEY MAY WALK AS LONG AS THE WARRIOR, (THE CHILD IN THE MIDDLE) SAYS "WALK". WHEN ONE OF THE CHILDREN IS NEAR THE CIRCLE, THE WARRIOR SHOUTS "STOP". NOW THE WARRIOR CAN TRY TO TAP THE CHILD NEARBY, BUT HE HAS TO KEEP ONE FOOT IN THE CIRCLE. (HE MAY ALSO LAY ON THE GROUND TO REACH FURTHER). WHEN IT IS POSSIBLE TO TAP A CHILD, THE WARRIOR MAY DRAW A LITTLE CIRCLE ON THAT SPOT. HE CONQUERED SOME NEW LAND, WHERE ONLY HE MAY STAND IN. THE CHILDREN WHO REACH THEIR OWN COUNTRY, ARE FREE.
This game is from Holland, and called "Conquer New Land." The instructions follow:
EACH CHILD HAS ITS OWN COUNTRY (ONE PIECE OF THE CAKE). IN HIS/HER SECTION HE/SHE WRITES THE NAME OF A COUNTRY.
WHEN THE GAME STARTS, EVERYBODY STANDS WITH ONE FOOT IN HIS OWN COUNTRY. ONE CHILD SAYS: "I DECLARE WAR TO ……(MENTION ANOTHER COUNTRY). ALL THE CHILDREN RUN AWAY FROM THE CIRCLE. ONLY THE CHILD THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED WAR TO, STAYS IN THE CIRCLE AND SHOUTS "STOP!!!"
AT THIS SIGN ALL CHILDREN MUST STOP RUNNING.
NOW EVERYBODY MUST TRY TO GET BACK IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY BY WALKING SLOWLY TO THE CIRCLE. THEY MAY WALK AS LONG AS THE WARRIOR, (THE CHILD IN THE MIDDLE) SAYS "WALK". WHEN ONE OF THE CHILDREN IS NEAR THE CIRCLE, THE WARRIOR SHOUTS "STOP". NOW THE WARRIOR CAN TRY TO TAP THE CHILD NEARBY, BUT HE HAS TO KEEP ONE FOOT IN THE CIRCLE. (HE MAY ALSO LAY ON THE GROUND TO REACH FURTHER). WHEN IT IS POSSIBLE TO TAP A CHILD, THE WARRIOR MAY DRAW A LITTLE CIRCLE ON THAT SPOT. HE CONQUERED SOME NEW LAND, WHERE ONLY HE MAY STAND IN. THE CHILDREN WHO REACH THEIR OWN COUNTRY, ARE FREE.
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