As soon as we are born we learn to observe, to recognise and identify the characteristics of the physical and social environment around us. We learn from everything and we do so globally, while relating to others –adults and children– and assimilating the culture and habits of our environment, an environment that watches over our development. As children grow and advance in their learning, they progress towards integrating into the community as adults. The stages of this process are marked by rites of passage that are well known to anthropologists and sometimes leave traces in the archaeological record in the form of objects.
Throughout history, games have contributed to children’s physical and mental development, activating their strategic ability, creative spirit and competitiveness, either individually or in groups. Through play, children discover their environment, imitate the behaviour of adults and interact with other children. When just months old, infants play with rattles or small pottery figures. Later, role-playing games lead girls to play with dolls and boys with swords, horses and carts.
