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As a parent, you’re always looking for new ways to entertain and stimulate your kids. They seem to require constant attention and something to keep their minds occupied.
That’s where retro games for kids come into the picture. People often say that “old is best”, so we’re taking their advice literally, exploring some of the best old-school games out there.
But before we dive into it, it’s worth noting that many of these games impart real skills to children. They aren’t passive, either mentally or physically, helping with development.
Marbles
Marbles is an ancient game that far predates the modern era. There’s evidence that kids have been playing with toys like these since Rome and Egypt, thousands of years ago, ever since glassmaking became an industry.
In the past, kids would arrange a jack in the middle of a circle and then use marbles to try to kick it out. These days, there are whole marble run sets that are very exciting.
Marbles is a great game for kids because it requires hand-eye coordination and focus. It’s also a social game that can be played with two or more players, again helping kids to develop their social skills.
Jacks
Have you heard of jacks? Well, neither had we until we researched it.
It’s another game from ancient times where players bounce a ball and then scoop small objects before it lands.
If that sounds simple, it is. However, kids have been using it for centuries to improve their reaction times and train their brains for the sorts of dangers they are likely to encounter in the real world.
Jacks usually come in a small silk or felt bag with a bouncy ball and some knick-knacks for kids to pick up. However, you don’t need to buy official sets–any old objects will suffice.
As kids play this game, they will get better at it over time. Eventually, they’ll get to the point where they want to move on because they find it so easy.
Draughts
Draughts, now called checkers, is another example of an ancient game. Historians believe it originated in Mesopotamia, regarded as the first settled civilization on Earth.
Draughts are rewarding because they are simple, strategic and timeless. Play occurs on a checkerboard, and the idea is to take as many of the opponent’s pieces as possible. In a stalemate situation, the player with the most pieces remaining on the board wins. Draws occur when each player has the same number of remaining pieces but can’t make any further moves.
What’s interesting about draughts is how hard it is to reach the end of a game. Usually, players get stuck at the start because they can’t move any of their pieces, and they can’t take those of the opposition.
Mancala
Another option is mancala, which originates from Africa and parts of Asia. The idea is for players to move stones or seeds around pits to capture them.
This game is nice for kids because it is quick and simple. Plus, it forces them to practice their counting and planning skills. Mancala is a game of strategy that tests young minds and gets them to think more procedurally about the world.
Nine Men’s Morris
If you haven’t heard of Nine Men’s Morris, then don’t worry. This one’s also new to us.
Nine Men’s Morris was a strategy game developed during the Roman Empire where players line up pieces to form “mills” to take their opponent’s pieces. You can think of it as a Western version of chess with slightly simpler rules.
Kids like this game because it has elements of tic-tac-toe in that it is easy to pick up. At the same time, though, it also offers depth, which is often what more advanced players want.
Senet
You could also introduce your kids to senet, one of the oldest-known games from ancient Egypt, believed to date to around 3100 BC. Players move their pieces across a grid of 30 squares using sticks, trying to get to the end while avoiding obstacles.
The ancient Egyptians certainly knew a thing or two about games, which is why Senet became so popular back then. It combined luck and strategy, creating an addictive format that kept players coming back for more.
The fact that the game is Egyptian is also appealing to young kids (who might be studying it in history class at school). This aspect of the game adds another layer of intrigue and fun.
Petteria
Petteria was a Greek board game that existed around 1200 BC, just before the Bronze Age Collapse. It’s similar to checkers and chess, with the idea being to block or trap opponents on a grid. Surprisingly, you can still find physical versions of the game available from specialist stores today or online.
Kids like this game because of its Greek head-to-head battle style. Many parents believe that it enhances their children’s focus and planning while making them feel like warriors.
Hopscotch
Getting more physical, hopscotch is another game that goes back a long time, before even Victorian school playgrounds. Research shows that the Romans used to play it, where kids would hop along a chalk-drawn grid while avoiding marker squares on the ground.
Hopscotch is a great game for kids to learn because it teaches them spatial awareness and helps them to develop more control over their bodies. The game relies on balance and coordination, with quick reaction times required for changing grid patterns. It also gets children outside, which is a rare thing in today’s world dominated by screens and smartphones.
Royal Game Of Ur
Finally, you could introduce your kids to the Royal Game of Ur, which dates from around 2600 BC. Ur was an ancient city in the Middle East and believed to be one of the first in the world.
For this game, players roll a dice and move pieces along a track. The idea is to get them off the board as quickly as possible, a bit like backgammon. Kids like it because it is easy to grasp but also funky and ancient.