Our Childhood Games And Toys (1)

From boisterous jumping and running games to hush-hush games that required strategic thinking, many of us could not get enough of them as children. 

But more than just fun, these old-fashioned school games were a wonderful way to bond and build friendships. 

When I was in primary school, recess time was what everyone looked forward to. 

My friends and I would spend those precious 30 minutes to play games. Our games were not sophisticated computer or mobile phone games that children today prefer, with full of snazzy graphics, beeps and dings.

Instead, children from my generation in the 90’s played with simple props, like rubber bands (as a skipping rope) and sticks, and squealed, jostled and laughed among friends. 

We also played soccer; not using the soccer ball but instead empty can in the school field under the hot sun, dashing between pillars in the school compound and in the canteen after hurried meals. 

Simple improvised materials using sticks, stones, tin cans. All these added to the recipe for games that provided hours of fun and joy for the kids of the past. Catching, police and thief game and hide-and-seek had ruled the playgrounds long before the electronic games conquered the kids’ world. 

There were also the “lastic” wars. Popular among the boys who would arm themselves with elastic bands and multiple paper missiles, and take joy in aiming at each other. 

Zero-point:-

Another game that tested our co-ordination skills was zero-point; a game that uses a long rope consisting of rubber bands and two teams of gung-ho youngsters. Players in the first team would take turns to leap clear of the rubber band rope, which would be held taut by the opposing team. At the start of the game, the rope would be held flush to the ground. This stage was called zero-point; and players would yell that out after crossing this easy hurdle. The next hurdle would be the same rope held at ankle height, then knee height, then higher and higher and higher until someone stumbled and yielded the team’s turn to the opposing group. While hopscotch was challenging for me, zero-point proved far worse. Nevertheless, while I endured gentle ribbing from my team-mates and frequent falls that left my hands and knees constantly scuffed, the occasional thrill of successfully clearing a tall rubber-band rope kept me playing for many recess periods.

Pick-Up Sticks:-

I was much better at the quiet games that required concentration and a steady hand. For instance, I loved playing pick-up sticks. The game would start with players scattering brightly coloured wooden or plastic sticks on the ground. We would take turns to gingerly pry sticks loose from the pile, one at a time, without disturbing any of the other sticks. Each player would attempt to remove as many sticks as possible during his turn, and would cede his turn when he accidentally moved other sticks. The game ended when all sticks were claimed, and the player who removed the most sticks won. To ramp up the game, we would sometimes play with two packs of sticks combined. This would extend the length of the game, and allow us to accumulate a large number of sticks. Another variation we played was assigning a colour to each player, who could then get extra points for collecting sticks of that colour.

Tikam-Tikam:-

I will spend 10 cents or 20 cents just to play the Tikam-Tikam at Kedai Mamak (a provision shop owned by the local Indians), hoping to strike the 'big prize'. Very often, I managed to get back some insignificant candies, or lucky if there was cash rebate.

Styrofoam Airplane:-

A better version of a paper airplane, it could take a longer flight and had different designs printed on it.

Casio's Western Bar Game:-

The handheld game Western Bar from Casio was a big hit in the 90's. The sound effects were excellent, with realistic gunshot sounds and cowboy-styled music.  We played as the drunken sheriff, shooting at the beer bottles the bartender threw, dodging the ashtrays thrown by the bar's customers and had a shoot-out with the bandits with dynamites.

Racing Simulator Game:-

A dream toy for the boys. Considered a high tech game then, it had steering wheel, engine key, gears as well as a screen showing the directions of the simulated racing car. It came with adrenaline-rushing engine sounds too.

Chapteh:-

Made of rubber disc fixed with colourful feathers, the player has to keep the Chapteh in the air during a game without using his hands. It is also similar to Malay sport Sepak-takraw, which used a rattan ball instead.

Playing Cards:-

Who can forget the simple playing cards like Old Maid, Donkey, Happy Family and Snap? They bring back fond memories indeed. In “Old Maid”, all cards in the playing deck had a matching twin, except for one - the “Old Maid”. Each player’s goal was to discard all the cards he received, which would be kept hidden from the other players. To do so, one had to pair up each of their cards with its twin, through a series of strategic card swaps with other players. The one player holding the “Old Maid” had to keep a straight face and subtly convince his fellow players to pick that particular card out of his deck. The game ended when all players matched up their cards. The last player left holding the “Old Maid” lost the game. 

“Snap” was a much simpler, two-player game which relied on intense concentration, quick reflexes and a deck of picture cards. Players would flip open a card from their given deck of cards at a brisk pace, placing the open cards in a neat stack in front of them. If the top-most cards on the two opened stacks displayed the same picture, the players would shout “Snap!” and scramble to slap their hands on the piles. The quickest to do so won that round, and that pile of cards. The game would resume until all cards were opened. Whoever completed the game with the most cards, won the game.

These simple games tested and honed my physical balance, speed work, and hand-eye coordination, as well as my mental skills of concentration and strategising.  More importantly, they were a wonderful way to build friendships and create precious memories.

