Games that school children play around the world

The traditional Maori game of Ki-o-Rahi, played in New Zealand Illustration UNICEF/Traditional Games

Millions of children around the world work hard every day at school. But there is always time for fun 国产视频� when they can use up some energy and play their favourite games in the playground or the school yard with their friends.

In its guide to children国产视频檚 games, the United Nations children国产视频檚 agency UNICEF says sports-based games are a chance to be fun and active but also 国产视频渁 way of learning important values and life skills, including self-confidence, team work, communication, inclusion, discipline, respect and fair play国产视频�.

Here are some of best-loved children国产视频檚 games from different countries.

KABADI (Sri Lanka)

A player runs into the opposing territory to try to tag one of the opponents. While doing this, the player must keep yelling 国产视频渒abaddi-kabaddi国产视频澛爐he entire time they are on the opponent国产视频檚 territory, until she makes it back to her side. Watch how to play it here.

TAG (United Kingdom)

Also known as tig. One person is chosen to be 国产视频渋t国产视频�. The player who is 国产视频渋t国产视频� needs to catch someone else who then becomes 国产视频渋t国产视频�.

DODGEBALL (United States)

There are different versions of the game. The National Amateur Dodgeball Association in the USA says teams should have six players in action and three balls available to each team. The onject is to eliminate all players of the opposing team by hitting them with a ball below the shoulders. Children国产视频檚 rules can be much more relaxed.

KHO KHO (India)

Played by teams of 12, of which nine enter the field. They try to avoid being touched by members of the opposing team.

HAJLA (Syria)

A playground game where an object, usually a stone, is thrown by a group of players, through patterns of squares outlined on the ground, hopping through spaces with one leg.

SHADOWS (Ireland)

Players must stand on opponent国产视频檚 shadows in order to catch them 国产视频� then they are the chaser. If you are being chased you can run to a shaded place where you have no shadow and then you are safe.

CLAPPING GAME (Nigeria)

Also known as Ten Ten. Players stand facing each other ,clapping their hands and moving their legs to a rhythm. They must ensure they don国产视频檛 raise a leg directly facing the other opponent 国产视频� which means it is OK for a player to raise a left leg when the other raises a right leg. Once a girl or boy raises the wrong leg, the other girl scores a point. Other hand-clapping games are also popular in Nigerian playgrounds 国产视频� watch this group of children demonstrate one here.

DARUMA (Japan)

Players line up about 30 feet from a wall in a bid to reach it. The player who is 国产视频渋t国产视频� faces the wall and says 国产视频淒aruma falls down国产视频� before turning around. If he sees someone moving that person is captured and has to come to the wall.聽

JONAH (Uganda)

Players sit behind each other in two rows with their legs in a V shape to mimic rowing a boat. They sing a rhyme about Jonah and when the song ends they start to sway from side to side. Those who fall out or lose their balance are out of the game.

OONCH NEECH (Pakistan)

One player is 国产视频渋t国产视频� and has to catch their opponents. However, players can be safe from capture if they climb up on to something 国产视频� a porch, a kerb, a tree branch.

CORRE, CORRE LA GUARACA (Chile)

Players sit in a circle while a person jogs around the circle with a handkerchief. The seated children are not allowed to watch and have to sing 国产视频淐orre, Corre, la Guaraca聽who looks back will be bopped on his head!国产视频� Trying not to be felt, the runner drops the handkerchief on a child国产视频檚 back and runs. If he makes it around the circle before the player realises that it国产视频檚 on her back, the seated player is out.

LUTA DE GALO (Brazil)

This is a two-player game but more children can play by taking turns. Each player has a handkerchief or a piece of cloth tucked into a pocket or waistband. Both players are not allowed to use their right arm, which is to be crossed over their chest. Then, hopping on one leg, each player must try to capture the handkerchief from their opponent using his left hand. If the child puts the other leg down, or unfolds their right arm, he is disqualified. The last person who still has his handkerchief is the winner.

LUKSONG-BAKA (Philippines)

Translated as 国产视频渏ump over the cow国产视频�, one player crouches down while the others jump over him or her. The game progresses when the crouching player gradually straightens up making it harder for the other players to jump. A person becomes 国产视频渋t国产视频� when they touch the 国产视频渂aka国产视频� (cow) as they jump. It will repeat again and again until the players declare the player or until the players decide to stop the game.

If you want to learn more about traditional children国产视频檚 games around the world,聽UNICEF has a great guide 国产视频� including road tennis from Barbados, Ki-o-Rahi from New Zealand and Three Tines from South Africa.