[New games for new children] Glyazer, S. [A squad of cheerful kids] Otryad zhizneradostnykh rebyat. Games in the pioneer squad: the first collection.

New games for new children

Glyazer, S. [A squad of cheerful kids] Otryad zhizneradostnykh rebyat. Games in the pioneer squad: the first collection.

Moscow: OGIZ; Molodaya Gvardiya, 1933. Duodecimo (170 x 127 mm), 64 p. 

In original illustrated wrappers; lightly creased, chipped; a pencil mark on the front cover; discoloration; small tears on the spine and edges. Pages and wrappers yellowed, foxed in places. Tears on the edges of pp. 57-64. Shows signs of heavy use; working copy.

A collection of entertaining children’s games, divided into 3 categories:

- Стадион на столе [Stadium on the table]: quieter, indoor games for two or more people

- В кругу весело [It’s fun to be in the circle]: outdoor games, mostly for larger groups

- Будем снайперами [Let’s be snipers]: all of these games have something to do with sharpshooting

In the early years of the Soviet Union, the government was faced with a difficult task of creating an entirely new system, not just educational, but one of character building as well. All former traditions had to be substituted with new ones, ideologically sound and disconnected from the old regime. Thus, new children’s games were needed, along with a new social role of a game-master (“massovik-zateynik”), who would explain and promote the new activities to younger and older kids.

Samson Glyazer gained a reputation for creating children's games. Several of his works became a staple in any school library.

In A squad of cheerful kids he encourages children not only to try out various games, to figure out which ones they like best, but to workshop new games among themselves. He also makes a connection between play and (ideological) education, as he mentions that every pioneer should be well-versed in various games, so that they can get the attention of and then work with “unorganised children”, tying into a familiar soviet motif of children educating each other as well as being educated by the adults in charge.

We couldn’t trace any copy of this edition in the USA or European libraries via OCLC.