Role of Traditional Indian Games in Child Development

The ancient Indian society had flourished in the past and it had surpassed the other countries in all fields of discipline. However, colonization and westernization have led to the failure to recognize the priceless treasures originating in India. India is the home to the birth of many indoor and outdoor games that are played by everyone. The games played date back to centuries to the epic Mahabharata where the game of dice decided who ascended the throne.

Chess, another indoor game that is now widely played around the world, found its roots in India around the 6th century AD. Kabaddi, the oldest form of outdoor sports, originated in India in the prehistoric times. Such games were created in such a way that they promoted the holistic development of the individuals in the society

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Need to Revive Traditional Games

In the current scenario, traditional games are slowly declining. This is caused due to the advent of technology. The development in technology has caused the death of these traditional games as people are moving to virtual platforms. With the prevalence of the pandemic and the lockdown, people were confined to homes causing the increase in the usage of technology and internet gaming.

Technological advancements in the current generation are leading to a lot of developmental disabilities in children. The 2011 census indicated the prevalence of disabilities under the 19 age group around an estimated 78 lakh children and another study revealed that 10-18% of children between the ages of 2-9 had one or more than one Neurodevelopmental disorder (Kamath, 2015).

Screen dependency disorder is one of the major disorders arising from addiction to gadgets. Online and virtual games also negatively impact a person by manipulating the player. Games are targeting vulnerable individuals, especially children and are being used for many wrongful purposes.

Studies show that gadget addiction is known to cause screen dependency disorder which is a type of disorder that may lead to a gene mutation that results in structural and synaptic functional changes addictive behaviour leads to impaired ventral striatum which affects the decision-making, reward-related behaviour and impulse control mechanism(Sigman, 2017).

While the world is almost taken over by electronic gadgets, technology is now affecting the lives of children. Electronic gadgets have hijacked the lives of children and are now posing a threat to their development. The intrusion of virtual gaming has also led to the death of indigenous games to the extent that some of them are missing in our lives today.

The games discussed in the article include Pallanguzhi, Pachisi, Kavade, Dayakattam, Panchakone, Chess, Moksha Patam, Anaikallu, Kabaddi, Kho-kho, Lagori, Goli, Gilli Danda, Rumaal Chori and Aadu Puli Aata. The different benefits of these games have been grouped into the three domains of development namely: physical,cognitive and social emotional (Santrock, 2010).

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Physical development

Games help in hand-eye coordination. (JBCN International School, 2017)It reduces the risk of obesity and blood sugar levels. It strengthens the lungs and helps to prevent cancer. It improves the quality of sleep. It also reduces chronic muscular tension. It enhances the cardiovascular system (Chopra & Khanna,2019). “Outdoor games like Gilli Danda, Kho Kho and Lagori help improve children’s stamina, core strength and balance”(Bharatan,2023). Goli helps with motor skills (Das,2018). It also helps to improve tactile skills.

Anaikallu helps to improve eyesight. It also helps in visuomotor skills, eye-hand coordination and object control. Kavade helps with fine motor skills. (MY & Varsha MU, 2019). Pallankuzhi helps to improve hand-eye coordination (Sarumathi, 2016)It also develops motor skills. Kho-kho increases blood circulation raises the level of endorphins and helps keep the brain alert and active. It also helps in building physical and mental endurance.

It helps in developing physical fitness, strength, speed and stamina. Gilli Danda improves hand-eye coordination. (V. Kumar, n.d.).Kabaddi helps to build stamina, quick reflexes and hand-eye coordination. Playing kabaddi increases the lungs’ and heart’s capacity (Heritage Foundation, 2015). Aadu puli aata promotes endurance and rough handling.

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Cognitive Development

Games reflect mathematical skills and coordination (Cafe Chennai, 2017). It stimulates logical thinking, building strategy, concentration and aiming techniques (Jadia,2016). Games help in the application of the mind, improving the thought process and stimulating the mind. (Sarma, 2009) Games help in visuospatial awareness and kinesthetic, auditory and temporal development. (Siegler & Ramani,2008) It sharpens observation.

Games help in cognitive development by stimulating different lobes which are responsible for orientation, recognition, reasoning, planning, problem-solving, life skills and emotional development. It promotes multi-dimensional learning which includes visual, tactile and kinesthetic experiences(MY & Varsha MU, 2019). It also helps in language development. Playing outside helps the children to develop visual and tactile skills by seeing and touching objects.

Games help to exercise abstract thinking There is also an improvement in focus, judgment skills and sequencing. (Chopra &Khanna, 2019). Kavade promotes numerical skills, concentration, strategizing, prioritizing and decision-making. Pagade develops strategizing and prioritizing skills. Anaikallu promotes numerical skills. (MY & Varsha MU, 2019). It also helps with memory power and concentration and improves hand-eye coordination, and aiming abilities.

