In this activity, the researcher visited Khalifa Park to monitor the games that children play, and the pattern of their games. Some of the common games that children were playing in this park include Hide and Seek, Kick the Can, Parachute, Football, Traffic Corp, Jump-Rope, Marbles, Simon Says, Blind Man’s Bluff, and Cat’s Cradle. Most of these games were played without any guidance from the adults because they are safe. The park was well maintained, eliminating any chances of the children getting injured during the games.
The boys and girls played together in some games such as Jump-Rope, Hide and Seek, Blind Man’s Bluff, and Simon Says. However, there were some games that were exclusively played by boys, while others were played by girls. For example, games such as Football, Kick the Can, and Traffic Corp was dominated by boys. On the other hand, Cat’s Cradle was dominated by girls.
It was noticed that there was a marked difference in the games boys and girls play and their reactions to winning and losing the games. Boys preferred physical games that involved running and using a lot of energy. That is why they dominated games like football and traffic corp. On the other hand, girls preferred less physical games. They like games where there is a structured pattern of play and with the least possible controversy over who becomes the overall winner at the end of the game.
The reaction to winning or loss is also different among boys and girls. Boys have a more pronounced reaction to winning or loss compared to girls. Boys would shout joyously when they win, but in case of a loss, there would be a clear demonstration of disappointment in their faces. On the other hand, girls would show insignificant signs of celebration upon winning a game. In case they lose, it is not easy to detect the disappointment.
It was noticed that children had an easy time socializing with new friends when they meet in the playing grounds. There are cases where some children did not understand how to play some of the games. Such problems were addressed with ease. Those who knew such games taught others so that they could play as a team.
There was an effort from the children to ensure that other parties, including the competitors, understood how the game is played to create a fair, competitive ground. These children would also teach one another how to behave when playing certain games or when relating to team members. They did not hesitate to scold those who misbehaved in one way or the other. In most of the cases, they would supervise themselves.
These games had some hidden curriculums that guided the children as they played. One of the biggest lessons that these children learned was that in every game, there must be a winner and a loser. This was the basis of their games. Another lesson they learned was that success could only be achieved if one puts in the right effort and skills in a particular task. It also came out clearly that taking a loss positively and changing the approach of the game may result in overall success.
This was so because some of those who lost their initial games were able to become overall winners because of the effort and positive approach they took after their first loss. In games like football, these children were able to understand that success can only be achieved through teamwork. It was also clear that these children learned the importance of obedience and respect for authority because it was the only way through which all these games could be governed.
These games reflect our larger society’s cultural beliefs, attitudes, and values. When playing, it was observed that sometimes the children would rebuke their peers because of behavior they considered to be unreligious. They would also mention the name of God to give them the strength to win. In some of the games, the players would engage in praying before they started playing to receive blessings from God. This closely reflects values, beliefs, and cultural practices in the society.
Playing these games may affect the way girls and boys would behave in the future. It was evident that boys preferred physical games. This makes them grow up, knowing that boys must be physical and aggressive when addressing various issues. On the other hand, girls would grow up knowing that they are not supposed to be aggressive, especially when dealing with boys.
Notes
Kinds of games children are playing
The following are some of the common games that children were playing within this park:
- Hide and Seek
- Kick the Can
- Parachute
- Football
- Traffic Corp
- Jump-Rope
- Marbles
- Simon Says
- Blind Man’s Bluff, and
- Cat’s Cradle
The extent to which boys and girls play together
It was observed that in some games, boys played together with girls, while in others, they played differently.
Games played by both boys and girls include:
- Jump-Rope
- Hide and Seek
- Blind Man’s Bluff, and
- Marbles
Games played by boys include:
- Football
- Kick the Can, and
- Traffic Corp
Games played by girls include:
- Cat’s Cradle
- Simon Says
Differences in the games boys and girls play and reactions to winning and losing
The following are some of the differences observed between the games played by boys, and that played by girls.
- While boys’ games were more physical and aggressive, girls preferred less physical games.
- Boys reacted violently to wins and losses, while the reactions from girls were mild.
- Boys preferred playing confrontational games while girls preferred teamwork.
How Children Are Socializing With Each Other
Children were able to socialize with each other through the following approaches:
- Asking of one another’s names when they first meet
- Helping one another to understand how to play new games
- Playing as a team or against one another
- Engaging in mind games
The Hidden Curriculum of the Games
During these games, children were able to learn several issues as mentioned below:
- They learned that life is about competition
- They learned how to celebrate a win and how to fight failure
- They learned how to behave through guidance from peers
How the games reflect our larger society’s cultural beliefs, attitudes, and values
- The games reflect our society’s cultural beliefs, attitudes, and values because these children would behave based on the values they see in their families and at home.
Speculation on how playing these games might affect the ways girls and boys will behave in the future
- These games may influence the pattern of thinking of these children.
- It may influence boys to become very aggressive in life