Mexico has a rich culture and that extends to traditions for kids. One of the traditions that most Spanish kids growing up learn is fun games to play. Outside of the more traditional games, such as soccer or tag or board games, here are a few of the game's most Spanish kids learn growing up in Mexico.
Most kids don’t need to learn Spanish for kids in Mexico, but they learn to play some very fun games to pass the time!
La Macarena
La Macarena [a traditional Mexican national folk dance] is one of the most popular dances when it comes to playing games.
In this game, a leader performs a pantomime which the other players then follow by performing their own gestures in succession in time to music.
Both boys and girls play this game, but they tend to stand in separate circles when they do so. One leader pretends he/she is going shopping and has trouble counting money out loud for each person who needs to get something from the market (usually 4 people). The other players count along, but when the leader gets to 3, players must freeze and not move until the next number. Instead, they must use their hands to show how much each player needs (by making a fist for one person, two open palms for 2 people, etc.) The leader keeps singing this part of the song over and over again until everybody has gotten something from the market. When they are done shopping, La Macarena calls on kids to join in various ways of dancing that are traditional in Mexico.
Kick Ball
It may sound familiar, but in Mexico, kickball is actually a very different game. In the Mexico version, kids are divided into teams. Each kid is given a ball and must kick the ball (no hands) through an obstacle course.
Each player on the team must make it through the obstacle course and the team that does it the fastest is the winner. It is a very fun an active game for kids to play.
The obstacle course can be anything. From a simple circle around a table to a full course.
Jump Like Jumping Beans
Another game that is similar to American games, Jump Like Jumping Beans is a lot of like Freeze. Music is played and kids start jumping like jumping beans. While the music is playing, all kids must keep dancing and jumping. When the music stops, the last kid to stop dancing is “out”. This repeats until there is only one kid left.
This is a fun way to get kids active and involved. It is also a great game for teaching young kids to follow directions. Best of all, it is so much fun for kids to play, which is why it is probably so popular in Mexico!
So, if you want to have some fun and learn Spanish for kids at the same time, try playing La Macarena with your friends. Just be prepared to get up and move! Mexico is not alone in the number of fun games for kids. Most countries around the world have traditional games that keep kids involved and active, as well as learning.