Toys from the Southeast Region

Street games are excellent for having fun and, at the same time, working on issues such as discipline, rules and attention. As each region has its own customs and traditions, it certainly has its own games that ended up spreading throughout Brazil.

Next, let's get to know some of the ones created in the Southeast Region that you've certainly played with while in Goiás, Mato Grosso, Amapá or any other state. Shall we travel with us?

Yellow cow

It is said that it originated in São Paulo and it works like this. A group of friends sings the song below and the first one to speak loses the game.

“Yellow cow jumped out the window
Pooped in the pot
Mix, mix, mix
Whoever speaks first eats all her poop
One, two, three, shut up Japanese
Chinese, close your eyes at once.”

Blind snake

Also originated in São Paulo. One of the participants is chosen to be the blind snake and, therefore, is blindfolded and rotated ten times (not worth doing right after eating, huh?).

Afterwards, he goes after the group and whoever is caught, becomes the blind snake.

stop

This one comes from Lavras, in Minas Gerais. Each player needs to write a list of items in several columns on a piece of paper. It's worth putting city, animal, color, profession, car, human body parts, and so on.

Participants raffle a letter by throwing their fingers and completing the list with words that begin with the one drawn. The first one to complete the list shouts “stop” and everyone stops writing. Whoever has the highest score at the end of the rounds wins.

saw, saw, sawmill

Another joke from Minas Gerais, this time by Curvelo. Two children stand opposite each other and hold hands.

Then they wave their arms back and forth, singing "Saw, saw, saw! Saw grandpa's talk! How many boards have you sawed?”.

One of them says the number and, without letting go of their hands, the two make a complete turn until they complete the chosen number.

snail hopscotch

With chalk in hand, participants draw a hopscotch on the floor in the shape of a snail. Once ready, each one stands in line with their pebble.

The first throws the stone at house number one and jumps the house with only one foot, until it reaches square two. She will need to jump all the squares jumping with the same foot.

When you reach the end of the hopscotch, in the center of the drawing, place both feet on the ground, turn around and make the return journey with only one foot. Everyone must repeat the same process. In the second round, participants throw the stone at square two and so on.

And what's the fun? The one who steps on the line or on the little house where the stone is is out of the game; throw the stone at the wrong number; or stepping with both feet into a little house. The game can only end with one child staying in the game.

Hot potato

The children sit in a circle while one stands outside saying:

“Hot, hot, hot, hot potato… it burned!”

During the sentence, the seated children pass a ball from hand to hand until they hear the

word "burned". Whoever has the ball, is out of the game and whoever stays last wins.

16 marbles

Another joke that comes from Lavras, in Minas Gerais. Participants place 16 marbles on the table and decide who starts the game.

The person needs to hit the balls with each other and whoever hits the most wins.

Cockfight

Participants need to take two different strips of fabric. Two children stand opposite each other in a circle and close their eyes. Another participant fixes a strip on the back of each one with masking tape. Then the children open their eyes and put their arms behind them. The first person to discover the color of the fabric attached to the opponent's back without using their hands or leaving the circle wins.

taco

This one comes from the capital of São Paulo. Participants will need a bat, a tennis ball and a base that can be a can of soda.

Two children are the hitters who keep the wooden bat protecting the bases. The others are pitchers who need to knock the base down with the ball or kicks.

If they can break through the batters defense and bring down the base, they keep the bat. If the batsmen hit the ball five times, they win the game and switch places with the pitchers.

Steals flag

In an area divided into two fields, at the bottom of each space a circle is made and a flag is fixed for each team.

Both groups need to devise a strategy to cross the opposing camp and steal the flag without being caught. The one who is captured is frozen in the enemy's territory and can only move when someone on the team touches him.

The team that first picks up the opposing team's flag wins!