Children in the Indus Valley enjoyed playing with toys. Archaeologists discovered clay cows with movable heads, toy monkeys that slid down ropes, small toy carts, various clay animals, and bird-shaped whistles. What might these toys have looked like?

These appear to be toys and games uncovered in the Indus Valley by archaeologists. Are any of them familiar to you?

Dice and chess are two remarkable legacies of the Indus Valley, passed down through generations to become a part of our lives today, thousands of years later!

Archaeologists have discovered moving toys that operated by pulling a string, causing parts of the toy to move. One such toy featured monkeys sliding down ropes. Other examples included wheeled toys that could be pulled along and baby rattles. These toys often reflected their culture, with a strong emphasis on animals, particularly farm animals.

Children likely had numerous chores since survival required constant effort. They were taught to work alongside their parents, learning essential skills such as cooking, hunting, farming, and crafting.

There’s a lot we have to speculate about regarding their civilization. From what we know of other ancient societies, it was common for most children not to attend school. This makes sense, as many children worked alongside their parents. For example, the children of bead-makers wouldn’t have needed the reading skills required of scribes. Scribes, as recorders, were responsible for writing down important records.