20 Traditional Indian Games That Today’s Kids Should Know

Remember playing hopscotch for the entire Sunday afternoon? or how playing Gilli-Danda would compel you to finish your homework faster in your childhood?

The adrenaline rush through the body by just the idea of playing would leave the 90’s kids winding up all the pending work for those endless hours of fun, sweat, and laughter!

Importance of Preserving the Traditional Indian Games

The popular traditional Indian games were simple and fun, besides imparting holistic development in children!

Now, compare it with the games played by today’s generation. Despite the storehouse of technology, gaming gadgets, and multifaceted online games, the new generation is always on a hunt for more!

In short, for them, the grass is always greener on the other side, no matter what they have!

The amount of choices and accessibility always leaves the kids confused, unsatisfied, and hungry for more!

The current sedentary lifestyle among kids not only impacts their mental state but also hinders the healthy growth and development of their body. Now, this counts for action!

Benefits of Traditional Indian Games for Kids

Do you remember being filled with immense energy and a stable mental, emotional, and physical state of mind back in your childhood?

Well, we reap what we sow!

Hence, all the physical labour in the form of playing provides you with an overall health and well-being. This, thus, kept you healthy!

Various benefits of playing Indian traditional and cultural games for children include:

1. Cognitive skill development
2. Social skill development
3. Motor skill development
4. Problem-solving skills
5. Out-of-the-box thinking
6. Cultural Awareness
7. Physical fitness
8. Leadership skills
9. Mental Resilience
10. Environmental connection
11. Stress booster

Apart from the above-mentioned pointers, there are still many more benefits, motivating us to incorporate such traditional Indian games in today’s sedentary lifestyle.

Let us now understand each benefit in detail.

Why Introduce Kids to Traditional Indian Games?

Traditional Indian street games like kho-kho, kabaddi, gilli-danda, marbles, etc. shape the kids’ essential skills due to the nature of the games.

Bonus deals of popular Indian games in shaping the child’s overall health and life include:

1. Building Social Skills: The Squad Goals!

The games like Kabbadi, kho-kho, gilli-danda, etc. promote a perfect ground for enhancing cooperation, communication, strategising, teamwork, and excellent conflict resolution skills.

Traditionally, these games were also played among the military or between dynasties to prove their power, besides forming new alliances.

The traditional and popular Indian games enhance the opportunity to polish the interactive skills due to excessive teamwork required while playing.

Brownie point: Even the most shy kid starts socialising in their limited ways!

How?

Since the focus is entirely on playing, it

• Fosters loads of unfiltered conversations among peers, which enhances the bond.
• Promotes emotional expressions during victory or defeat.
• Enhances listening skills and adherence to rules.
• Teaches flexibility by switching roles in the game like chasing, defending, leading, etc.
• Supports memory enhancement, problem solving, and strategizing skills by remembering the past failure or success moves.
• Increases focus and concentration.
• Closeness to nature cultivates a positive sense towards environmental preservation.

2. Full Body Workout: No treadmills required!

Various Indian street games like kho-kho, pittu (seven stones), langdi, lagori, kabaddi, etc. provide a high-intensity workout since they focus on stamina, strength, balance, and agility.

Some of the most popular Indian games are like gems to physical fitness. The running, dodging, sprinting, jumping, etc. provide a cardio workout and strength training session. All of this by having fun!

So, as rightly said, play is the most effective form of learning!

Also, practice breeds perfection, and hence, more games implies more fun, leading to enhanced skills with time.

Brownie Point: Even the laziest kid would hit nature's playground because of the fun!

How?

Because kids get fast, fit, and have a blast with:

• Constant back and forth motion that engages their core muscles and enhances balance.
• Dodging, running, chasing, etc., which increases speed and agility.
• Hitting, squatting, bending, etc., which engage the shoulder, glute, and leg muscles.
• Learning control and swift manoeuvring that also supports the upper body engagement.
• Increasing hand-eye and leg coordination due to focus and concentration.

3. Nature Exposure: Imagination Boost in the No-Wifi Zone!

Nature is the panacea to all human problems, be it mind, body, or soul. Constant exposure to dirt, mud, grass, etc. also helps in boosting immunity, reduces stress and anxiety, and promotes calmness in children.

The environment has an unstructured way of placement, which gives the kids’ multifaceted approach of interacting with nature. Also, the colour green and playing in mud stimulate the brain towards feeling relaxed and peaceful.

After all, people spend thousands for mud therapy in their adulthood! Of course, it has immense healing properties!

Brownie Points: Kids who spend time in nature are happier, smarter, and more satisfied compared to the couch potatoes.

