Greek Kids Games
Greek kids games share a lot of similarities with our own children games. When Greek children were asked what kind of games they enjoyed, the response was volleyball, basketball, hide and seek, board games, computer games, and some children liked to play with dolls.
Sounds pretty familiar, doesn't it? With the 2004 Olympics being held in Athens, beach volleyball has also become a favorite pastime.
A lot has changed since ancient times when girls were taught wrestling, gymnastics, and combat skills. Boys were sent to military school by the age of seven, where the important thing was to learn how to be a good warrior. (Reading and writing did not matter!)
As time progressed, so did what was expected of children. Marbles were then, and still are, a favorite game. The only difference is that in the old days, the everyday marbles were made of clay, while the good ones were made of glass.
Another of the most common greek kids games is played with wooden hoops and sticks, either tossing the hoop up in the air and trying to keep it up in the air with the sticks or rolling the hoop along the ground pushing it with the stick. (Is that the game that begot our hulahoop?)
Board games such as backgammon, checkers, and chess draw many enthusiastic players in Greece.
Juggling is also a favorite among all ages.
When considering Greek kids' games, include a lesson in ancient history and relive some of the great Olympic moments! Did you know that the ancient Greeks considered their children to be "youths" until they reached the age of 30?
