First Lady Iriana, OASE KIM Play Traditional Games with Children

First Lady Iriana Jokowi and members of OASE KIM play traditional games with children at state elementary school SDN Pakis III in Surabaya city, East Java province, Thursday (10/26). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

First Lady Iriana Jokowi and members of the Solidarity Action Organization of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet (OASE KIM) play traditional games with children at state elementary school SDN Pakis III in East Java provincial capital Surabaya, Thursday (10/26).

On that occasion, the First Lady, OASE KIM members, and the kindergartners played ular naga (dragon god). The First Lady and OASE KIM members formed a tunnel by holding their hands up in the air, through which the children took turns to pass.

Afterward, the First Lady and the children played marbles, balap bakiak (a race where the participating groups wear a pair of long wooden sandals), balap karung (a race where the participants reach the finish line by jumping in a sack), and kopral (a team game from Surabaya).

The activity carried out by the First Lady and OASE KIM was a step to preserve traditional games in Indonesia.

Vice Chair II of the Committee for Indonesian Folk Games and Traditional Sports (KPOTI) Fadlu Rachman expressed hope that this activity can reduce the children’s screen time.

“Therefore, our children know [traditional games], which can serve as a foundation to prevent children from being addicted to playing gadgets,” he said while expressing hope that folk games and traditional sports can continue to be promoted so that they are known by children of this generation and future generations.

“So that our children do not forget and do not erase the meaning of Indonesian culture conveyed through those folk games and traditional sports,” he remarked.

Previously, at the same location, the First Lady and OASE KIM made a demonstration of handwashing with soap to kindergartners and did an exercise with elementary school students. (BPMI Presidential Secretariat/UN) (DH/LW)