In this section the focus is on different games, plus how and why to play them. Reaching from childhood to adulthood, from dice- and card-games to games concerning the rules of the Danish society in general, the texts put forth the argument that in one way or another, we all play the game.

We begin by exploring the roles rather than the rules of different kinds of games, in a basement of a Danish high school and in the warm company of old friends in a Danish living room. As will become evident, being with friends and family is a common and highly appreciated way to use one’s spare time in Denmark, and games plays an important role in this manner.

Using spare time with excitement and fun is also the key theme when going to the cinema, and we are invited to join a trip to the cinema in Viborg. As another way of using spare time, we are presented to the culture of Danish sports associations and explained how global organisations, Danish companies, friendship and volunteering all comes together to form the local handball club of Give KFUM. 

Brought into the world of toys, we are invited to consider how Danish children are believed to develop personal and social skills through playing, and what this reveals about perceptions of childhood in Denmark. 

Visiting a Danish Kindergarten, we assess what role the kindergarten plays in regards to the upbringing of Danish children, and what the effect of such a “common upbringing” might be. Kindergarten is also a home away from home, and therefore brings us on to the last section of these texts.

In this exploratory journey in to the realm of the Danish society, we will be visiting different sites and institutions with different perceptions of why it is important to play the game, how to play the game and, perhaps even more important, what game it is that is being played. Enjoy the trip and do not hesitate to play along.