People have been creating entertaining games for many years. Some of those games are still played today. Let's look at some games that have been played by past generations.
Cup and ball, or balero as it is known in Latin America, is a popular toy. It is made by attaching a wooden stick with a handle to a wooden ball with a string. To play this toy, swing the ball and try to catch the ball on the stick.
Checkers is one of the oldest board games in the world that is still played today. It can be traced back to what is now Iraq. The board on which it is played might remind you of a chess board. The rules have evolved over the years; it is played differently by different countries.
Senet is known as the oldest board game; it is from Ancient Egypt, and fragments of boards that could be senet have been found from up to 3,100 BC! Our understanding of the game is based on snippets of texts from thousands of years ago. Rules likely changed over the years; there is no uniform way to play. When the Romans invaded Egypt, the game fell out of use.
Hopscotch is a game that is played all over the world by children. It can be played alone or with several participants. It is a game in which people jump into numbered squares on the ground. A marker is thrown into one of the squares, and that square must be avoided. Single squares must be hopped on on one foot and double squares with two feet.
With only 5 small bean bags and a few friends, a fun and exciting game can be played. Otedama is a traditional Japanese children’s game. It is more popular among girls; the bean bags were traditionally passed down from grandmother to granddaughter. Some people play with beautiful stuffies or plushies. Players take turns throwing and catching the bean bags in different combinations.
Mancala is a generic name for a two-player board game played with small stones or beans and rows of holes. It is enjoyed in Africa, the Caribbean, and South Asia; in some countries, big tournaments take place! Board configurations vary among countries in which the game is played. To win the game, you must capture your opponent's seeds or beans. The game strengthens your math and strategic skills!
Spinning toys have been played all around the world for so many years that no one really knows who played it first. The top has a squat body and a sharp point at the bottom. The aim is to spin the top on its point for as long as possible. As it loses speed, it begins to wobble. Could you beat your friends at this game?
Marbles are ubiquitous in the world. Kancha is what they call marbles in India. This game is a favourite with many young boys in towns and villages. To play, you draw a small circle on the ground and place marbles in the circle. Each player is given one marble to shoot into the circle. They must knock out as many marbles as possible from the circle. The winner is the person who knocks out the most marbles.
Some games are so simple that they are enjoyed by many generations. What is the history of your favourite game?