Finding Egypt on the map might be an uphill task for a child but teaching children about cultures need be no more complicated than playing a game.

The next time you hear a kid say he or she is bored next to you, strike the child’s adventure to fun outdoor time. Pick out a location, invite their friends over and spin the globe.

Children love laughter and laughter needs no translation.

1) Greece: Statues

This a fun, outdoor game for kids. Greek children have incorporated this into an imaginative game.

Players: Four and more; ages 5 and up

How to Play:

1. One player is chosen to be the ‘It’ and stands eyes closed at a playing ground center of a playing field.
2. The player starts to count to a minimum of 10 or higher. The number to stop counting is limitless. It is only the ‘It’ who knows where to stop at and that is the point where she will uncover her eyes. As ‘It’ counts, all other members will scatter around not knowing when ‘It’ will ‘Aglamata’ (a Greek name meaning stop and you can tell your kids to give a name they are comfortable with).
3. When the ‘It’ stops, on this pose, kids will freeze to form or mimic statues that are famous. They can pull to statues on famous javelin throws or photos they have seen. The kids can use items available like Frisbee, sticks and even balls to appear real. ‘It’ will then try to make steady statues laugh or tag them to move.

This is a great game for practicing balance.

2) UK: Pass the Parcel

This is one of the games children in the United Kingdom play (and Australia for that matter). A specific gift would be passed from child to child, but nowadays it is moved by the sound of music.

Players: 5 and more; ages 5 and up

Play Equipment: A surprise gift wrapped and music.

How To Play:

Mum or Dad will prepare the wrapped gift with something funny in many layers around the present before the game commences.

Kids stand in a circle, and the music is turned on.

The gift passes and the child holding the package when the music stops can remove one of the layers. The prize passes and the final person to remove a layer wins and can take the prize. This is a fun birthday game.

3) Armenia: Egg Jousting

Armenians pit hardboiled eggs against eggs in a silly competition in their tradition.

Players: 2; ages 3 and up

Items Needed: A labelled hardboiled egg for every participant

How To Play:

1. The two players face each other, they tap gently the small ends of their eggs until one end cracks.
2. They joust with the larger end of the eggs. Hard eggs can withstand up to four hits depending on the force applied. Only one egg is destroyed, and not all can crack at the same time.
3. The broken egg is awarded to the winner.

4) Vietnam: Cambodia

It is a high jump game trying to snag stretched rubber bands held up by friends.

Players: 3; Ages 3 and up

Items needed: Rubber band/s

How To Play:

Two friends taller than the opponent hold and stretch the rubber band over the children. The child then tries to jump to reach the rubber band. If they realise the child jumps higher, they make the child miss the rubber band. This game is good for jumping exercises.

5) India: Kabadi

It is a popular game and now a worldwide sport. It requires strength and lung power.

Players: 10; age 5 and up

How To Play:

1. The raider tries to tag as many people as he/she can while holding their breath and repeating the word Kabadi and being caught by the team.
2. The team will hold hands and prevent them catching them in the form of a barricade.
3. Once you are touched you get out and members decrease as time goes out.

Share us your family’s favourite games!

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