In the previous section, we introduced you to nostalgic Singaporean snacks. Here, in part two, we move on from snacks to childhood games. 

1) Five Stones 

No game is more synonymous with local children’s pastimes than that of five stones. The game can be played by one or more players, using five small triangular cloth bags stuffed with fillings such as rice or green beans. The objective of the game is to toss one stone up in the air, grabbing the remaining stones in set patterns before catching the airborne stone before it lands. Increasing levels of complexity and difficulty ensures that this game requires great focus and coordination. Advanced players will even make their own stones to optimise their game!

2) Chaptek 

Another familiar game that used to be played often by kids is that of chaptek. This traditional game is played with a feathered shuttlecock, weighted with two round discs of rubber. The aim of the game being to keep it in the air for as long as possible by continually kicking with the heel of the foot, and the player who keeps the chaptek in the air for the most number of kicks wins.

3) Zero Point 

Yet another game requiring dexterity, skill and great coordination, zero point is played using a long rope made of rubber bands woven together. Players on challenging teams are required to jump across the rope in certain patterns, while the rope is being progressively raised. The rope is eventually raised so high that it is held at head height, and players are allowed to use their hands to momentarily bring the rope down before jumping across.

4) Eraser Battles

Having erasers with different country flags printed on them was de rigueur for children of primary school age, and both boys and girls would do battle with their favourite countries. Heated battles would erupt between players as they take turns to flip their eraser onto the opponent’s. Your eraser had to lie flat on top of the other eraser to be considered a win – this was an especially important condition to fulfil because the winner gets to keep the loser’s eraser! Good players could go home after the last bell with a pocket full of erasers, when they’d only gone to school with one.

5) Police and Thief   

Last but not least on our list is police and thief, which most Singaporeans would have played in their childhood at one point or another. The game is played by forming two groups: one the policemen and one the thieves. The policemen are supposed to catch the thieves to place them in the designated ‘prison’ area, while thieves try to save their friends from being caught. Some variations include giving policemen a handicap by making them hop on one foot to catch the thieves.

Amidst the fast-pace of change in Singapore, it’s good to pause once in a while and remember some of the fun things from days gone past. What childhood games were played in your country? Let us know! And who knows? Maybe there’ll be an opportunity to try these games out for yourself, and to introduce them to the younger generation too.