Before we go to indoor games, let’s define first the word Game.

A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun,

and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is
usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of
aesthetic or ideological elements. However, the distinction is not clear-cut, and many
games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports
or games) or art (such as jigsaw puzzles or games involving an artistic layout such as
Mahjong, solitaire, or some video games). A game is any activity which is executed only
for pleasure and without conscious purpose. In this definition every activity that brings
pleasure is a game. For example, people dance, play musical instruments, act in plays,
and play with dolls and model trains. It is also a form of competitive activity or sport
played according to rules
Games are sometimes played purely for enjoyment, sometimes for achievement
or reward as well. They can be played alone, in teams, or online; by amateurs or by
professionals. The players may have an audience of non-players, such as when people
are entertained by watching a chess championship. On the other hand, players in a
game may constitute their own audience as they take their turn to play in order for them
to motivate in playing the game. Often, part of the entertainment for children playing a
game is deciding who is part of their audience and who is a player.
Key components of games are goals, rules, challenge, and interaction. Games
generally involve mental or physical stimulation, and often both because having this
factors help you to construct and think ideas to play and also problem solving to
understand what’s the main goal of the game. Many games help develop practical skills,
serve as a form of exercise, or otherwise perform an educational, simulation, or
psychological role.
 
Definitions of Game According to:
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein was probably the first academic philosopher to address the
definition of the word game. In his Philosophical Investigations, Wittgenstein argued that
the elements of games, such as play, rules, and competition, all fail to adequately define
what games are. From this, Wittgenstein concluded that people apply the term game to
a range of despairing. human activities that bear to one another only what one might
call family resemblances. As the following game definitions show, this conclusion was
not a final one and today many philosophers, like Thomas Hurka, think that Wittgenstein
was wrong and that Bernard Suits' definition is a good answer to the problem.
From  Anthony Kenny’s book ‘ Wittgenstein’ (1973): Wittgenstein define the game; This
feature of ‘game’ is one which Wittgenstein believed it shared with ‘language’, and this
made it particularly appropriate to call particular mini-languages ‘language-games’.
There were others. Most importantly, even though not all games have rules, the function
of rules in many games has similarities with the function of rules in language (pg 63,
77). Language-games, like games, need have no external goal; they can be
autonomous activities (pg 184; z 320).”
 
  
Roger Caillois
French sociologist Roger Caillois, in his book Les jeux et les hommes (Games and
Men), defined a game as an activity that must have the following characteristics:
Fun: the activity is chosen for its light-hearted character
Separate: it is circumscribed in time and place
Uncertain: the outcome of the activity is unforeseeable
Non-productive: participation does not accomplish anything useful.
Governed by Rules: the activity has rules that are different from everyday life
Fictitious: It involves make-believe that confirms for players the existence of imagined
realities that may be set against 'real life.
 
  
Chris Crawford
Game designer Chris Crawford defined the term in the context of computers using a
series of dichotomies:
Creative expression is art if made for its own beauty, and entertainment if made for
money.
A piece of entertainment is a plaything if it is interactive. Movies and books are cited as
examples of non-interactive entertainment.
If no goals are associated with a plaything, it is a toy. (Crawford notes that by his
definition, (a) a toy can become a game element if the player makes
up rules, and (b) The Sims and SimCity are toys, not games.) If it has goals, a plaything
is a challenge.
Crawford's definition may thus be rendered as: an interactive, goal-oriented activity
made for money, with active agents to play against, in which players (including active
agents) can interfere with each other.
Other definition of Games:
 "A game is a system in which players engage in an artificial conflict, defined by
rules, that results in a quantifiable outcome." (Katie Salen and Eric Zimmerman).
Based on the definition, In a certain example of indoor game like board games,
you can’t play the game perfectly, there must be a certain rules to be followed in
order for players to determine the winner and loser.
 "A game is a form of art in which participants, termed players, make decisions in
order to manage resources through game tokens in the pursuit of a goal." (Greg
Costikyan) According to this definition, some "games" that do not involve
choices, such as Chutes and Ladders, Candy Land, and War are not technically
games any more than a slot machine is. Based on this definition, In playing a
game, you must accountable with your resources in order for you to enjoy more
the game but most of the examples of indoor does not require tokens, it requires
more on thinking and problem solving skills.
 "A game is an activity among two or more independent decision-makers seeking
to achieve their objectives in some limiting context." (Clark C. Abt). One of the
objective of a single game is to generate thinking and problem solving skills. You
can’t achieve the main goal of the game without play mates, So it is important to
have a play mates in playing indoor games to have a good flow and
understanding to each other to attain that objective.
WHAT IS INDOOR GAME?
Indoor games are a variety of structured forms of play or competitive physical activity,
typically carried out either in the home or in specially constructed indoor.  
According to Oxford advanced learners dictionary indoor games means game that are
played, situated ,done or used inside a building for example an indoor swimming, pool
championship, indoor 200metres championship.it usually means any kind of games or
sports organised in the building or inside the room are indoor games.

