9 games from our past to teach children and grandchildren

Readers whose childhood fell on the 70s, 80s and 90s will surely remember: the arsenal of street fun was so great that sometimes children could hardly agree: some wanted to play war games, others wanted to play dodgeball, others wanted to play Cossacks-robbers or “shtander-stop” … And there were also “quieter driving – you will continue”, “the sea is worried”, “ringlet”, “edible-inedible” and, of course, rubber bands…

Games for every taste, age and activity level solved a variety of development tasks. “In our time, children play six times less than their peers 20 years ago,” says educational psychologist Natalya Zdereva. And this data is depressing. After all, no gadget is able to provide such a versatile development as yard games.

In them, children work out the skills of self-control, cooperation, learn to resolve conflicts and follow the rules, develop vocabulary, auditory attention, emotional intelligence. In addition, games have a beneficial effect on children with speech therapy and neuropsychological problems.

Recently, the number of such children is growing. This is partly due to the fact that children began to play together a little, preferring entertainment in digital reality. It is in our power to help them fully experience what childhood is: games with friends, vivid emotions, the taste of victory – all that makes up memories of it.

Together with the educational psychologist Natalya Zdereva, let’s recall some of the most popular games of the past, which modern boys and girls have hardly heard of. Fortunately, these entertainments do not get old at all: as soon as you explain the rules to children and start playing, they come back into use and become loved.

Games that develop coordination of movements, spatial thinking, speed of reaction, self-control

1. Bouncers

The players stand in a row, and the leader is five steps away from them. The thrower throws the ball at the players, and they must dodge, jump, or crouch to avoid being hit. The one whom the ball still touches becomes the leader.

Before this game, it is important to establish a rule: you can not throw the ball to the head.

2. Starts

Two lines are drawn at a distance from each other: start and finish. The host sets the conditions for how to cross the finish line. For example:

• rest your hands and feet on the ground and run sideways like crabs;
• jump on one leg;
• run backwards;
• two jumps on the right foot, one on the left;
• hold on to your left knee with your right hand.

Whoever runs to the finish line later than everyone else becomes the leader.

3. Target in the sand

A large target is drawn on the ground or on the sand – three circles, one inside the other. Then, six steps from the target, a line is drawn that cannot be crossed. Players stand next to her and take turns throwing the ball at the target. The one who scores the most points wins.

Games that develop auditory attention, interhemispheric interaction, intelligence, vocabulary

4. Catch a question

The players take turns throwing the ball to each other. In this case, one player asks a question and throws the ball with a rebound, and the second must quickly figure out and answer before catching the ball. For example:

• What traffic light should you be on?
• Who is this grandmother?
• What time of the day do we have breakfast?

Another option is a word game. The first player throws the ball, naming the word, the other catches and says the last letter of the word, passes the ball further, and so on.

5. Edible-inedible

Despite the apparent simplicity, the game has a great effect on thinking and the ability to manage oneself, since the brain performs several operations in parallel.

Players take turns throwing the ball to each other while saying words. If it is edible, then the ball must be caught, if it is inedible, beat off. A variant of the game with complication: man-made-not-made – we catch one, beat off the other.

Games that develop attention, as well as the ability to imagine, organize and perform unusual actions

6. Clap-catch

This game also develops auditory attention. Players have three lives. The players stand in a circle, one throws the ball to the other, shouting a number from 1 to 5. The one to whom the ball was thrown must clap the prescribed number of times and catch the ball. If the ball is not caught in time, the player loses one life. Whoever has the ball left wins.

The ball can be thrown in different ways. Straight, arc or rebound, with different strengths.

7. Frog

To play, you need a blank wall and a ball. The players line up one behind the other. The first child throws the ball against the wall with his hands at his level or slightly above himself.

When the ball flies back and hits the ground, you need to jump over it without hitting it with either hand or foot. The player standing behind him catches the ball and does the same. After the jump, the player becomes at the end of the queue.

Games for the development of self-control, intelligence and vocabulary

8. “Yes” and “no” do not say

Two players – one leader, the other answering. The host asks the opponent a question, to which he can answer as he likes, without mentioning the words “yes” and “no”. As soon as one player is eliminated, another can take his place.

9. Question to question

Two players stand opposite each other and communicate only through questions. As soon as one strayed and answered in the affirmative, another takes his place.