Kam Moon / Grab-and-Spinner
Site of Documentation
Tai Yuan, Mae Wang district, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand
Description
Kam Moon is a traditional Lanna toy that is played with by Tai Yaun children from the Chiang Mai
province of Thailand. The name of the toy means ‘Hold it’ (Kam) and ‘Spin it’ (Moon) and as it suggests is
similar to a simple hand held helicopter or fan.
Who Plays
This game can be played alone or with a group of friends. There is no maximum number of players,
although a race usually had around five players. It can be played by both and girls, aged 5 to 12 years
old.
Accessories/Equipment
The game requires each player to have a Kam Moon, a toy that is hand made of bamboo. It’s a local toy
made from natural material which elders or parents make for their children. Nowadays, the Oui Sorn
Learn group has started producing this toy for sale which has made it easier for the children to obtain
one.
Time and Place
Kam Moon can be played either indoors or outside, throughout the year. On average a game takes only 5
to 10 minutes to play with and is usually played on the weekends, before playing another game with
friends.
Skill, Strategies and Qualities of a Good Player
Players need to have good coordination and strong arms, to pull the cord and make the toy spin while
they are holding it. Learning how to spin the tire can take some time, but practice makes perfect, and the
best players are those that play often.
Popularity
Kam Moon is most popular with younger children. As the game requires the children to have the toy, it is
played less often than many others. The toy is unique to the Tai Yuan and the Kon Tao Kon Kea
community from the Mae Sruai district of the Chiang Rai province.
Learning about the Toy
There are three main parts that make the Kam Moon. They are the cord, the body and the propeller.
1. The cord is made from a length of string. At one end it is wound around and attached to a long,
thin bamboo stick which is around 6-7 mm in diameter and is slotted inside the body of the toy.
The other end of the cord is threaded through a small hole and tied to a small wooden handle.
2. The body of the toy is made from a piece of bamboo around 2 cm in diameter and 10 cm long.
Both ends of the body are sanded down slightly, partly for aesthetics and partly to avoid the
child’s hand being hurt while holding the toy.
3. The propeller blade is fitted onto the top of the long thin stick that is slotted inside the body. The
propeller is made from a flattened bamboo stick about 13-15 cm in length and 3-4 mm thick.
How is the Game Played?
Step 1: Players must hold the body of the toy with one hand and with the other, pull the cord gently away
from the toy. As the string is pulled, it will twist around the stick and cause the propeller to spin quickly.
Step 2: The toy can be played with as many times as the children want. All they have to do is pick the toy
up and pull the string!