Hey kids! Check this out . . .

A boy and his parrot at the market.

Have you ever wondered what kids do for fun on the other side of the world, 11,000 miles from where you live? Here in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, we have observed a variety of games and activities that kids do for fun once school is over for the day. Once, while walking along the Wara Kane (Kane river), we watched a group of kids race tuna fish cans along the river’s edge, herding them along with sticks. Speaking of sticks, cut a puck out of a flipflop, get some kids with sticks, and head to the basketball court for an exciting game of stick hockey! Fasten anything (organic or inorganic) that resembles wheels to a stick and you have a popular push toy that you can take with you wherever you walk. By the way, walking is the most common mode of transportation here in the highlands, and we know some kids who walk an hour and a half one way to school each day. Of course, basketball is a popular sport, with a basketball court on the station where we live. Pets are common with the kids of missionaries on station. Pets include rabbits, guinea pigs, cats, and a couple dogs. Prior to returning to the states on home assignment, Josiah hosted a weekly “bug club”.

Below are pictures of other games and activities that are common to this area. Compare them with what you do in your free time.

A game of marbles is always popular.

An intense game of 4 way chess.

Kids learn to play chess over their winter holiday.

Naomi and Anna demonstrate their tree
climbing skills.

Not many playgrounds boast having an airplane to play on.

Sometimes play takes a backseat
 to chores.

PNG is a bug collector's paradise.

Wheels on a long stick provide entertainment
 on those long walks.

Ethan shows off his pet guinea pig.

A bucket of chalk unleashes creativity.

Daniel's prize possession - a slingshot
made by a village friend.

Cooling off in the canal is great fun
on a hot day.

Catching polliwogs in the baret (ditch) at recess time.