Sand as environment and material in Saharan children’s play and toy-making activities

In nomadic, semi-nomadic or sedentary communities living in an environment of sand dunes, children familiarise themselves very early with sand and readily use it in their games. These include pretend games related to weddings and female or male activities, games of motor skill involving movement, equilibrium, flexibility and fighting, and also games of cognitive skill such as board games and riddles with drawings. The ‘toys’ created with sand can be very simple – for example sand itself serving as play material for the small ones – but also quite complex, as in the case of a mosque and minaret made with wet sand by older children.