Childhood outdoor games:

A thing of the past

By Husna Inayathullah

Childhood is the most cherished time in one's life. The games played and the mischievous things done in the days gone by cannot be easily forgotten. Playing various games during childhood are an important part of all cultures and essentially a part of growing up.

Indoor and outdoor games help develop a child's mental, physical and social ability.

During the good old days, children played in jungles, rivers, coastal waters and in open spaces. Children 'hunted', gathered plants, explored, climbed trees, lit camp fires, built huts and swings and swam in their favourite spots. Some children had fun 'fighting', stealing birds' eggs and teasing animals using catapults, obviously unaware of the consequences.We spoke to a cross section of adults about the times they played games.

Navindra who is now an adult said during the 1980s, he played various outdoor games which children do not play today.

After harvest, he played cricket and elle in the paddy field. "I played Gudu Vidinawa,' Gan Kotanawa and Tin Kadanawa where we use to pile tins and then hit the pile with a stone singing Ini mini raka taka, Dela doli kita, Doli papa lali papa hum pum pos.

It was a very interesting game, where the others hid and I caught them, I have to strike that person and then that person is then out of the game. This continues till the entire team is out."

Samanmali, a retired government teacher said during her childhood in the 1980s, she played hopscotch a popular outdoor game. Other outdoor games included play house, hide and seek, making a shop outside and selling leaves, sticks and sand making them to be like real objects.

She said she lived with nature jumping into mud holes, running through jungle areas, which were aplenty during those times and cooking food outdoors in toy pots and pans, with the help of her parents. She said, "Every child should be exposed to this environment, but unfortunately technology has taken over and many of these games are lost forever."

At present, due to technological advancement, children tend to move away from nature. Parents are overprotective and do not allow children to explore the environment. Children are also more with computer games.

Children in the past moved about a lot and their sensory world was nature-based and simple. Now every household has at least one television set, a laptop or a desktop. It is a common sight to see children playing with smartphones or tablets.

What is more, children play cricket online with friends and don't go to the playground. They play 'cricket' seated in the comfort of their homes with the help of a computer mouse.

Although technology has improved and benefits humans, it has a negative side as well. Children are less interactive now.

The evolution of technology has reached a point where everything is available at the touch of a button - be it playing games shopping, learning, working or entertainment which can be accessed in the comfort of one's home, on a train or in a cyber cafe.