TRADITIONAL GAMES AND THE RESCUE OF CHILDREN'S CULTURE

Abstract

This article discusses the importance of traditional games in the context of Early Childhood Education, highlighting their role in preserving popular culture and in the integral development of children. Games, transmitted from generation to generation, represent an intangible cultural heritage that contributes to cognitive, social, affective, and motor development. However, it is observed that, in recent decades, the advancement of digital technologies and the change in spaces of coexistence have contributed to the distancing of children from these playful practices. The study seeks to reflect on the need to rescue and value these manifestations in the school environment, understanding them as instruments of learning, coexistence, and cultural identity. The methodology used is based on a bibliographic review of authors who address playfulness, play, and children's culture, such as Kishimoto (2007), Brougère (1998), and Vygotsky (2007). It is concluded that the revival of traditional games in early childhood education is fundamental to strengthening social bonds, promoting meaningful learning, and keeping the cultural memory of childhood alive.