Children`s Games from Other Lands

Children’s Games from Other Lands
Ampe -- a Ghana children’s game
This game is somewhat similar to the American children’s game of Paper, Rock, Scissors. There is a You
Tube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhaZf2M_hlY that demonstrates how to play it.
1. Choose one player to be the leader, and the others stand in a semicircle, with the leader facing the
player at either end of the group.
2. The leader and the player both clap hands. Then they jump in place at the same time. Then they jump
and kick one foot forward.
3. If the two have put the same foot forward, the leader is out and the player takes her place. If they have
put different feet forward, the leader moves to the next player and the same routine begins again.
4. Every player takes a turn as a leader.
5. If you wish you may keep score or you may simply play for fun. 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.
“Nyama, Nyama”-- a Kenyan circle game
This game is similar to the American game “Simon Says.” The children stand in a circle with one person
in the middle. The one in the middle says the name of an animal. If it is an animal that is eaten for food,
the children in the circle should say “Nyama, Nyama!” (“Meat, Meat!”) and they jump up and down with
arms stiff at their sides and legs straight. If the animal is not usually eaten for food, the children stand still
and make no sound or movement. If one accidentally shouts or jumps, they go into the center and begin
again.
The child in the middle keeps naming animals quickly until someone makes a mistake. Then they change
places. If a child ends up having to go into the center twice, it is good to have that child choose another to
go until all children have had a chance to be there. (Tip: It is good to use the names of animals that live or
are raised in Africa, however it can be confusing to decide whether or not some are to be eaten or not,
e.g., lions, zebras, elephants, antelope, giraffe, etc. So we used the criteria if it is a wild animal you would
normally see in a zoo here, it should not be considered a food animal. You can come up with another
screen if you find one that is more helpful.)
Pass the Parcel – an Indian children’s game
The kids stand around in a circle and pass a parcel (small cardboard box) that contains small slips of
paper on which a certain activity is written. Assign someone to play some soft yet peppy music. This can
be on a piano or on an electronic device of some sort. The moment the music stops, kids should stop
passing the parcel. The kid with the parcel has to take out one slip of paper and perform the activity that is
listed. Give something simple and fun like reciting a poem, singing, acting like an animal, etc. You can
buy an inexpensive kazoo or make one of a comb and tissue paper and have someone play a song for one
of the activities.
Then the music begins again and the parcel continues around the circle. If this were played at a birthday
party or slumber party in India when each kid does the activity without any fuss and mistakes, she/he is
given a small gift or reward. In the end, all kids should have a reward. (See next page for slips of
activities that can be cut apart to put in your box.)
Activity slips for Pass the Parcel game
Sing a song
Recite a poem or
nursery rhyme
Whistle a tune
Name ten countries
of the world
Speak like a
monkey
Bleat like a goat
Walk and talk like a Say something in a
chicken
foreign language
Count backwards
from 100-90
Spell your whole
name backwards
Play a song on a
kazoo
Walk backwards
around the circle
Hop in place five
times
Name 2 places
where Right
Sharing make loans
Name two
businesses women
start with their
Right Sharing loans
Touch your toes ten Rub your stomach
times
and pat your head at
the same time
Wiggle like an
Speak like an
Australian worm
Indian cow
Hum a tune