Play represents a natural process through which young children are able to learn and explore their environment. As an early childhood educator, I, therefore, decided to begin by researching games in aboriginal cultures in an attempt to discern their unique characteristics and better understand their educational benefits.

Around the world, people pass on their games across generations as a part of their heritage. Aboriginal people played games to develop hunting skills. A form socio-cultural interaction, a number of games also served as educational tools, entertainment tools or as a form of religious practice.

Many of the sports games we see today, namely games that use a ball, have evolved from or were inspired by the traditional games of the past (e.g., baseball, football, cricket, shinny or bandy, lacrosse and tennis, bowling, golf, etc.).

For example, according to Wikipedia, Marn Grook or marngrook, from the Gunditjmara language for “game ball”, is a collective name given to a number of traditional Indigenous Australian recreational pastimes believed to have been played at gatherings and celebrations of up to fifty players.

Moreover, other games served as problem-solving tools, embedding mathematical concepts and logical patterns.

I have gathered that there are three prevailing types of games;

1) Chance games;

2) Strategy games; and

3) Mathematical games.

Web Links

http://www.nativetech.org/games/index.php

http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/sport/traditional-aboriginal-games-activities

http://www.manataka.org/page184.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marn_Grook