Amblimblè – rhymes and rituals of street games

Supported by Fondazione San Zeno.

Piero Dorfles will tell us how we used to play back in time, when we spent more time outside and digital entertainment did not exist. He will talk about individual and group sports, and the counting-out rhymes that went along with them: apparently nonsense rhymes, inspired by fairytales, work, a parody of adult life. Dorfles reflects on play not only as leisure for children, but also a job and an educational moment. Group games teach how to interact with others, setting and respecting rules without social distinctions; it stimulates creativity and phantasy; it helps developing a sense of independence and responsibility. We are sure these values are not lost, instead it is our mission to rediscover them.

Info
Piero Dorfles is a journalist and literary critic. He has written and hosted various radio and TV programs for Rai and he is well known for his presence in the show “Per un pugno di libri”. He has published several books on the history of radio-television communication and of other appreciated works about Italian culture and literature, among which “I cento libri che rendono più ricca la nostra vita” (Garzanti, 2014) and “Il lavoro del lettore. Perché leggere ti cambia la vita” (Bompiani, 2021). Recently he has published the memoir “Chiassovezzano” (Bompiani, 2024) and the book “Amblimblè. Rime e riti dei giochi di strada” (Manni, 2025).