Pong Paang Game
One of the well-known game for
Thai children is "Pong Paang" (Pronounced with the soft "p" like "pencil").
"Pong Paang" actually is
the name of a fish trap. So a player will be selected to be a fish and
the other players will hold hand together to form a fish trap (a circle).
The player selected to be a fish will be blindfolded and stand in the middle
of the circle. The rest of the players will walk in circle while
holding hands and singing a song.
"Pong Paang oei
Plaa khao lod
Plaa taa bod
Khao lod pong paang."
The fish trap
Fish gets in the trap
Fish is blind
That's why he gets in the
trap.
When the song is over, the
players in the circle sit down and ask "Plaa pen rue plaa tai". If the
fish says "Plaa pen"(alive fish), the players in the circle can move when
the fish tries to guess who he/she is. If the fish says "Plaa tai", the
players can't move. They have to sit still when the fish tries to guess.
If the fish's guess is right, that player has to become the fish instead.
If the fish says the wrong name, they start walking and singing again.
This game is supposed to
enhance children's perceptions, memory and alertness.
Siriluck
Hiri-O-Tappa and students <[email protected]>
International School of
Bangkok, Thailand
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