House (game)

House, also referred to as "playing house" or "play grown up", is a traditional children's game. It is a form of make-believe where players take on the roles of a nuclear family. Common roles include parents, children, a newborn, and pets.

The game often involves props, such as toy food or mock-up kitchen appliances. Additionally, dolls or other forms of toys can play the role of family members. Model houses and play kitchens are toys which are often specifically intended for playing house. The game is played both at home and in kindergarten or day care.

In other cultures

In Chinese, the game is called "扮家家酒" or "过家家" (playing/living a family).
In Dutch, the game is called "vadertje en moedertje" (little father and little mother).
In German, the game is called "Mutter, Vater, Kind" (mother, father, child).
In Hungarian, the game is called "papás-mamás" (fatherly-motherly).
In Italian, the game is called "mamma casetta" (mother little home).
In Japanese, the game is called "ままごと"(playing cooking).
In Persian, the common term (خاله بازی or مامان بازی) means "mother play" or "auntie play", highlighting that the game is stereotypically played by girls.
In Russian, the game is called дочки-матери (daughters-and-mothers).
In Swedish, the game is called "Mamma, pappa, barn" (mother, father, child).
In Spanish, the game is often called "jugar a la casita/familia" (playing house/family).
In Turkish, the game is called "Evcilik" (Houseism).
In Hindi, the game is called "ghar-ghar" (house-house).
In Thai, the game is called "พ่อแม่ลูก" (father, mother, child).
In Indonesian, the game is called "Rumah-rumahan" (fake house).

References

↑ Luo, Yintang (1 January 2018). 慈溪民俗 [Customs of Cixi] (in Chinese). Ningbo Publishing. pp. 298–299. ISBN 978-7-5526-3171-5.
↑ Koch, Sebastian (January 2018). "Alte Familienspiele neu entdeckt" [Old family games rediscovered] (in German). p. 27.
↑ Gapridashvili, Nona; Novysh, Petr. Энциклопедия забытых детских дворовых игр. 2019. (in Russian). ISBN 5-0422-3763-1.
↑ (1961/1962). Gujarat State Gazetteers. pp. 138, 261.
↑ Ariska, Karin; Lestari, Briyantika Puji; Retnaningsih, Lina Eka; Perdina, Siska (2025). Ulfah, Maulidya; Hamzah, Nur (eds.). Bermain Dan Permainan (in Indonesian). p. 35. ISBN 978-623-89001-3-8.

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[1] Luo, Yintang (1 January 2018). 慈溪民俗 [Customs of Cixi] (in Chinese). Ningbo Publishing. pp. 298–299. ISBN 978-7-5526-3171-5.

[2] Koch, Sebastian (January 2018). "Alte Familienspiele neu entdeckt" [Old family games rediscovered] (in German). p. 27.

[3] Gapridashvili, Nona; Novysh, Petr. Энциклопедия забытых детских дворовых игр. 2019. (in Russian). ISBN 5-0422-3763-1.

[4] (1961/1962). Gujarat State Gazetteers. pp. 138, 261.

[5] Ariska, Karin; Lestari, Briyantika Puji; Retnaningsih, Lina Eka; Perdina, Siska (2025). Ulfah, Maulidya; Hamzah, Nur (eds.). Bermain Dan Permainan (in Indonesian). p. 35. ISBN 978-623-89001-3-8.

House (game)

In other cultures

See also

References