The Educational Impact of Traditional Games: the Role of Zurkhaneh Sport in Educating Children
Games, and in particular traditional games, can be seriously studied as the most important and attractive way of improving physical, mental, affective, and social health of members of society. Playing traditional games maintains physical health, improves spiritual and mental state, and institutionalizes cultural values. Zurkhaneh sports are among the most popular traditional sports that have long been practiced by people of Iran. Iranians' emphasis on magnanimity, bravery, integrity, nobility, and moral fiber has contributed to the long life of a great Iranian heritage, namely zurkhane sport. Zurkhaneh became known as a place where the most elegant characters, like magnanimity, forgiveness, sacrifice, altruism, combating ignorance, and adherence to moral principles and virtues, were fostered. Every single element of zurkhaneh sport is imbued with moral teachings. Respecting veterans, observing moral principles, praying, caring for the needy, and encouraging politeness and sportsmanlike behavior in addition to physical improvements are among the prominent features of this traditional sport. The present paper aims to explore the educational impacts of zurkhaneh sports on children by drawing on attractive features, background, and potentials of this traditional game.