Keeping Kidz Active with Indigenous Games

14.06.10

By Khumo Kekana

What do we do with our kidz to keep them entertained, fit and active during the much anticipated June 2010 holidays? It is such an expensive and daunting task to try and entertain our kidz these days. If it’s not movies or DVDs; its gaming centres and play stations. And these activities keep our children indoors, sitting down and physically inactive.

Remember how we used to play when we were young?

We would play in the streets the whole day without even going home for lunch. Games like magusha, skiping, diketo, morabaraba, dibeke, kgathi and the circle singing games were played. Just reminiscing about these games brings excitement to my heart and a smile to my face. And these only cost our parents, a pair or two of old stockings, washing powder, more clothes and sometimes bandage. We on the other hand were very active kidz, were high in stamina and very fit.

After reminiscing about the good old days me and a friend decided not to deprive our kidz of such heritage and teach our kidz these games, which we consider the truly indigenous traditional games. We call ourselves SETSO INDEGINIOUS GAMES AND ENTERTAINMENT cc.

We would arrange play dates and teach kidz these games and it’s wonderful that they are able to remember these games and entertain themselves when at home. This type of entertainment is also suitable for birthday parties or any other gatherings, just like we used to do it back in the days as part of free play to get the burden off the parents.

The first play date was significant as it was on Heritage day in 2009 and it was a blast; the kidz had so much fun! Just to ease them into the swing of things and get them settled we gave them what they are used to, something to colour in. We gave them the South African Flag and up to today, they still recognize the South African flag as part of their heritage.

The first game played was the circle singing game ‘tsa mo reka omo” to our advantage this was the Omo advert song. So they caught on very fast. They enjoyed the hand clap coordination and the telephone message concept, keeping their little minds buzzing.

We then did hop-scotch, the easy basic one where you just hop on one foot into the different blocks. It’s so amazing watching these kids trying their best to make it to the home circle on one foot. The determination and eagerness is heart warming; and we thought we learnt nothing from these games. They were so proud of themselves with their achievements.

Kgathi (skipping rope) was the favorite, jumping castle watch out! Try coordinating your jump to the skipping rope and the song that goes with it. “mita mita tshasa borotho ka botoro tswa.” The kids were over the moon and they wanted to jump again and again!

At the end of the day the kids were so exhausted from all the playing and fun they had. We ended nicely rewarding the kids with fun stickers to show they all had fun.

So the next time you are wondering how to keep your child active, just teach him/her one of the active games you used to play, you will also benefit from the game. This is also good exercise for you as the parent and the more you do it, the more you strengthen your stamina.

We also arrange regular play dates to teach as many children as we can so that we can hand-down this priceless heritage to the next generation…