Some Traditional Kiddie Games in Thailand

Each country has a myriad of children-s games that has been passed down from generation to generation. Aside from being fun, many of these activities can improve children-s social interaction, increase their mental prowess, and enhance their physical development. Let us take Thailand, for example. These are some of the most popular games that Thai children love:

Tang Te, or hopscotch, is often played on playgrounds and parks. The players are usually girls. To play the game, a girl throws a coin or a chip as a marker on a drawn hopscotch course. She must hop through the course, skipping the square with the marker on it. Her feet must land on the squares without touching the lines or going out of bounds.

Khi ma song muang is another popular game played by teams of boys. Each team consists of a horse, who is actually a boy on all fours, and a jockey, a friend who rides on his back. A racing distance is established and marked, typically using a bottle or a stick imbedded on the ground. Each team must reach the marker, go around it, and return to the starting line; the first team to do so is the winner.

Phong phang is another thrilling game that can be played with any number of players. Before the game, a playing area is established; the more players, the bigger the area. A player designated as the "it" is blindfolded. Using his other senses, he attempts to track down and tag other players in the designated area. The rest of the participants try to avoid him by running away when he is near, by distracting him, or by keeping absolutely quiet. The child who gets tagged is the next "it."