Miniatures and Traditional Games Revive Childhood Traditions at Sharjah Heritage Days
Sharjah-13/2/2026
At a vibrant corner of Sharjah Heritage Days, tradition takes playful form. Inside the House of Traditional Games, miniature models, handmade dolls and spirited competitions transform cultural memory into living experience—where children do not simply learn about heritage, they actively shape it.
The initiative, led by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, reflects the institute’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage through popular games once cherished by earlier generations. By organising interactive workshops and live demonstrations for children aged six and above, the institute ensures that these traditions remain vibrant and relevant.
All activities and competitions are presented on the Wajh Al Asala (Face of Authenticity) stage during Sharjah Heritage Days, where young participants compete enthusiastically and receive encouraging prizes designed to reinforce pride in their cultural roots.
Games, Songs and Handmade Creations
Professor Suhail Al Batti, Director of the House of Traditional Games, explains that the space is thoughtfully curated to reflect the diversity of traditional childhood pastimes.
“In this corner, we present girls’ games such as rope ring jumping and Al Fousi, alongside traditional songs and dances,” he says. “We also organise doll-making workshops, where children create handmade dolls from fabric, just as previous generations once did.
The workshops extend beyond performance to creativity. Children compete in crafting heritage-inspired miniatures, each model reflecting imagination shaped by memory. Winners receive encouraging prizes, but the true reward lies in participation and connection.
Dedicated workshops are also designed for boys, focusing on speed-based activities and kite-making. The sight of colourful kites rising above the festival grounds becomes a symbolic reminder of a simpler time, when joy was found in handmade play.
Nurturing Talent, Reviving Identity
Al Batti emphasises that the House of Traditional Games is not merely about recreation—it is about talent development and cultural continuity. Through visits to schools and youth institutions, the institute works to identify emerging talents and explore new materials that can enrich this cherished heritage.
By blending education with entertainment, and competition with creativity, the House of Traditional Games ensures that heritage is not confined to memory. Instead, it is stitched into fabric dolls, sculpted into miniatures, sung in rhythmic chants and carried skyward on kites.
At Sharjah Heritage Days, tradition is not preserved from a distance—it is experienced, shared and passed forward to a new generation