I wasn't lucky enough to attend a primary school where marbles were prevalent. My childhood friend did, and I remember countless days of her visiting after school and showing me the new shiny marbles she'd won in that days game. I recall she was really good at it too, that & athletics. I wasnt so coordinated anyways so it's probably lucky we never played them.
I didn't understand the game then, it didn't appeal to me at all, though now I can see how great it must have been for all those involved.
I didn't understand the game then, it didn't appeal to me at all, though now I can see how great it must have been for all those involved.
Fast forward to now, and schools wont even allow kids to play taggy and all sorts of games we took for granted as kids as too many kids now a days cant cope with losing, or not winning, or not being great at everything. I blame parents for this, but even more so the school, and The Education Department for sub-missing to the whingy parents whims.
Kids learn so much more through play, and these seemingly innocent games taught us alot.
Why was the game of marbles so great?
They learn the obvious skill of rolling a marble, which requires co ordination,. it requires patience, concentration and determination. They learn the cause and affect ( if you dont hit the other marbles you lose yours- so try hard, but if you hit the other marbles you get rewarded by earning new marbles.)
Memphis, my almost 5 year old has had a bag of marbles for about 6 months. We've had to keep them mostly put up and out of sight and mind as Fox (Yikes he's 2 this month) could not be trusted with a single marble. But today I thought he's ready., We started out playing with an ice cube tray, a teaspoon and getting the boys to patiently pick up a marble one by one to put the marbles in the tray. This occupied them for about 25 minutes! and it was quiet play!
Then I thought I'd teach Memphis how to ''play'' marbles. I think he needs a friend the same age to play with as Fox takes all the ones he's aiming for but he had a Great go and they both loved it!
I wish schools would go back to this old school method of play, but sadly things will probably only get worse. I will however endeavor to teach these types of games to my children instead and hope they can learn the all important skills from me.
What other ''old school'' games have you taught your kids?
nice, i am like minded and doing the same with my boy, my mom remembers all the old school games so she teaches him and we get to spend time together without tv or electronics or outlandish new toys made niw a days... keep up the good job.
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