Families For Life | Traditional Singaporean games to play with family
National Day is just around the corner, making it the perfect time to reminisce about the days spent playing traditional games at void decks, school basketball courts, and open fields. Such games spark laughter, friendly competition, and the spirit of togetherness that allows them to stand the test of time. Best of all, games are a great way to connect with family across generations! Read on for five nostalgic games you can play to relive your younger days and create new memories with your family!
Five Stones
A seemingly easy yet surprisingly challenging game that involves throwing and catching small cloth “stones” usually filled with green beans. The rules are easy for anyone to learn, and with multiple stages of increasing difficulty, Five Stones is a fun way to test hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
How to play:
Throw the five stones on the ground. Then pick one up to toss in the air
With the same hand, pick up a second stone from the ground and catch the first stone before it touches the ground
Now, with two stones in hand, toss one of the stones into the air and pick up a third stone from the ground
Keep going until all stones are picked up!
Snap
Snap is a fast-paced card game that’s easy to learn and harder to win. The rules are simple, but the tension builds fast, turning into a family showdown of speed and focus. You don’t need the traditional deck to play – any deck of playing cards that has multiples of the same card works!
How to play:
Each player is dealt an equal hand of cards. The cards are dealt face down.
The player to the dealer's left begins the game. Each player takes turns laying down a card from their hand face up in front of them.
If the two cards match, one must shout "Snap!". The faster player will take the pile of cards.
The game continues until one player has all the cards, at which point that player is declared the winner!
Country Eraser Battle
A classroom classic, Country Eraser Battle is an intense game of aim, angles, and precision. Whether you’re teaching the kids your old tricks or creating new house rules, this simple game brings out everyone’s competitive side, perfect for fun memories! While the iconic flag-themed erasers bring the nostalgia, any flat eraser will do the job!
How to play:
Choose one eraser each.
Place the erasers opposite each other.
Choose one player to go first. The first player then presses down on the corner of their eraser to “flip” the eraser once. Take turns to flip erasers once each.
Continue until one eraser is on top of the other. The player whose eraser is on top wins!
Bonus way to play: Carefully add staples to the bottom of the erasers in an asterisk shape to turn them into spinning tops! Let them rip, and see whose eraser lasts the longest!
Chapteh
If you want to show off your juggling finesse or prove you can join any major league football team, chapteh is your way to go! This small shuttlecock of feathers opens up various solo and competitive ways of play – the only limit is your imagination to turn it into a fun family game!
How to play:
Use your feet or other parts of your body (except your hands) to keep the Chapteh in the air for as long as possible
When it touches the ground, you lose your turn.
Pepsi Cola, 1-2-3!
This game was extremely popular among the competitive, as there can be only one winner! Pepsi Cola is a great game to get your kids up and moving, too. Remember to lace your shoes tightly before leaping in!
How to play:
Gather everyone in a circle and assign everyone a number
Say in unison, “Pepsi Cola”. Then, step back 3 times as far back as you can go while counting “1-2-3”
Everyone shouts their assigned number and takes turns trying to step on another player’s foot within 3 leaps
Anyone who gets stepped on is out of the game. Keep going until a winner emerges!
Where to buy traditional games
While you can improvise some games with items you already have on hand, you don’t have to look far to bring the real deal home! Some neighbourhood stores, bookshops, and museum gift shops do carry the classic chapteh or traditional playing cards. Online shopping platforms like Lazada and Shopee have plenty of options available too.
Share the kampung spirit
These traditional games may be simple, but they hold timeless power to bring people together, spark joy, and pass down nostalgic stories from one generation to the next. In the spirit of National Day, why not put the screens aside and invite your loved ones to a friendly competition of Country Erasers or a game of Pepsi Cola instead? Have fun!