GAMES FOR TINY TOTS

Kukdookoo: When a small child starts recognising sounds, the sounds of animals and birds are the first to register. The cawing of a crow, the braying of a donkey or the barking of a dog. But the popular was the cock-a-doodle-doo of a cock, which parents used to mimic in the ear of the infant, and the child would burst into laughter.

Lee Lee Lawaan: 'Lee Lee Lawan, Kheer Bhatu Khawaan' the mother would sing as she sat upon the bed or a chair, stood the child on her ankles, and raised and lowered it to the beat of her own song. The mother can be replaced by any other adult from the family, viz. brother, sister or father. Right from birth, a child loves to swing. Even a swinging crib lulls the child to sleep. Here the child's craving for swinging and singing are both satisfied.

Machhi Maani Ker Khaaee Viyo: (Who ate the fish and loaf?): The mother seats the child in front of her, holding both the child's hands in hers. She then ticks off each finger of the child till she arrives at the thump which she terms 'useless'. She then asks the child, "Machhi Maani Ker Khaaee Viyo" now('who ate the fish and loaf which was on your palm?') 'Bili ('The cat') she answers, without waiting for a reply. 'So', she adds, ' let us now follow the cat's footprints' (Bili-a per vanjaan, bili-a per vanjaan…) She twiddles up the child's arm ending up tickling the child under the arm-pit. The delighted child ask the mother for an encore.

Perdo Pandho: When a child has not yet learnt to walk, the mother (or any adult in the family) takes hold of its tiny hands and teaches it to walk, retreating slowly as the child takes one shaky step after another to the reassuring beat of 'Perdo Pandhdo'. In those days some mothers used to make the child walk with the aid of a wooden 'walker.

Chal Meri Ghodi: The child is fascinated by a galloping horse. Parents would give the child a wooden play horse and it would rock on it repeating 'chal meri ghodi tik tik tik…..' Some children would use their grandfather's stick between their legs as a horse, while others would climb atop their parents back and ride them as horse saying 'chal meri ghodhi...'

Irchik Mirchik: Children sit around in a group with their downturned palms flat on the floor before them. One of the children then starts either tapping the fingers or the hands (depending on the size of the group) repeating 'irchik, mirchik, dhaana dhirchik, aag pateehado, toyo tibho, nangin, jogan, khara khuti, butti chhti'. Whichever finger or hand the rhyme ends on is removed form the circle. The owner of the finger or hand that remains till the last is deemed the loser.