Most of the Italian kid’s games are played outside, and they require several players and little-to-no equipment. The games often mandate the use of rhymes or chants incorporated into the play.

In Italy, it is mandatory for parents to drop and pick up their children from school every day until they graduate from elementary school due to safety concerns. The kids are also not allowed to play outdoors on their own. Therefore, in Italy, parents often accompany their children outside to play games with them. Let us take a look at five traditional Italian games that you can teach your kids and play with them.

Uno due to tre stella

The player who is "it" has to say "Uno due, the stella (1,2,3, start!)," and turns around and begins the search for other players who are moving. He then has to call out, "Ti ho visto (I see you!)". The moving players then return to the start line, and the game ends when the "it" touches the other players.

Nascondino

Nascondino is the same as the game of hide and seek. Kids hide when the "it" is counting, and children who are sought out by the "it" gets eliminated. Italian children are very fond of this game. Italy even conducts a hide and seek world competition annually at Consonno Village.

Regina, Regina Bella

To play this game, a minimum of four players are required. One kid gets selected to be the "Regina" (Queen), who should face the other players. The other players are the queen's subjects, who then chant a rhyme: "Regina, Regina Bella….con la punta del coltello?" The queen then utters a number and cites an animal. The other children or players approach her with a corresponding number of steps by imitating the animal. The first player to reach the queen becomes the winner.

Strega comanda colore

A minimum of three players are needed to play this game. One player has to be the ''strega'' or witch, who has to shout out the name of a colour. The other players must seek an object with that colour before the witch can chase and grab them. The objects can be anything that is nearby. If the witch grabs any player, he/she becomes the young witch. If the young witch fails to grab anyone, the game is restarted, and the new witch selects a new colour.

Fazzoletto Peo Peo

You need a minimum of five players for this game. In Fazzoletto Peo Peo, players are required to sit in a circle, and only one player has to walk around the circle with a handkerchief. The children sitting in the circle sing: "Peo Peo handkerchief…" the player is walking around the circle has to drop the handkerchief behind one of the players sitting without them noticing. If the player who is sitting notices the handkerchief, they must get up and chase behind the player, or the latter will attempt to sit in the empty seat left by the player who stood up.

Hurry up and try out these fun games with your kids!