BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Native American Developmental Skills-Games for Children

One way Native American children learned survival skills in the wilderness during early days was through games. Games like the ancestors taught their children are still valuable and fun today.

Many of the games also demonstrated Native American values, beliefs, and their way of life.

Here is a simple game for players of all ages. The number of pebbles used will depend on the ages of the children.

Pebble Patterns

To be skilled at hunting, gathering, and staying safe in the wild, this game taught one to be keenly aware of their natural surroundings.

Have each child gather about thirty pebbles of different sizes, shapes and color. Have one player create a pattern with all his/her pebbles.

The other players are to study the pattern, give them about a minute. The creator then covers the pattern with a cloth.

The other players then try to re-create the pattern from memory.

The winner becomes the next creator.
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If anyone knows of other games to help develop skills, you are welcome to share in this thread with us.

KEEPER OF THE FIRE

This game teaches hunting skills (Gatherer) in stealth,
how to silently stalk without being detected, and how to listen
carefully (Keeper) to be aware of surroundings.

This game can be played indoors or outside.

Items Needed: blindfold, three bundles of wood (twigs or popsicle sticks tied in small bundles)

Players: Chief (adult supervisor)
Wood Gatherers (children)
Keeper of the Fire (child)

The Keeper of the Fire is chosen. Keeper must be blindfolded
and sit on floor facing the Wood Gatherers. Keeper must keep
hands in lap.

Bundles of wood are placed in front of the Keeper.

Wood Gatherers sit in a semi circle facing Keeper of the fire.

Chief will point to one Wood Gatherer.

Gatherer must stealthily creep up (not ambush) to gather the wood. If the Keeper detects, he or she must reach out quickly and tag (not hit)Gatherer. If Gatherer is tagged, he/she then becomes the Keeper of the Fire.

One point per bundle of wood successfully taken without Keeper tagging is awarded to Gatherer. Chief keeps tally.

Gatherer with most points wins the prize.