Old-time play: fun children's games
Kids are geniuses at play, aren’t they? They can have a great time even in open spaces without playground equipment, and they come up with ways to play with toys that adults would never imagine! Of course, kids today are creative too, but back in the days before smartphones and game consoles, children played in even more inventive ways.
Many of those old-fashioned games are still fun for kids today.
In this article, we’ve gathered lots of classic, enjoyable games from the past.
We’re also introducing plenty of activities you can try right away, so be sure to check them out!
Old-fashioned games. Fun children's games (1–10)
cat’s cradle
Ayatori, the string figure game that Nobita from Doraemon was also good at, uses a looped string to create various shapes.
It’s surprisingly deep, with many techniques to learn.
Some versions can be played by two people, making it a versatile and enjoyable traditional pastime.
If you try it now, you might be able to pull off tricks that once seemed difficult with ease!
beanbag juggling game (otedama)
This is also a truly profound pastime, with many ways to play that go along with various traditional beanbag songs passed down in different regions.
Many of you may have learned it from your grandmother.
If you still remember how, why not teach it to your own children and others?
Ohajiki (traditional Japanese coin-flicking game pieces)
I think quite a lot of people have played ohajiki.
It’s a game where you flick those small glass pieces, kind of like a Japanese kids’ version of billiards.
There are many rules, and besides that, they were handy little toys—you could use them in place of money, learn arithmetic with them, and so on.
origami
Origami is the heart of Japan—Japanese craftsmanship that people overseas admire with longing.
It’s incredibly profound, and a single sheet of paper holds infinite possibilities.
Beyond classics like the paper crane and the chatterbox, why not, now as an adult, try your hand at the challenging models you couldn’t manage back then?
Kendama
Kendama has so many fans that world championships are held—it’s now a cutting-edge pastime.
There are countless tricks, and if you watch today, you’ll see a world quite different from the kendama of back in the day.
With a wide range of colors and designs—from stylish to classic—there are plenty available, so why not give it a try now, whether you’re coming back to it or seeing it for the first time?
Spinning tops
Speaking of spinning tops, I think many people were really into them as kids.
They’re fascinating to watch—so much so that even performers use them.
Wrapping the string carefully and the thrill of getting it to spin well for the first time was immeasurable, wasn’t it? That stance where you drop your hips and flick it out—can you still do it now?
Daruma-otoshi
I remember that Daruma Otoshi was quite difficult.
You don’t see it much anymore except in souvenir shops, but it used to be a popular game with children, too.
They came in sizes from very small to fairly large—I even remember playing a version with cushions during PE class or recreational activities.
It’s a game that really requires some technique.