Getting kids involved in organised sports is great, but playing outside is even more fun. So what makes it different? For starters, the former involves complicated rules, carpools, weekends full of activity, mouldering sports equipment, potential lifetime injuries, and large quantities of orange slices.
Kids can enjoy outdoor games that allow them to use their imaginations, get fresh air, play unstructured, and make friends without fear of penalty boxes. For older children, classic games like four square, steal the bacon, and h-o-r-s-e are fun, while toddlers and younger children can quickly learn them as well. Explore some not-so-common Indian games that you can play with your kids in this article.
What Are Outdoor Games?
Outdoor games are physical activities that take place in various environments based on the physical environment in which they are performed. A wide variety of activities and landscapes are included in the benefits of outdoor games.
The purpose of most outdoor games is to engage in physical activity, general well-being, and spiritual renewal and to enjoy nature in the process.
- Outside games are played in the open rather than in a closed environment.
- Most players spread out on the ground, requiring high physical activity levels.
- Sports such as badminton, cricket, Kabaddi, volleyball, and hockey are outdoors.
Importance of Outdoor Games
It is as essential for kids to participate in outdoor games as to study and do other things in their daily lives. A child's physical and mental development is enhanced by physical activity. It offers many health benefits like improved blood flow to the brain, sensory development, muscular development, and weight management.
Read more about the importance of outdoor games in kids' lives:
1. Health Benefits
The brain is stimulated with more blood flow when children are outdoors, and hence their brains are supplied with neurotransmitters, which results in better cognitive function. It is healthy for children to be physically active, keeping them fit and strengthening their muscle groups.
2. Explore Nature
Children learn about nature through these activities. They gain confidence and experience a sense of fulfilment. They are rejuvenated, and all of their five senses are stimulated.
3. Social Skills Development
As children interact with their friends, they learn social skills and develop listening habits while their problem-solving abilities and creativity grow. Ultimately, their communication and behaviour skills improve due to playing outdoors.
4. Teamwork
As kids play outside, they get to know other kids of their age group, learn to play as a team, and interact with kids from different backgrounds. Growing up with this skill will be helpful in their professional and personal lives.
Outdoor Games List in India
There are traditions in every nation, and India is no different. The sports & outdoor games industry in India is a big one. Many Indian athletes have won medals in the Olympics for their outdoor games.
Field hockey, cricket, Gilli-Danda, Pallanguze, hockey, soccer, and many other traditional games are popular in India. Generally, outdoor games are also called sports or athletic games and are played in open areas. Still, they involve physical activity and play a key role in keeping our bodies healthy.
Here is the top 20 Outdoor Games List in India
1. Gili Danda
The sport of Gili Danda is also known as "Disc Golf." Gili-Danda is mainly played in India. This game is played in the open field with two sticks, one of which is long and called Danda, and the other is small and called Gilli. The Danda is used to hit the Gilli to keep score, and it is generally played on a field with two sticks.
2. Pitthu Garam
Pitthu Garam is an Indian game between two teams with up to twelve players. Also known as the Seven Stones game and Lagori. This game requires a team member to hit the 7 stone pile with a ball and run away while another member attempts to restore the pile of stones. Interestingly, in this game's person who touches the ball will be eliminated at once.
3. Kancha-Marble
This game is still played in rural India, where it is still one of the most popular games among kids. Round glass marbles are used in the game, and the object is to shoot them at other marbles and collect as many as you can. Indians play any marble games, including Kancha-Marble, an outdoor game played with anyone.
4. Kabaddi
Outdoor sports are part of Indian culture, so Kabaddi is most commonly played in South Asia and many states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Telangana. Kabaddi involves two teams, each with 7 members. Kabaddi originated in India and is currently played around the world. The International Kabaddi Federation governed the Kabaddi World Cup, which India won in 2016.
5. Stapoo
Stapoo, also known as Hopscotch or Stapu, is an outdoor game played in open playgrounds. In this game, players throw a small object into boxes laid on the ground and jump through them on one or two legs to retrieve the object.
