Moksha Patam (Snakes and ladders)
A game about consequences, disguised as luck.
- Players
- 2 to 4
- Ages
- 4 and up
- What you need
- A snakes and ladders board and one die
Originally Moksha Patam, a game used to teach children about karma: the ladders were virtues and the snakes were vices, and the board had far more snakes than ladders — because the point was that falling is easier than rising. The British took it home in the 1890s and quietly evened up the odds.
How to play
- 1Every player starts below square one.
- 2Roll the die and move that many squares forward.
- 3Land on the foot of a ladder and climb to the top.
- 4Land on a snake's head and slide down to its tail.
- 5The first player to reach the final square exactly wins.
Good for the body
None, but it holds the attention of a four-year-old, which few things do.
Good for the brain
Counting on, number recognition up to 100, and taking turns. The board is effectively a number line, so children absorb the shape of numbers without ever being taught it.
A note for parents
Excellent for the youngest children: counting squares one at a time is number practice with no worksheet in sight. It is also good early training in handling disappointment — sliding down a long snake and carrying on anyway is a small, useful piece of resilience.
Played today?
Ask a parent before going outdoors.