Many of the games that
our students play in the school playground are recognisable the
world over: skipping, football, tag and marbles. Some of these
have the same rules but different names: are you familiar with
the game "Piggy in the middle" where someone standing
in-between two other players has to try and grab hold of the
ball? In Thai it is called Ling Ching Bon - "Monkey
Snatches Ball". The person who plays "it", or
ben in Thai, is often chosen using a familiar game called
"rock, scissors, paper". In Thai it is called Bao
Ying Choob and has the same rules. All of the following games
are played by the students at our school.
 One
Legged Rabbit (Gradai
Kha Dee-o) The
players are split into two groups of equal numbers. One group
is chosen to be the rabbits. The others have to remain within
an area which has been marked out. The rabbits take turns to
hop into the marked area and try to touch as many of the other
team members as they can. Players are out if they are touched
or if they cross the boundary. Likewise, the rabbit is out if
he puts two legs down or changes legs. However, if he is tired,
he can hop back to the start line where he can nominate another
rabbit to take his place. The game is over when the other team
has no players left in the marked area. |
 Wing
Bee-o (Wing Bee-o)
Two teams with
equal numbers line up behind a post or two chairs at either end
of the playground. The first member of each team holds a piece
of cloth. On the word "Go" they run up to the pole
at the opposite end, run around it and back to where they started.
They then pass the cloth over to the second team member who does
the same. The
idea is to run so fast that you manage to catch up with the other
team's runner. The team that runs slow and is touched by the
other team's cloth are the losers. |
 Monkeys
Runs for a Pole (Ling
Ching Luk) In
this game every player holds onto a pole or tree apart from one
who has to stand alone in the middle. This player is the monkey.
As each player runs to change their positions the monkey has
to scramble for a vacant pole. If he manages to touch it first
then the player without a pole has to stand in the middle. |
 Crow
sits on Eggs (E-Gar
Fuk Khai) Two
circles are drawn one within the other. The outer circle should
be about four feet in diameter and the inner circle just one
foot. Small rocks or other similar sized objects are then placed
inside the smaller circle. One of the players is chosen to be
the "crow". That player has to remain within the circle
and guard the eggs. The others have to try and steal the eggs
from the crow. They can do anything they like to trick and tease
the crow. However, they mustn't enter the circle or be touched
by the crow. When all of the eggs have been stolen the crow is
then blindfolded. The players then have to hide the eggs that
they have stolen. When they are ready, the blindfold is taken
off and the crow has to search for its missing eggs. The owner
of the first egg to be found then takes over the role as the
"crow". |
 Der-ree (Der-ree) A grid is marked on the playground with
enough lines for each player. If each team has 3 players then
there should be 3 lines cross-ways (i.e.. 4 boxes as in the picture).
The attacking team has to run to the far end and back without
being touched by the defending team. They must also keep within
the marked area or the game is over. They are only allowed to
cross the boundary lines at each end. The defending team can
only run left to right along the line they are standing on. However,
the defender on the start line can not only run back and forth
along his line but he has the advantage that he can run up and
down the middle line too. They only need to touch one of the
attackers for the game to be over. If one of the attackers can
run to the far end and then back to the start line without being
touched then that team are the winners and the game starts again. |