6. Dog and Bone
Children play Dog and Bone, a game between two teams, each with between five and ten members. In this game, one player must pick up an object, return to his team, or get kicked out of the game. The winner has been determined based on the total score.
7. Chain
It is also a classic children's game, though it has declined in popularity. A player named 'Denner' tries to catch the other players in it. During this game, the ting between the players faces different directions. It is up to the chasers to see the runners before time expires (because they enter the field one at a time).
8. Lattu
As with many traditional games, such as marbles spinning tops, discovered as early as 3500 BC in the Middle East, they have been around for thousands of years. Children have probably turned small rocks for centuries. This game used to be very popular with kids. In Indian villages, the latter is a regular part of life for children. It is played in the inner colonies of Udaipur.
10. Maram Pitti
This game, called Maram Pitti or Picchi Banti in Telugu, is an Indian version of dodgeball. In this game, a rubber ball or a tennis ball is thrown by a small group of players (typically five to six) in a small enclosure. Playing Maram Pitti cal solo or duo is also possible in teams of three and above. The words Maram and Pitti mean to hit and to strike, respectively. In a vast group, two players are chosen to win the game. In one with more than one player, one person hits the ball to the other without moving. Typically, the fun begins with one player throwing the ball directly into the air. The ball should bounce three times before being picked up by the player.
12. Hide-and-Seek
A classic game for children, hide-and-seek involves one player closing their eyes temporarily (often counting to 100) and the other players hiding. Afterwards, the seeker opens his eyes and looks for the hiders; the person who finds the first one is the next seeker, and the person who finds the last is the winner for the round. A popular version of the game involves hiders attempting to run back to the seeker's "home base" while looking for them. If everyone returns safely, the seeker becomes the next seeker.
13. Chor-sipahi
This game is similar to Western Tag because it's played by two teams - one of the thieves (chor) and another of police (sipahi). After a while, the roles switch (i.e., the chor becomes the sipahi and vice versa).
14. Four Corners
Primary school children play Four Corners. They designate four corners, and one player is "it." The remaining participants must switch corners without getting caught by "it." The player who has been seen by "it" or who does not have a corner to stand in becomes "it."
15. Vish Amrit
Denner refers to the Indian version of "lock and key." The goal is to touch teammates and give them a spirit, or vish, to keep them until teammates provide them with Amrit. Once all players have been caught, and Amrit has been shown to none left, game over.
16. Langdi
Maharashtra is the home state of Langdi, a popular childhood game featuring two teams and a toss for the first ball. Each team sends one player to hop onto one foot and tag as many defenders as possible in this game. The couple who tags the most defenders wins.
17. Aankh Micholi
Children aged 5 to 12 enjoy playing Ankh Micholi, a famous group outdoor game. Both boys and girls enjoy playing this game. Like a game of blindfolded catch, the denner has to grab hold of one of the other players while blindfolded. All of the other players scatter in the open space to not be caught by the denner. As soon as the denner sees one of the players, the turn of the denner ends.
18. Kokla Chappakki
This game is played mainly by young girls in the Punjab streets. The number of players varies depending on availability. Kokla Chappakki is a traditional Punjabi game played by girls as young as 4 to 8 years old. In almost all conventional games, the only equipment required is a piece of cloth. The players sit cross-legged in a circle except for the "seeker." With a piece of cloth in their hands, they run around the circle singing, "Kokla Jumeriaat aayi aye jera agge pichey wekhey ohdi shamat aayi aye."
19. Posham Pa
Posham Pa takes place outdoors with 3 or more players. Children aged 4-8 tend to play this game most often in rural India. In fun, two players join their hands to form a structure like a gate. They sing the song while other players run around them in a line. The game ends when each of the children has been caught in the gate. After the piece has been completed and the gate closed, one of the children is caught in the entrance, and the game ends.
