Traditional children’s play has now evolved to include new rhymes and chants plus fancy hand-finger actions
theSun,Tue, 21 Jul 2009
I WAS pleased to find out recently that some games I used to play with my school friends are still being played by schoolchildren these days, albeit with new names and rules.
Games like ‘tag’ and ‘rock, paper, scissors’ have evolved to include new procedures and fancy hand and finger actions, along with new chants and rhymes.
My friends and I referred to ‘tag’ as ‘catching’ then. Now, my daughter and her friends call it ‘ice and water’.
As for ‘rock, paper, scissors’, we simply said “one, two, juice” before we showed our choice and won by points those days.
Now, I link pinkies with my daughter and sing “see, see, America, America ...”, and make slapping actions in the air to ‘slap’ the loser while she turns her cheek sideways in jest when ‘slapped’.
No matter how silly some of these traditional games may sound with their nonsensical rhymes, they have been passed on from generation to generation and do provide some benefits other than just plain old fun.
In the article The Benefits of Play: Traditional Outdoor Games found in a UK-based website, My Child, it said that “the jeers, taunts, calls, chants, mock speeches, humorous narratives, rhymes, backwards and nonsense verses in children’s lore give plenty of opportunity to practise phonology, lexis, grammar, syntax and semantics without the children being aware”.
I find that these games also bridge the gap between the young and old. Compared to modern-day technology-based games that use handheld consoles, the television or computer, these ‘old’ games do not require batteries, electricity or technology know-how which the older generation may find some difficulty in following.
There are games that you play indoors and others outdoors, in small groups and larger groups, using little or basic materials, and sometimes none at all. This makes these games easily accessible and affordable to all.
Some do not have set limitations to the rules or number of people playing, and can easily be modified according to one’s creativity.
I remember tying a bunch of frangipani flowers with a rubber band to substitute for the actual toy made of chicken feathers attached to a small circular, flat rubber base. We kicked and tried to keep it in the air for as long as we could with the inner side of our foot.
We strung lots of rubber bands together into a long braid and used it as a skipping rope, as well as the contraption for the game zero-point.
Then, there were, of course, hopscotch, hantu galah, five stones and card games like Snap and Old Maid. We played rounders using rolled-up newspaper and a small rubber or tennis ball.
These games are simple yet effective in helping to develop children socially, mentally, and physically. They help children de-stress, practise teamwork, negotiate, strategise, exercise and improve their physical coordination.
Some games, like congkak, help sharpen their memory and mathematical skills.
And like in any game, be it modern or traditional, there will always be winners and losers. Children learn to play by the rules, respect their playmates and also the end result of the game.
They learn that to have fun, they must not get upset if they lose or gloat when they win.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Raising another Picasso
It may be dirty and messy but allowing children to dabble in art and craft allows their creativity to grow
theSun, Tue, 07 Jul 2009
I used to dread working with my daughter on art and craft activities, mainly because I disliked having to clean her and the work area after we were done.
Children love creating or making things although very often, they create a mess along the way.
We have to give them credit, however, that they do not fear exploring, experimenting and getting dirty.
In fact, the dirtier they get, the more fun they seem to have, like getting all covered up in sand when playing in the sand box, or having their hands stained with rainbow colours while finger painting.
It is said that any form of creative activity helps in their development in a number of ways, so I shrugged off the mess with the conclusion that making a mess indicated that her creative juices were flowing.
Simply lay paper over your table and floor and have rags and soap and water on standby. Of course, there’s an easier way where you sign her up in an art programme offered by the many children’s art centres around town.
If you’re willing to forego missing out on the fun and parent-child bonding opportunity, it is a good alternative as she gets the fun and development, and you don’t have to clean up! She also gets more professional guidance if you doubt your own creative skills.
Whatever your choice may be, whether it’s working with your child at home or sending her to art classes, art and craft activities are beneficial to children.
They provide them with an avenue to develop their motor skills, help develop their eye-hand coordination, and engage their minds to form ideas, execute them and solve problems. They also teach them that following instructions and paying attention to details can be rewarding. They learn that success can be achieved through concentration and perseverance.
When things don’t work out as planned, they learn to think out of the box to find alternative ways to achieve their desired result. They experience a sense of satisfaction upon completing their task, gain self-confidence and develop a better self-image.
Art and craft activities are fun and relaxing, and take the stress and monotony out of the daily grind of school and homework.
I see that with my daughter who attends an art and craft class weekly. On those days, she is perky and literally hops, skips and jumps right after class. It also gives us parents some peace and quiet if the children are able to work on an activity on their own.
At art classes, there could be group projects and this gives your child the opportunity to interact socially with her peers. She can learn to share her ideas and materials, how to cooperate, compromise and work in a team. These activities help her to express her thoughts and feelings, give and receive feedback and comments.
Also, if your child shows further interest in a specific art or craft activity, it could become a long-term hobby or career she enjoys. By then, she would certainly know how to clean up after herself if she makes a mess.
theSun, Tue, 07 Jul 2009
I used to dread working with my daughter on art and craft activities, mainly because I disliked having to clean her and the work area after we were done.
Children love creating or making things although very often, they create a mess along the way.
We have to give them credit, however, that they do not fear exploring, experimenting and getting dirty.
In fact, the dirtier they get, the more fun they seem to have, like getting all covered up in sand when playing in the sand box, or having their hands stained with rainbow colours while finger painting.
It is said that any form of creative activity helps in their development in a number of ways, so I shrugged off the mess with the conclusion that making a mess indicated that her creative juices were flowing.
Simply lay paper over your table and floor and have rags and soap and water on standby. Of course, there’s an easier way where you sign her up in an art programme offered by the many children’s art centres around town.
If you’re willing to forego missing out on the fun and parent-child bonding opportunity, it is a good alternative as she gets the fun and development, and you don’t have to clean up! She also gets more professional guidance if you doubt your own creative skills.
Whatever your choice may be, whether it’s working with your child at home or sending her to art classes, art and craft activities are beneficial to children.
They provide them with an avenue to develop their motor skills, help develop their eye-hand coordination, and engage their minds to form ideas, execute them and solve problems. They also teach them that following instructions and paying attention to details can be rewarding. They learn that success can be achieved through concentration and perseverance.
When things don’t work out as planned, they learn to think out of the box to find alternative ways to achieve their desired result. They experience a sense of satisfaction upon completing their task, gain self-confidence and develop a better self-image.
Art and craft activities are fun and relaxing, and take the stress and monotony out of the daily grind of school and homework.
I see that with my daughter who attends an art and craft class weekly. On those days, she is perky and literally hops, skips and jumps right after class. It also gives us parents some peace and quiet if the children are able to work on an activity on their own.
At art classes, there could be group projects and this gives your child the opportunity to interact socially with her peers. She can learn to share her ideas and materials, how to cooperate, compromise and work in a team. These activities help her to express her thoughts and feelings, give and receive feedback and comments.
Also, if your child shows further interest in a specific art or craft activity, it could become a long-term hobby or career she enjoys. By then, she would certainly know how to clean up after herself if she makes a mess.
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