When did you first have your own cell phone? Elementary school? High school? College? Compare your answer to your niece, nephew or maybe you have a child. When do you give your child a cellphone or any mobile device, like the tablet?
Children today are very attached to mobile devices to the point that parents are worried about their children’s social skills. However, this is not to judge parents who give access to technology for their children at an early age. Most of the times, parenting is just… frustrating. Digital entertainment provides a quick “silence tool” for children (as it does to us, adults), so it is only fair for parents to catch their breaths and organise their thoughts.
As an alternative, you might want to look back at your childhood and the fun traditional games you played then. These games are not only fun but also stimulating physical and creative development for children.
Having trouble remembering? We’ve got the list for you.
1. Congklak
It is one of the oldest games in the world. It could be traced as far as ancient Egypt. It came to Southeast Asia, specifically Indonesia, centuries ago by the Arab or Indian traders. The game is played with a special board with two rows of circular indentations and head indentations on each end. Players must fill each indentation with rocks or shells in which every indentation has its count. Needs a little strategy to win the game, but it’s not as brain-crunching as chess.
2. Kite
Back then, there were many vendors who sell kites. Now? Well, the simplest way is to make one--which is not as simple, anyway. However, the process of making a kite will trigger children’s creativity and brain development.
3. Gasing
Gasing is usually made of bamboo. The player will throw the gasing with a thread and as it drops on the ground, the pointy end will make it a spin. The longer it spins, the better the gasing. Traditionally, kids themselves will try to make the spinning toy. However, when the toy was booming, many toy companies were producing it with fancier design and add magnets to stabilize it. Gasing may have developed unhealthy competitiveness if played in groups, but the toy introduces kids to the laws of physics--in which they will most likely to loathe by high school--in a fun way.
4. Marble shooting
Scientifically, marble is a fun introduction to the famous Newton’s Law of Conservation Energy. But, other than that, marbles are fun to collect, since marbles usually come in unique colour fusion.
5. Rope jumping
We all know how important exercise is for our health. While today’s children are bound to their seats, fixing their eyes on the glowing screen, try to get them physical. This “HIIT* exercise” will surely get some sweat out!
Got sometime on the weekends? Maybe you can play these games to connect with your surroundings by gathering children around your neighbourhood. Besides getting some fun, you can also learn more about their lives, like how Yayasan Mata Air did.
* High-Intensity Interval Training