20. Oonch Neech ka Papda
The 'Oonch Neech ka Papda' game has been popular among children aged 3 - 8 years. The game is played in uneven open spaces. The Oonch surface is higher, and the Neech surface is lower. There are variations of this game called Kumar Daanga in West Bengal, Nela Banda in Andhra Pradesh, and Oonch Neech. Playing Oonch Neech Ka Papada is an excellent way for children of the same age group to have fun while interacting socially and learning how to work in a team while maintaining their alertness and confidence while enjoying themselves.
21. Kith-kith
This playground game involves tossing a small object into numbered spaces within the outline of rectangles on the ground and then hopping or jumping to retrieve it. The game is also known by other names and is famous worldwide.
22. Traffic on the Road
There are many indoor pretend-to-play activities for kids, like playing House, Doctor, and Chef. However, "Traffic on the road" is one of the best outdoor games for kids. One player will play the cop. Other players will play the vehicles. You can be the pedestrian, and we'll use handcrafted traffic lights. Play in an area with plenty of room for traffic to pass so that the policeman can direct traffic and stop cars so pedestrians can move.
Benefits of Outdoor Games
Our world is filled with concrete, pollution, and stress; we need outdoor games as a way to relax. Here are some advantages to playing games outdoors or taking part in outdoor games:
1. Vitamin D Can Be Obtained by Playing Outside
Supplements for vitamin D are available, but sunlight still provides the best natural source. It is important to get suitable vitamin D to support strong bones. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. If you put on sunscreen, just five to ten minutes in the sun 2-3 times a week will provide enough Vitamin D for most people.
2. Supporting Brain Development
Children explore the world outside when they play out. They invent games, discover the world around them, and feel independent when they run around outside. Creating fun, solving problems, and implementing their ideas and solutions helps them develop their autonomy, organisational abilities, and decision-making skills.
3. Improve Focus
Outdoor play enhances focus and concentration in children compared to those who don't play outside often. Children with ADHD symptoms who can't hold their attention for a long time will benefit from these activities, especially those who struggle to stay focused.
4. Increase Imagination And Creativity
Children learn to come up with new games and activities when playing outdoors. Outdoor activities encourage their imaginations and creativity. Children can perform at their best when out under the sky, among trees, flowers, birds, and other things stimulating their brains.
Tips To Encourage Kids To Play Outside
Playing outdoors benefits kids in a variety of ways. They get fresh air and vitamin D. They are physically active and adventurous. Even brief periods of low- to moderate-intensity exercise can help prevent weight gain in kids. Playing in nature calms kids' stress and improves their moods, making it easier to focus on homework and even sleep.
Nevertheless, sometimes it can be challenging to get kids to move, so here are a few ideas for active fun at home or in the park.
1. Gear Up
Kids will enjoy anything on wheels, projectiles, or anything involving water if you invest in outdoor toys. Pediatricians do not recommend trampolines, but all things on wheels, rockets, or water will be fun for them!
2. Be Challenging
Competition is a great way to get your child interested. If you both don't want to compete, ask her to teach you something, like a game in school or a sport that she knows better than you.
3. Bring the Indoor Out
Take meals, homework, and even board games outside to a patio or picnic table to make them a little more special. This will inspire kids to get up and play more (even if it's just to break up their math homework).
4. Teach Old Tricks
How did you play ball, kick the can, flashlight tag, or build forts when you were a kid? Did you play street hockey or pick-up baseball with your friends or skating? It doesn't matter what you were passionate about as a child. Share it with your own children.
Summing Up
With the pace of inventions of technology, our kids today are rarely living their childhood to the fullest. Today's kids do not participate in any outdoor activities since much of their entertainment comes from automated devices. It becomes essential to give our kids a break from this monotony by allowing them to participate in fun outdoor games that shall help strengthen their immune systems while building their muscles.
As a result of the reduction in physical activity among children, many health issues have arisen. Returning to traditional games will therefore help to remedy such problems.
