Children’s Games from Other Lands

Ampe -- a Ghana children’s game

This game is somewhat similar to the American children’s game of Paper, Rock, Scissors. There is a You Tube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhaZf2M_hlY that demonstrates how to play it.

1. Choose one player to be the leader, and the others stand in a semicircle, with the leader facing the player at either end of the group.

2. The leader and the player both clap hands. Then they jump in place at the same time. Then they jump and kick one foot forward.

3. If the two have put the same foot forward, the leader is out and the player takes her place. If they have put different feet forward, the leader moves to the next player and the same routine begins again.

4. Every player takes a turn as a leader. 5. If you wish you may keep score or you may simply play for fun. A point is scored every time the

leader is successful. Every player takes a turn as a leader. The one who scores the most points wins.

“Nyama, Nyama”-- a Kenyan circle game This game is similar to the American game “Simon Says.” The children stand in a circle with one person in the middle. The one in the middle says the name of an animal. If it is an animal that is eaten for food, the children in the circle should say “Nyama, Nyama!” (“Meat, Meat!”) and they jump up and down with arms stiff at their sides and legs straight. If the animal is not usually eaten for food, the children stand still and make no sound or movement. If one accidentally shouts or jumps, they go into the center and begin again. The child in the middle keeps naming animals quickly until someone makes a mistake. Then they change places. If a child ends up having to go into the center twice, it is good to have that child choose another to go until all children have had a chance to be there. (Tip: It is good to use the names of animals that live or are raised in Africa, however it can be confusing to decide whether or not some are to be eaten or not, e.g., lions, zebras, elephants, antelope, giraffe, etc. So we used the criteria if it is a wild animal you would

normally see in a zoo here, it should not be considered a food animal. You can come up with another screen if you find one that is more helpful.)

Pass the Parcel – an Indian children’s game

The kids stand around in a circle and pass a parcel (small cardboard box) that contains small slips of paper on which a certain activity is written. Assign someone to play some soft yet peppy music. This can be on a piano or on an electronic device of some sort. The moment the music stops, kids should stop passing the parcel. The kid with the parcel has to take out one slip of paper and perform the activity that is listed. Give something simple and fun like reciting a poem, singing, acting like an animal, etc. You can buy an inexpensive kazoo or make one of a comb and tissue paper and have someone play a song for one of the activities. Then the music begins again and the parcel continues around the circle. If this were played at a birthday party or slumber party in India when each kid does the activity without any fuss and mistakes, she/he is given a small gift or reward. In the end, all kids should have a reward. (See next page for slips of activities that can be cut apart to put in your box.)

Activity slips for Pass the Parcel game

Sing a song Recite a poem or nursery rhyme

Whistle a tune Name ten countries of the world

Speak like a monkey

Bleat like a goat Walk and talk like a chicken

Say something in a foreign language

Count backwards from 100-90

Spell your whole name backwards

Play a song on a kazoo

Hum a tune

Walk backwards around the circle

Hop in place five times

Touch your toes ten times

Rub your stomach and pat your head at the same time

Name 2 places where Right Sharing make loans

Name two businesses women start with their Right Sharing loans

Wiggle like an Australian worm

Speak like an Indian cow