Recreational games aim to have fun.
A game is a recreational activity involving one or more participants. Its main function is to provide fun and entertainment to players. In any case, games can fulfill an educational role, help with mental and physical stimulation, and contribute to the development of practical and psychological skills.
Features of recreational games
Games usually involve some degree of competition . In the case of recreational games , the competitive value is minimized (it is not important who wins and who loses; what is essential is the recreational aspect of the activity). For this reason, recreational games do not imply productivity and should never be mandatory for participants.
As a purely recreational activity, therefore, games must be played freely, in a happy and enthusiastic atmosphere. Its purpose is to generate satisfaction for players and release the tensions of daily life. In recreational games, a final result should not be expected, but rather they are achieved by the simple pleasure of the activity carried out.
Recreational games can be played outdoors or indoors, in open fields or in delimited areas. Each game can be defined by the objective that its players are trying to achieve or by the set of rules that determine what these players can do within the framework of the recreation.
Differences with sports
Recreational games differ from sports in the latter's competitive desire, where the ultimate goal is to achieve victory. In other words, sport is a competition that always produces a result.
This does not mean that recreational games do not have victory as their objective, but that it is not the most important one. We must not leave aside the great influence that the game has on our formation as social human beings: among other things, it helps us get closer to others, learn to relate to each other through rules of respect, judge our actions and learn from our mistakes. .
Hopscotch is one of the most popular recreational games.
Examples of recreational games
One of the most popular recreational games worldwide is hide and seek , which among other names is also known as hide and seek . Its rules are quite simple: a person must close his eyes and wait a while until his companions (at least two) hide, counting up to a number previously determined by everyone; Next, you should start looking for them . As soon as he finds one of them he must run back to the starting point and, generally, touch the wall or the point on which he had leaned while waiting to save himself.
Another well-known recreational game is capture the flag , which is usually played among many people. The first step is to divide into two sides, each of which is assigned a territory and a flag, usually of different colors so that it is easy to distinguish them. The objective is to infiltrate enemy territory to steal their flag and take it to your own. It is also possible to capture enemies and "send them to jail" by touching them; Their companions can free them in the same way.
Hopscotch is also widely popular in various parts of the world, and has the particularity of requiring prior work to prepare the playing field. Before playing, a numbered grid must be drawn on the ground, for which white or various colored chalk is usually used. Next, the only element necessary is a small rock or some object that can be thrown on the numbers. The rules include jumping alternating one and both legs to step on all the squares, as well as catching and throwing the rock again; If it does not fall on the appropriate number, the turn is lost.