Games Children Play Around the World

Kids love to play no matter where they live. Many popular games are played all around the world. Tag, hide-and-seek, and jumping rope are favorites in many countries. But some cultures have their own unique games that have been played for hundreds of years.

Popular Games Worldwide

Mancala is a counting game played across Africa using stones and a board with holes. In South Korea, children play a kicking game called jegichagi using a small feathered object. In India, kids play kabaddi, a tag-like game where you must hold your breath. In Mexico, children love to break open pinatas filled with candy.

Games That Connect Us

Many games are similar even in different countries. Almost every culture has a version of tag or hide-and-seek. Marbles are played in countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. These shared games show that kids everywhere enjoy the same kinds of fun. Playing games helps children learn teamwork and make friends.

Fun Facts

• Mancala is one of the oldest board games in the world, dating back over 3,000 years.
• The yo-yo was used as a toy in ancient Greece over 2,500 years ago.
• In Afghanistan, children fly kites as one of the most popular outdoor activities.

Did You Know?

Hide-and-seek is played on every continent! It has different names in different languages, but the rules are almost always the same.