Is Cohabitation between Traditional Games and
Technological Devices Possible in a Child’s Life These Days?
Setting foot into GohKakiChildhood Museum can be promptly described as having been
swept into a time portal and deposited back into one’s childhood days.
Bittersweet nostalgia permeates the air as one walks through the length
of the museum. Rows of picture frames featuring a vast array of long forgotten
traditional games line the left wall. A bird-shaped kite painted with a
hotchpotch of orange, yellow, green and pink colours is propped against the far
side of the right wall while every nook and cranny of the museum is crammed
with toys of yesteryears.
That said it is inevitable when openly confronted by the memorabilia of
one’s childhood, with memories of one’s youth embedded into each play thing,
that one would belatedly feel pangs of guilt and shame for having conformed to today’s
digitalised society.
Established in August this year, GohKaki Childhood Museum is helmed by
lady boss Catherine Chang, a petite 26-year-old with a passion for toy
preservation.
 |
| Chang said that it was her father who first inspired her passion for toy preservation. |
“Contrary to popular belief, these toys were not forced to retreat into
this establishment for an early retirement,” Chang said with a smile.
“They do still serve their purpose whenever traditional games lovers
gather. The folks would have a field of a day with the assortment of games we
have here.
“They would come in and swap comical anecdotes and experiences over a
game of Chinese checkers.”
The brainchild of Chang’s parents, a few business partners and herself,
GohKaki Childhood Museum was created with the aim of starting off a chemical
reaction of sorts on different age groups based on the traditional games that
were popular at the time.
“To date, we have collected around 148 different traditional games that are played both indoor and outdoor,
ranging from the 1950s to the 1990s.
“We have begun conducting events and workshops for children in order to
accommodate to their parents’ requests as well.
“Since children are naturally curious, they would insist on being very
hands-on in everything they do. So we would show them how to make their own
do-it-yourself kites or we would teach them how to fold coconut leaves into
grasshoppers.
“We try to take the innovative approach when establishing common ground
with these children. Take the slingshot for example. We would start off by
asking if they have played Angry Birds before. Do they notice the slingshots used
in the game are similar to this? I would then hold up the tangible object.
“So, this is how you get the ball rolling because children are always
eager to have a go at the real thing.
“It is one of the best ways to reconnect them to their heritage
and culture without the direct involvement of technological devices.”
While the children acquaint themselves with the motley of traditional
games in the museum, Chang and co will attempt to educate them on some of
life’s lessons through the games as well.
“Take hopscotch for instance. It is the most popular traditional game
played across the world. Before they start playing though, we would advise them
that when they throw the stone into the hopscotch plan, sometimes, they would
be unable to get into the number that they want. But it is okay, we would
encourage them to try again.
“It is much like the workings of our lives, every so often we hope to
achieve something that we desire most in life except that it is unattainable at
the moment. But that does not mean that we should not try again.”
It takes a collective effort from all parties to pique the children’s
interest in the local traditional games but SEGI College student, Cheah
Sieu-Fern is unsure if the parents are altogether up for the challenge.
“The onslaught of technology is much greater now. Even the parents these
days are technology savvy and what is more, children tend to emulate their
parents. They observe and they copy their parents’ every action.
“So regardless of how long and hard these parents work at introducing
their offspring to the local traditional games, it will only take a matter of
minutes to go back to square one again.
 |
| Cheah Sieu-Fern at GohKaki Childhood Museum, "I am not ready to let go of my childhood just yet." |
“Personally speaking, I think it is difficult for children today to
phantom how scores of Generation Y in Malaysia were able to keep themselves
occupied with inconsequential items like rubber bands and small stones for days
and months on end without losing the slightest bit of interest in these
objects.
“Of course we did have televisions growing up but we were not encouraged
to have our faces plastered to its screen for more than two hours or so. Thus,
we kept busy by letting our imaginations wander.
“The toys that we thought up were personifications of our
collective ingenuity and creativity. But I strongly believe that now however,
they have been relegated to the status of generational artefacts,” she said.
Nur Amira Sollehah, 22, added that the youths nowadays are sorely
missing out on the youthful camaraderie of the old.
“The memories of evenings spent at the playground and along the goh
kaki (five-foot-way) playing gasing (spinning tops), batu
seremban (seven stones) and ketingting (hopscotch)
amid boisterous cheers and friendly jeers...
 |
| Batu Seremban (Seven Stones) is a traditional game played by young girls in the past. |
“… It is hard to replicate priceless memories like these today,
not when technology comes into play.”
It is undeniable that
the lure of technology has eclipsed the lustre of our local traditional games. But Chang was quick to point out that cohabitation
between traditional games and technological devices is still possible in a
child’s life.
“I believe both are beneficial when it comes to moulding the minds of
children. Traditional games promote physical activity whilst gaming
applications induce children to think critically.
“That said though, communication problems may develop amongst youngsters
if too much time has been spent on computer games. If this happens, traditional
games often come in handy for parents to coax their children out of their
anti-social shells.
“Many do not realise this, but traditional games require a minimum of at
least two players. Take the tug-of-war game for example; it is crucial for the
team members to interact with one another in order to win.
“These activities not only prevent a communication barrier from forming
between children, they also facilitate in strengthening familial bonds as well.
“The way I see it, parents must assume the role of teaching their
children the importance of preserving our traditional games while still
allowing them to be technology savvy.”
For more information on GohKaki Childhood Museum,
Please visit their Facebook page at:
Or call +0125169825
References
Museum.gohkaki.com, (2015). ChildhoodMuseum.
[online] Available at: http://museum.gohkaki.com/childhoodmuseum.html [Accessed
18 Dec. 2015].
nkkhoo.com, (2015). Traditional games
played by Malaysian children during the olden days. [online] Available at:
http://www.nkkhoo.com/2011/08/01/games-played-by-malaysian-children-when-there-was-no-tv-and-computer-games/
[Accessed 18 Dec. 2015]
Terengganutourism.com, (2015). Terengganu
traditional games, gasing spining, kite flying, congkak, Malaysia..
[online] Available at: http://www.terengganutourism.com/traditional_games.htm
[Accessed 18 Dec. 2015].
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