How?

The no-network zone enriches the skill set of the kids because:

• Builds confidence due to infinite possibilities of interaction in the outdoor space.
• Fosters creativity and imagination due to access to multiple resources. Kids even invent their own personalised games by being in nature.
• Teaches responsibility by witnessing the care required for the maintenance of greenery.
• Highly stimulates the senses compared to when indoors due to an increase in sensory awareness skills.
• Just a walk in nature increases focus, concentration, and peace. It is highly beneficial for the kids with ADHD.
• Enhances their curiosity.

4. Mental Resilience: Headstrong Heroism!

Some traditional Indian games also help in upskilling various other skill sets in children, like their mental flexibility, strategic thinking, problem-solving ability, persistence, patience, and adaptability.

For example, games like hide and seek, colour-match, musical chairs, marbles, etc. compel the children to remain focused and flexible to complete the task. Constant playing shapes their personality both in personal and professional lives.

These traditional, popular Indian games encourage the children to deal with challenges in a fun way. This builds resilience and mental and emotional strength in them, thus also guiding them to bounce back from challenges in life.

Brownie point: These games also upskill the kids’ presence of mind, thus guiding them for clear decision making in life.

How?

Kids’ mental strength increases because:

• Waiting for their turn builds patience.
• Accepting failure increases their sportsmanship.
• Playing in groups teaches them conflict resolution and social skills.
• Planning out different strategies hones their creativity and imagination.
• Learning a different gaming hack boosts their confidence.

5. Cultural Awareness: Heritage Hints!

There are many games that have been popular for generations, like kabaddi, a traditional Indian game of Tamil Nadu, kho-kho of Maharashtra, and gilli-danda, marbles, etc., which have their roots since ancient times.

Some games would be played during rural gatherings, during festivities or just a mode of passing time among the kids.

These sports not only entertain but are also a way to understand Indian culture.

For example, games like Antakshati or a very famous chidiya udd or poshampa can be played in the local languages, which might enhance the linguistic and cultural aspect of kids.

Brownie point: Playing these games would make your children culturally and socially smart and aware.

How?

• It would boost their historical knowledge.
• Help in understanding the cultural significance of the activity.
• Creates good social bonding among peers.
• Enriches curiosity due to myriad story-telling sessions.

Top 10 Traditional Indian Indoor Games Every Child Should Learn

Let us now dial down the top 10 rare known traditional Indian indoor games list along with their upskilling benefits.

Traditional Game	Historical Significance	Modern Evolution	Skill Sets
Pachisi/ Chaupar (4th century )	Mahabharatha and Mughals.	Ludo	Planning and execution
Anchankal/ Kallangal (4th century)	Sangam Period in ancient Tamil Nadu	Chess, checkers, ludo, carrom, sudoku.	Enhances hand-eye coordination, memory, and focus.
Moksha Patam or Parama Padam(2nd century)	Mentioned in spiritual and moral lessons	Snake and Ladder	Teaches morality by showcasing ups and downs in life.
Aadu Puli Aattam (10th century)	Chola Dynasty in Tamil Nadu	Goat and Tiger, Tigris.	Strategic thinking, problem solving, decision making, patience and focus.
Antakshari(20th century)	Folk Tradition	Antakshari	Memory, creativity and teamwork.
Lattoo (1500 BCE to 1000 BCE)	Vedic Period	Beyblade	Hand-eye coordination, focus, and spatial awareness.
Marbles (Kancha) (2000 BCE)	Indus Valley Civilization	Peewee or Marble Run	Hand-eye coordination, precision, and strategic thinking.
Pallanguzhi(2nd century) (played with cowrie shells or tamarind seeds)	Chola Dynasty	Mancala	Mathematical, concentration, decision-making and critical thinking.
Karoom(18th Century)	Mughal Era	Carrom	Hand-eye coordination, focus, fine motor skills and strategic thinking.
Ashtapada(4th to 6th Century)	Gupta Empire	Backgammon	Strategic thinking, probability assessment and decision making.

This will surely tempt you to include these lists of traditional games in your children’s game-cum-play time and make their time worthwhile.

Top 10 Traditional Indian Outdoor Games Every Child Should Learn

Below is the top 10 traditional outdoor games list that should be included in your child’s active play schedule to help them develop important skills and lessons of life.