Pop-Pop Fire Crackers and Bunga Api:-

Made in China, they gave loud "pop" sounds when hit something hard at fast speeds. I loved to throw a few at the corridors or downstairs during the countdowns of Hari Raya Eidul Fitri. Sometimes I would grab a bunch and throw all at once, scaring the passers-by. 

Also not forgetting the Bunga Api or electrical sparklers.

Guli:-
One of the most popular games for the boys in the 90's, Guli was a game involving skill and accuracy. 
Typically played on sand, the marbles were placed in a drawn circle as the players stood behind a straight line drawn several meters away. Every marble that was knocked out of the circle was a victorious claim.

Teng-Teng or Hopscotch:- 

One game we played was hopscotch, and you would need a piece of chalk and find flat ground to mark out the grid for the game.  We would start with drawing and numbering a series of large boxes on the ground with chalk. The first player would throw his marker - typically a coin pouch or wallet - into the first chalked box, and then hop on one foot from the first box to the last, taking care to skip over the box with the marker. Once the player reached the end, he would turn around, retrace his steps, pick up the token and return to the starting line. He would then pitch his token into the next box and repeat the process. Should the player throw his token into the wrong box, allow it to land on chalked lines, accidentally tread on the lines or lose his balance, he would have to forfeit his turn to the next player in line. The first player to complete one full course won. Being the clumsy, short-sighted child that I was, I never won any hopscotch games. Often times, I would be stuck in the first few boxes, desperately trying not to lose my balance or my glasses as I wobbled on one foot!

Congkak:- 

Both players begin simultaneously by scooping up all the seeds in any house on their side. Each drops a seed into the next house and continues clockwise depositing one seed into every house thereafter. A player drops a seed into his storehouse each time he passes it but does not deposit any into his opponent's storehouse. How the game continues, depends on where the last seed of each scoop is deposited. If the seed drops into the player’s own storehouse: the player scoops up the seeds from any of his houses and distributes them in the houses round the board but not in his opponent's storehouse. If the seed drops into a house (on either side of the board) containing seed: The player scoops up all the seeds in that house and continues distributing them as described above. If the seed drops into the player’s house which is without seeds: The player is entitled to collect the seeds in his opponent's house directly opposite his own. These seeds collected from his opponent's house together with his last seed are deposited in his own storehouse. If the opponent's 'house' opposite his own is empty, he deposits only his last seed in his own storehouse. He forfeits his turn and stops playing. It is the opponent's turn now to distribute the seeds. If the seed drops into an empty house belonging to the opponent: the player forfeits his turn and stops playing. He also forfeits his seeds and leaves it in the opponent's house. It is the opponent's turn now to distribute the seeds. The first round ends when a player has no more seeds in his house. The remaining seeds are awarded to his opponent. Play resumes in the second round with players redistributing seeds from their own storehouse to their own houses. Beginning from left to right, seven seeds are placed in each house. If a player does not have sufficient seeds to fill his own houses, the remaining houses are left empty and are considered 'burnt'. The leftover seeds are deposited into his own storehouse. The opponent deposits excess seeds he has won into his own storehouse. The loser gets to start the second round. Play is continued as before but players will bypass 'burnt houses' for instance no seeds are to be dropped into these houses. If a seed is accidentally dropped into a 'burnt house', it is confiscated and stored in the opponent's 'storehouse'. Play continues until one player loses all his 'houses' or concedes defeat.

Play-Doh:- 

Play-Doh is a modeling compound used by young children for art and craft projects at home. Play-Doh's current manufacturer, Hasbro, reveals the compound is primarily a mixture of water, salt, and flour; while its 2004 United States patent indicates it is composed of water, a starch-based binder, a retrogradation inhibitor, salt, lubricant, surfactant, preservative, hardener, humectant, fragrance, and color. A petroleum additive gives the compound a smooth feel, and borax prevents mold from developing. Play-Doh contains some wheat and may cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to wheat gluten. It is not intended to be eaten. The high salt content may be harmful to pets if eaten.

Batu Seremban:- 

Another game we played was five stones or Batu Seremban. The name of the game suggests five little cloth bags shaped like mini pyramids and stuffed with rice, green beans or sand. Each player would take turns to toss these “stones” into the air in successive combinations that required escalating levels of dexterity and hand-eye coordination to execute.  The player who managed to pull off all combinations seamlessly would win. So keen was I to hone my five stones skills, I persuaded my mother to sew a set of five stones just for me to practice with, using scrap cloth from old clothes. I felt well in control of my game playing with my handmade five stones. After practicing frequently with them, I grew accustomed to their particular heft and feel, and became quite good at the game.

Battery-powered Car:-
I am sure many of us still remember those battery-powered cars for children commonly seen at the centrals of the new towns in the 90's. Costing a mere $1 for a 10 minutes ride then, kids could choose to drive a car or motorbike. And to drive a mini police car with sirens, you just have to pay a bit more..! 

Today, these popular vendors are hardly seen.