HISTORY

Indoor Games involving manufactured toys did not become as common as homemade

playthings among children until the nineteenth century. By the middle of the nineteenth
century, changing definitions of childhood, as well as increased industrialization and
urbanization, led to the beginnings of the modern toy industry in Europe and the United
States, and to the rise of leisure.

Indoor Recreational Activities are the things that you do for fun and enjoyment in the
comfort of your home, the gym, or any other covered area. Some examples are: going
to the gym, playing board games, doing indoor yoga, going to art museums etc.
 
INDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES INDOOR GAMES
Recreation is an activity of leisure and
often done for enjoyment, amusement, or
Indoor Games are the variety of structured
pleasure and considered to be “fun”.
and competitive forms of play or physical
activity, that is usually carried out either in
the home or in specially constructed
 The word literally tells us that indoor
indoor.
recreation activities are undertaken on the
comfort of one’s home or more especially
Indoor games can be categorized into
indoor and they are to recreate the mind
three types  Card games, board games,
and soul.
and games that involve physical
movement. This type of indoor games are
commonly played in our country
 One of the purpose of Indoor recreational
Philippines like UNO card game,
activity is to provide an ideal opportunity to
Scrabble, Sungka, Dama and etc..
explore and develop a full range of abilities
also indoor recreational activities make one
Indoor games allow one to play when one
develop holistically because it improves the
cannot venture outdoors. Indoor games
physical, mental, social, emotional, spiritual
mean you can stay at home and still play.
and moral abilities of individual. The term
Although they cannot substitute for
recreation implies participation to be
outdoor games, indoor games are capable
healthy refreshing mind and body.
of providing resourceful entertainment in
closed environments
.
 
Benefits of Indoor Games
  Creates happiness, reduces stress
While participating in a game, there is always a good amount of laughter.
Laughing together and having fun can keep the seniors happy and healthy.
 According to (Malgaj,2010), playing stress relief games to reduce stress is a good
way to rid the body and mind of exhaustion, anxiety and depression. Games relieve
stress a lot faster than traditional relaxation techniques or methods. Games provide
effective and instant stress relief solutions.
 
Why Play Stress Relief Games?
The answer is simple: people feel better when they are doing something enjoyable.
Playing is fun; games induce happiness and communication, promote cheerfulness and
reduce depression, anxiety and worries. Playing games for at least 30 minutes every
day can do wonders to refresh and rejuvenate physically and mentally. As opposed to
traditional stress relief methods like meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, or Yoga,
stress relief games are entertaining and easily accessible.
Indoor games are akin to meditation, they involve concentration that allows the mind to
move away from the stress factor, and ensures intense involvement.
 
