Designed & Edited @ canva.com
It was fun growing up with other children in the environs where we lived. We knew virtually everyone because we were allowed to mingle, probably because the world was safer than it is now.
Children from all sorts of backgrounds and ethnicities went beyond bounds to exhibit their abilities. Some of us were indeed better than others in some of the things we were engaged in. From house chores to academics and games.
It may not be wrong that we had a more fun-filled life than children of this generation. This is the reason why some of the games I am about to talk about in this publication have almost gone into extinction.
Here, I will expose some of the games we played in the 80s and early 90s.
Tug of war
This may not be unknown to kids nowadays. We often play this game in an open field with grass. This is to ensure that we do not get injured. On my end, we will toss a coin for two captains. The captain whose side of the coin 🪙 shows up after tossing chooses his or her teammates first before the other.
The fun part of this game is that the two teams would have to pull a thick rope across a drawn line. The team that pulls the other wins the day.
With this, the kids get to exercise their bones and joints. So, aside the fun and familiarity that results from this game, it is a form of physiotherapy to strengthen the child.
Police and Thief
I can't stop laughing because of a flashback that came to mind. A supposed criminal goes into hiding and the police come searching for him. If the police, that is one of the kids who accepts to pursue first, finally apprehend the thief, then the game changes.
The thief becomes the police and the police become the thief and goes into hiding so that the police will come searching for her. It goes on and on until the kids get tired and retire home for the day. This game is synonymous with hide and seek.
Fire on The Mountain
In this game, the kids are arranged in two circles, one circle having one more member than the other. At a signal, the two circles run round and round waiting for a whistle to stop them.
At the stoppage, the member of each group quickly goes to grab a member from the other group. The member that has one to align with is evicted. This goes on and on until the last two standing are declared the winners.
The name of the game varies from place to place.
Boju-Boju
Now, this is the most popular game of the old times. One hunter goes looking for hiding games. The hunter is of course one of the kids who assumes the position by choice while the other children go to hide in places that keeps them away from the eyes. The hunter's eyes are closed when the other kids go into hiding.
The hunter keeps looking for every hiding game until he finds all of them.
Another child takes over. I remember that I do hide in some secret places that must not be revealed to any other person so when it is their turn to seek us out, they don't find us easily
Ten Ten
This is a coordinated clapping game and it is majorly for girls. Though, some boys often take part in it too.
The clapping is done with a girl facing the other, clapping their hands to a rhythm while moving their legs. Their objective is that they move their legs in opposite directions to that of their mate.
If a girl raises her left leg, the other raises her right leg, the game continues. But when the one who ought to raise the left leg, raises the right, the other scores a point.
When Will You Marry?
Literally, this is modern-day skipping. Since this game is usually for teenage girls, two other girls hold the skipping rope on both edges. They turn the rope and make the girl in the middle high jump while asking the questions.
which will you marry? - this year, next year, single forever.
How many kid will you have? - one, two, four, six, ten, twelve.
how many husbands will you marry? - one, two, three…..
how many houses would you build? - one, two, three, four, five, ten, twenty.
how many cars would you buy? - one, two, three, four, six, eight, none.
These questions will pop up. So, while flipping the skipping rope, the girl must ensure to target a good choice as the options come from the questions.
Which of these games would you like to play? As the summer break comes, kids in the rural areas would have enough time to play around, involving in any of these games.
To participate in this contest, read up the rules in the Announcement Post. I am inciting 
