We’re getting together with bloggers from around the world to share their ideas on what “playing” means in our countries, and how kids play around the world. Here’s how we’ve been playing this summer in Merida, Mexico!
Playful Learning Questions:
Where do you live?
We are Tonito, Viviana, Maya, and Ricky, and we’re spending the summer in Merida, Mexico! It is on the Yucatan Peninsula, which is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Merida is inland though, about a half an hour from the beach (which we take the bus to!).
What season is it there now?
It is SUMMER, and very, very hot and humid. Because we are in the rainy/hurricane season, it usually rains a bit in the afternoons. Most places to not have air conditioning, but many houses have high ceilings with fans to keep cool.
What is your favorite way to play?
There are so many fun things to do in and around Merida! We love to go to the main plaza, especially at night when the temperature is a little more comfortable. Kids run around and chase each other, play tag, or play hand games. There are also many parks and plazas and we like to play on the playgrounds. When we go to the beach, we play in the waves or make sandcastles. Sometimes we look for shells or pretty rocks. We love to swim and cool off! We also love to play soccer, but when we don’t have a soccer ball we just use the cap of a water bottle on the pavement.
What do you like most about learning with friends?
Learning with friends is fun- sometimes we go on little field trips to the zoo or museums to learn more about the culture or new vocabulary. When our friends come with we don’t even realize we are learning and practicing our Spanish:).
Since we are learning about how kids play around the world, can you tell us something special or different about where you live or games you play?
Here are a couple of games we play; both start with a song. In the first game, we have to freeze at the end of the clapping game. The first person who moves has to run away and we all try to catch him. In the second game, one person is the wolf (lobo). We sing a song asking him if he is coming, but he keeps answering that he is getting ready (he’s just waking up, or brushing his teeth, or getting dressed). Finally he says he’s coming to get us and we all have to run away. These are both games our Spanish teach taught us and we LOVE to play them!
Follow the “Playful Learning Tour: How Kids Play Around the World”
August 2nd: Oh My Handmade, Canada
August 5th: My Organized Chaos, Japan
August 6th: Childhood 101, Australia
August 7th: Mindful Parenting, Australia
August 8th: Picklebums, Australia
August 9th: TrashN2Tees, USA
August 12th: Simple Kids, USA
August 13th: Mee A Bee, Japan
August 14th: A Happy Adventure, NZ/China
August 15th: Story of Mum, UK
August 16th: Poppy Haus, USA
August 19th: Kid World Citizen, USA/Mexico
August 20th: Salsa Pie, USA
August 22nd: Simple As That, USA & An Everyday Story, Australia
August 23rd: Made By Joey, Canada
August 26th: Growing Up Herbal, USA
August 27th: All Done Monkey, USA
August 28th: Thirteen Red Shoes, Australia
August 29th: The Tiny Twig, USA/Africa
August 30th: Swoon, USA
Let us know in the comments how YOUR kids play by sharing your answers to the same questions!
I love the lobo game. What a fun chase game and a cute rhyme! Thank you so much for sharing it!
They really are enjoying playing the games! And using up all that energy they have!
My daughters really enjoyed watching the hand clapping games! Thank you so much for being a part of the Playful Tour 🙂
The videos are so helpful and fun to watch. Thanks!
It sounds like a perfect summer!
It was so much fun- we toured all over the Yucatan and really enjoyed learning about the culture!!!
This is such a fun series! And I love the plazas in Mexico, they are such a wonderful place to play! Thanks for sharing at the Culture Swapper!
What a fun series! I’m having so much fun looking through your blog posts!