 An opportunity to spend time together/ socialize
While growing up we often forget that our parents too are growing old. Often the family
members have different schedules which push us in different directions. But playing
games (maybe a card game) even for a short while with your elderly loved ones is a
perfect way to spend time together. We may not realize the importance but for them it’s
quality time and a priceless gift. So, playing to spend time to socialize helps learners
become socially aware and helps them gain confidence to interact with others. Through
playing learners learn about concepts such as wining, loosing and playing fair and also
develop problem-solving skills. Indoor play areas give learners that opportunity to
socialize with others and to develop such skills.
 
 
 Memory formation and cognitive skills
Board games or any indoor games help us to practice essential cognitive skills and
enhance the parts of brain responsible for complex thought and memory formation.
Creative indoor games help the brain retain and build cognitive associations well in old
age.
 
Science supports many of our intuitions about the benefits of play. Playful behavior
appears to have positive effects on the brain and on a child’s ability to learn. In fact, play
may function as an important, if not crucial, mode for learning.  (Dewar et al 2014).
 
  
 Keeps the risks for diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia at bay
Keeping the mind of seniors’ active and engage means they are exercising  the brain
and building it stronger. A stronger brain has lower risks of losing its power and thus
reduces the risk of cognitive decline, such as associated with dementia and
Alzheimer’s.
 
 According to (Daily Express,2020) dementia isn’t a natural part of ageing. The disease
negatively affects brain functioning, leading to troublesome symptoms. A research study
showed how a certain game could lower the risk of developing the illness. Researchers
found a link between playing chess and reducing the possibility of developing dementia.
The researchers noted: “Effortful mental activity [such as chess] produces and
strengthens synaptic connections and stimulates neurogenesis process .“Thus, it
promotes plastic changes in the brain that slow down the symptoms of dementia.”
Overall, the study encouraged those who are at the beginning of dementia to engage
with strategic board games, such as chess, to strengthen cognitive function and
enhance their quality of life.
 
 
 Lowers blood pressures
Along with laughing and increasing your endorphins, they can help you lower or
maintain your blood pressure. This release of endorphins helps muscles to relax
and blood to circulate, which evidently will lower your blood pressure. High blood
pressure is associated with a greater risk of artery damage, heart disease, and
stroke.
 
  
  Improves immune system
Positive feelings and thoughts, like the laughter and enjoyment that always comes with
board games or card games, improve immunity by releasing some chemicals that fight
stress and boost immune system.
 
Research has shown that negativity, depression, and stress can reduce your ability to
fight disease. Positive feelings and thoughts, like the laughter and enjoyment that
always come with board games, prevent these effects by releasing some chemicals that
fight stress and boost your immune system. A simple board game could give rise to
the ‘survival genes’ and activate them in your brain, making the brain cells live longer
and helping to fight disease.
 
 Therapy treatment (coordination and dexterity)
Many board games require the use of fine motor skills to pick up or move pieces,
actions that take both coordination and dexterity. Regular practice and activity
improve these basic skills, which is important for children, people with mental or
physical disabilities, the elderly and those recovering from accidents. Board
games are very helpful when they are added to occupational therapy treatments,
as well in places like classrooms for special needs to help improve muscle and
nerve function over time.

a. Hide and seek – compose a set of player, with one player act as the taya or the
seeker and find the rest of the player.
b. Jackstones - it is a game that whoever has the most “baboy” wins.
 c. Sungka - uses a wooden table structure with 16 shallow holes or what we call
sungkaan. The goal is to fill your own big hole with stones.
d. Bahay-bahayan – it is a role-playing game that the player act as a member of the
household.
e. Dampa – it is a game that uses rubber bands, and the goal is to win the
opponents set of rubber bands.
Among the listed above, the indoor game that I like the most is the game Sungka. The
game sungka was introduced to us by our grandparents and it uses a wooden table
structure with 16 shallow holes or what we call sungkaan. Sungka is the game I like the
most because this game enhances my mind to think of ways how to win against my
opponent. Up until now, my siblings and I, would always find time to play this game that
we consider as our bonding time.