Traditional Game	Historical Significance	Modern Evolution	Skill Sets
Maram Pitthi (3rd Century)	Maurya Empire	Dodgeball	Teamwork, agility, strategic thinking and hand-eye-leg coordination in dodgeball.
Kabaddi (1500 to 1000 BCE)	Vedic Period	Kabaddi	Agility, strength, coordination, teamwork, and strategic thinking.
Kho-Kho	Mahabharata Era	Kho-kho	Agility, teamwork, and strategic thinking.
Gilli-Danda	Vedic Period	Cricket or Baseball	Hand-eye coordination, balance, strength and reflexes.
Chupan Chupai	Vedic Era	Hide and Seek	Problem-solving, teamwork, agility and spatial awareness.
Aankh Micholi	Ancient traditional folk game	Blindfold	Social interaction, spatial awareness and quick reflexes.
Lagori (Seven Stones) (1500 to 500 BCE)	Vedic Period	Seven Stones or Soft Dodgeball	Teamwork, physical agility, hand-eye coordination and strategic thinking.
Hopscotch (1500 BCE)	Vedic Period	Digital Hopscotch or Interactive Hopscotch	Balance, coordination, motor skills and social interaction.
Vish Amrit (16th century)	Mughal Era	Catch and Run or Chasing Game	Speed, agility, teamwork, and strategic thinking.
Kokla Chapaki (1500 BCE)	Vedic Era	Duck, Duck and Goose	Enhances social interaction, motor skills, and quick reflexes.

 

These popular Indian street games are a door to overall development in children.

How Traditional Indian Games for Kids Promote Holistic Development

There are various benefits that the children might experience while playing traditional games, like:

• Keeps them relaxed and stress free due to the release of dopamine hormones.
• Enhance their social skills, unlike in modern times where the kids are glued to their digital screens.
• Builds patience, persistence, and tolerance while dealing with various opinions.
• Makes them emotionally and mentally stable and learning to handle failures.
• Keeps them physically fit, unlike the current times where almost 160 million kids are reeling in obesity, according to a current survey.
• Enhances cognitive, problem-solving, and strategic thinking in children due to constant active functioning of the brain.
• It makes them more adaptable due to the demand for flexibility when playing in groups.

Reintroducing These Games in Modern Life

Traditional games offer an enriching experience in all walks of life, be it in the development of the personality, tackling various life situations, or handling relationships.

It imbibes in the kids’ the essential skills that are required by them to sustain life. However, in the current age of digitisation, these games have taken a back seat and hence must be incorporated into the children’s school curriculum or social events.

Also, there are various tips for Indian parents to expose their kids to these amazing games, like:

• Encourage your children into playing simple games with easy rules when they are bored.
• Become a part of the game with your children.
• Transform game time into learning time. For example, you can invent a game for them to learn alphabets, numbers, words, etc.
• Use technology wisely for playing outdoor games. For example, you can organise a scavenger hunt with the help of GPS, etc.
• Teach children about the importance of active play rather than being a couch potato.
• Include a traditional game night ritual after dinner time, like playing chess, scrabbles, ludo, carrom, etc. This will also help enhance the emotional bond and relax them before sleeping.
• Teach them about sportsman spirit by learning from mistakes rather than being sulky about failures.

Besides this, even the community or schools can promote the popular traditional Indian games for  kids by:

• Organising monthly “Traditional Indian games showdown” in social gatherings.
• Incorporating them in the school curriculum by having themed-based weekly games like tug-of-war, lemon race, sack race, etc.
• Have interplay sessions or events where the older generation teams with the younger generation for tournaments.
• Use the common garden space near your home to organise little championships and call storytellers to enrich the kids’ knowledge about our cultural heritage. This can also be done during festivals.
• Promote the videos of the tournaments and championships on social media to spread its popularity.

This would definitely help in the promotion of various Indian street games among today’s young generation while also keeping our heritage alive and thriving.

Conclusion

Indian cultural games for children have been in existence since ancient times. These games were incorporated in various social gatherings and during festivals in the villages for entertainment.

Some popular Indian games like Kabbadi, kho-kho, chess, etc. are still played today; however, their significance is slowly waning with the advent of technology.

Therefore, it is the duty of the older generation to expose their children to their colourful and stress-free childhood to make them understand the fact that “An active body breeds an active mind and vice versa.”

Lastly, do feel free to share your amazing experience with traditional games on our social media post and interact with others to relive your memories of a wonderful childhood!

Worth Reading:

1. Top 8 Creative and Fun Activities For Child Development
2. How Toys Develop Various Skills in Children?
3. 7 Creative Ways to Keep Your Baby Engaged during Meals
4. Importance of Developing Hobbies In Children
5. 30+ Tips on How to Create a Safe Home Environment for Kids

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