Elders and children alike played the “shuafangbao” game
Spinning hoops, tossing cards, hopscotch... Yesterday afternoon, the “Tianjin Classic Games Carnival,” organized by the Municipal Women’s Federation, Tianjin Online Parents’ School, and other departments, was held in front of the Yinan Hall at Zhuangwang Mansion. Over ten classic games made a comeback, adding laughter to the Lantern Festival. The event also marked the official launch of the city’s “Let Me Play” sports public welfare initiative.
“Dad, why does this hoop keep falling over when I roll it?” “Watch this, Dad was really good at this when I was a kid—I could even do it with my eyes closed.” At the event, nearly a hundred parents from the 70s and 80s generations were all smiles, as if they had instantly returned to their childhood. They not only patiently explained the games to their kids but also demonstrated them firsthand. The whole family had a blast, and laughter filled the square.
“I’d never even seen these games before, but they’re actually pretty fun and great exercise too.” Liu Sichen, a 10-year-old who just learned how to play hopscotch, said excitedly, “Normally, when I think of playing games, my first thought is video games—I hardly ever play outdoors. Today I learned several new games, and I plan to play them more often when I get home. I even want to challenge Mom and Dad to a match.”
“We grew up playing these games. Nowadays, kids are surrounded by all kinds of electronic devices, and there aren’t many games that really get them ‘moving.’” Mr. Li, a 38-year-old parent, said with deep feeling, “During these games, we get to be the teachers for our kids, which helps strengthen the parent-child bond. From now on, I’ll try to set aside more time to play these classic games with my child.”
“Compared to computer games, these classic games are mostly not restricted by space, are flexible and varied, and offer a moderate level of physical activity. They allow kids to exercise through play and grow through movement, helping them develop strong bodies, nimble movements, and resilient willpower—truly achieving multiple benefits.” A head of the Children’s Department at the Municipal Women’s Federation explained that the “Let Me Play” sports public welfare project aims to involve more families in green, healthy outdoor parent-child sports activities. The Municipal Women’s Federation and Tianjin Online Parents’ School will collect more classic games suitable for children as well as modern outdoor games such as “Junior Golf.” With the help of volunteers, they plan to regularly visit schools and communities to organize onsite games for parents and children, encouraging kids to truly “move,” with an anticipated reach of tens of thousands of families within the year.