Games
In the past, Kuwaiti children used the simple materials of thrown away items found in the streets and on the seashore to make their games. Because study hours were not long, they had plenty of time for recreation. In addition, sport activities were included as part of school curricula. By spending long periods of time watching their parents working, they gained experience that enabled them to excel in creating their games. Popular games included running and some primitive sports similar to track and field games.

As their daily interests increased, the means and centers of entertainment and recreation multiplied. The new way of life divides the year into work and study hours followed by weekends and vacations. This helps in making a break between work and spare time. In the past, children’s activities were restricted to playing with the neighbors’ children or going to schools teaching the Holy Qur’an.

At present, their lives have become more varied. Before discovering oil in Kuwait, children used simple materials from discharged objects found in the house and streets to make their games. Now, in the age of TV's, electronic games, computers and ready-made toys, they do not have enough time to be creative. In addition to entertainment inside the house, there is an increasing interest in activities outside the house. Many families and friends choose to meet each other in cafes and restaurants in famous hotels. They are now considered cultural and social centers, as they organize fairs for paintings, jewelry and food.

Concerning sports, some traditional activities such as hunting using hawks are still practiced in the present time. There are also modern games such as soccer and water skiing as well as ice-skating in the skating rinks that offer a refreshing place, especially in summer.

The Kuwaiti government played an important role in developing the means and places for entertainment through Kuwaiti Touristic Enterprises Company. This company manages a complex of residential towers, a number of marine clubs located along the seashore and Failaka Park. The Kuwaitis choose the way to spend their spare time. Many of them go to beach cabins to spend the weekend. They sometimes spend other vacations in the traditional way and other times in the modern way. For example, some Kuwaitis spend spring vacation going on picnics to the desert. Most Kuwaitis spend their vacations abroad.

Return To Top