I am so pleased that Ana Oscos, from Acapulco, Mexico, kicks off this section of my website by sharing with us a game that is often played in her country.
Mexico (located on the continent of North America)
A game we play in Mexico that is also sometimes played in the United States is "Break the Piñata."  In Mexico, it is a tradition to break a piñata when it's somebody's birthday.  A piñata is a decorated balloon filled with candy that is hung from above.  Children then take turns striking the balloon with an object until it bursts and all the candy inside falls out.
Children can make their own pinatas: You will need: normal sizes of balloons (one per child), lots of newspapers, and glue that has been thinned with water (you don't want it to be thick).  Children cover their balloons with layers of glue and newspaper (2-3 times the first day).  They then repeat this process for 3-4 days, allowing the balloons to dry overnight each day.  They can paint them too if they wish.  Finally, after they are dry, cut a hole into the balloons where the candy goes in.

From Alicia:
Pinata: Stormie, here's how we make a single pinata at our school, but I suggest your readers try it at home first:
You need: Newspaper (torn into strips about 1" wide x 6" long): On the day before you begin making the pinata, one group of children tears the black and white pages of a newspaper and another group tears the colorful comic strip pages -- you'll see why later.
You also need: water, white glue, white paper, tissue paper, tiny toys/candies, a balloon, and paint
Blow up the balloon and tie it closed.  In a bowl, make a creamy consistency of white glue (approx 1 cup) and water.  Now pull the newspaper strips through the glue then lay them all over the balloon in overlapping fashion, plastering it.  Create about 5 layers.  (To help discriminate between the layers, use the black and white newsprint strips for one layer and then use the color comic strips for the next layer.)  Now let the pinata dry overnight.  The next day, push a pin through the paper layers to burst the balloon inside.  Next, with a craft knife, cut a small round hole into one end of the pinata and pour in the toys and candies.  Now add another layer of gluey paper strips, except use white paper this time.  Once this layer dries, paint the pinata and/or glue on tissue paper wads.
Breaking the Pinata: We needle a piece of thread through the pinata to hang it from the ceiling.  We then make sure all the children are sitting in a big wide circle far from the center where the pinata is and far from where each child will be swinging a stick at it.  Because the children are so young, we don't blindfold them and we allow them to each have two swings at the pinata, as in th end, it usually takes the strength of an adult to break it open anyway.

Somalia (located on the continent of Africa):
From Ummibrahim in Canada:
*The main sport in Somalia is "Soccer"
*Children sometimes play the Bottle Cap Game: Gather 4 bottle caps (the old metal ones are fine, or you can use the plastic ones). Put them in your hand all facing either up or down.  Toss them up and try to make them land the same way they were facing in your hand.  In Somalia, children play this in the sand, but you could do it indoors as well.
*Children also play dominoes

My website address: http://www.preschoolbystormie.com

COPYRIGHT © 1997-2008 STORMIE SEEVERS I DO NOT GRANT PERMISSION FOR OTHER WEBSITE OWNERS TO COPY THE CONTENT AND DESIGN OF ANY OF MY WEBPAGES.