It helps you create your new versions(Bharatan,2023) thus boosting creativity and divergent thinking. Pallanguzhi helps in mathematical development and concentration (Sarumathi,2016) Goli helps in aiming and concentration skills. (Jadia, 2013) and attention.( Rajendran,2014). It helps with mathematical skills(Das,2018). It also helps to develop the presence of mind (Selvaraj, n.d.)Lagori helps in aiming skills and building strategies.

Rumaal chori helps in observation power, requires players to be vigilant at all times to know when the handkerchief falls behind them and helps to develop endurance(Bharatan,2023). Gilli Danda develops cognitive behaviour and concentration power. (Das,2018) and focus ( Rajendran,2014). It sharpens judgement skills. (Selvaraj, n.d.).

Kho-kho helps in concentration power, strategic thinking. It increases brain activity and helps in decision-making. (Kumar, n.d.)Kabaddi and Kho provide tactics to defeat opponents, help in strategy and resolve differences. (Vaidya,2017). Dayakatttam helps with mathematical skills. Pachisi improves concentration. Pallankuzhi, Chaukabara and Chess help in creative thinking, strategy and problem-solving. (Sarumathi,2016).

Chess, in particular, helps in brain development, boosts mental health and cognitive thinking, and critical thinking, Aadu Puli data helps in strategic planning (Thatitpalli,2019). Kabaddi helps to think logically. Kabaddi helps in sharp judgment. (Heritage Foundation, 2015). Panchakone improves concentration( Sarumathi,2016).

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Socio-Emotional Development

Traditional games are open-ended and theme-based which helps in self-discovery, and behavioural and interpersonal skills. In some cases, it also helps children to cope with traumatic experiences and emotional loss. It gives a sense of pride and understanding.(Chopra & Khanna, 2019)Games help to channel negative emotions and to deal with challenges. (JBCN International School, 2017) Games help in cultural comprehension and mutual tolerance. (Boro et al., 2015). Games bring families together. (Sarma,2009). It provides bonding and love (Cafe Chennai, 2017).

Interacting with different kinds of people can help the child cope with life and help them become more mature. Games also help in personality development. Kabaddi also promotes social skills. It promotes the sense of group defence. (Heritage Foundation, 2015). Kabaddi and Kho-kho help in bridging the gap between age, culture, religion, and socio-economic status and resolve differences (Vaidya, 2017).

Kho-kho relieves stress. (Selvaraj, n.d.) Aadu puli aata promotes teamwork (Thatipalli,2019). Rumaal Chori helps in socializing. Lagori helps in bonding through interaction. (Das,2018). Games reflect cultural, economic and social variation. (Cafe Chennai, 2017). Through games, children can learn humility in defeat and victory. They provide rehearsals for daily life.

They also learn that there is no constant victor. (MY & Varsha MU, 2019). It helps to learn about the culture of India. Games help teach them the ecosystem while using seashells and tamarind seeds. (The Hindu, 2018). It is also inexpensive and environmentally friendly. (Sarma,2009) The child learns to share. It enhances friendship and positive awareness of individual differences( Chopra & Khanna, 2019)It helps to develop a good lifestyle.

(JBCN International School, 2017)It creates a sense of equality. Games encourage to face all challenges. It also conveys the value of solidarity, diversity, inclusiveness and cultural awareness (Boro et al., 2015). It teaches them about cultural themes, rituals, rites of passage and folktales.(Sanagavarapu & Wong, 2004). Mokshapathum and Pachisi help to develop patience.

Moksha Patam is a symbolic way of man’s path to Moksha. The ladders represent virtues and the snakes represent vices which would help the children know the difference between good and evil. Rumaal Chori helps the child to know about cheaters and to be cautious. Kho-kho promotes obedience, discipline, sportsmanship and loyalty. Lagori helps in competing and cooperating in a healthy environment. (Das, 2018) Pallanguzhi helps in developing a sense of biodiversity. Dayakattam and Panchakone promote equanimity (Sarumathi,2016).

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Conclusion

These games need to be promoted on a large scale and also be understood if they would help children with neurodevelopmental conditions. There are also many more traditional games including tribal games which have not been covered in this article due to insufficient information. They need to be studied and promoted as well. Playing these traditional games requires limited equipment and is also environmentally friendly thus catering to all socio-economic groups.

Traditional games initially were made of eco-friendly materials but because of globalization, they are now created using non-biodegradable materials. Children are also not getting the opportunity to play because of rising academic demands and pressure from parents, peers and teachers to excel in all aspects. Sports is now considered as a subject and games are not being played for the sake of recreation. (Boro et al., 2015).

Numerous organizations and people are working towards reviving these traditional age-old games of our country. Certain schools are now adopting traditional games such as Pallanguzhi and Kavade to teach children. This ensures that the children understand concepts in various subjects and also helps them appreciate the legacy of India.

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