The Forgotten Indian Games Every Child Should Know | Enchantoys

Before screens filled our evenings and toys came with batteries, Indian childhoods were shaped by games drawn on floors, cowrie shells held in small palms, and laughter shared across generations.

These games were not just ways to pass time.
They were lessons in patience, strategy, bonding, and joy.

Today, many of these timeless games are slowly disappearing. But they still have so much to offer our children.

Let’s revisit some of the forgotten Indian games every child should know.

🌸 1. Ashta Chamma – Counting Steps, Learning Patience

Ashta Chamma was more than a game — it was often a child’s first introduction to numbers, turns, and waiting.

Played using cowrie shells instead of dice, children learned:

• Counting and number recognition
• Turn-taking and patience
• Accepting wins and losses gracefully

Drawn on courtyards and played during relaxed evenings, Ashta Chamma brought families together without any rush.

🎲 2. Pachisi – The Original Game of Strategy

Long before Ludo existed, Pachisi was played on cloth boards and floors across India.

What made Pachisi special:

• Strategy mattered more than luck
• Players had to think ahead and plan moves
• Games often involved all age groups

It was a game where children learned decision-making and adults rediscovered
playfulness.

🐚 3. Daadi – Logic Hidden in Simplicity

Daadi is a beautiful example of how simple materials can create deep thinking.

Using cowrie shells, this game helps develop:

• Logical reasoning
• Pattern recognition
• Strategic thinking

No bright colours, no distractions — just the mind, the shells, and the joy of figuring things out.

🐯 4. Tigers & Goats – A Battle of Brains

This traditional strategy game is still surprisingly relevant today.

One side plays the Tigers, the other the Goats — each with a completely different objective.

Children learn:

• Planning and foresight
• Problem-solving
• How different roles require different thinking

It teaches that every move matters, a lesson far beyond the game board.

🪜 5. Paramapada Sopanam – Play With Meaning

Often misunderstood as just a board game, Paramapada Sopanam was deeply symbolic.

It introduced children to:

• Cause and consequence
• Moral choices through play
• The idea that actions have outcomes

While children enjoyed the climb and fall, elders quietly shared life lessons woven into the game.

🌿 Why These Games Matter Today

In a fast-paced, screen-filled world, these games offer something rare:

• Screen-free engagement
• Family bonding across generations
• Learning without pressure
• Play that respects childhood

They remind us that play doesn’t need to be loud or flashy to be meaningful.

✨ Bringing Heritage Play Back Home

Reviving these games isn’t about nostalgia alone.
It’s about giving children experiences that help them grow — emotionally, mentally, and socially.

At Enchantoys, we believe these games deserve a place in modern homes, not as relics, but as living traditions that still spark curiosity and connection.

Because some of the best lessons in life begin with play.