Cooperative games allow your group to work together. These types of games are inclusive. They emphasize participation and challenge rather than defeating another person or team. There is no “winner” or “loser”. You can focus on fun!
Steps
1. Group dynamics.
While cooperative games are inclusive, some steps may be difficult for your group. Review the participants you will have playing and find games that can be played by everyone.
2. Supplements.
Review the cooperative games listed in the supplements section. Find a few you’d like to try.
3. Review.
After you’ve found a few, read through the rules to make sure they make sense. If you need props, extra eyes or anything else, make yourself a note. When you’re ready to play, your notes will remind you of things you need to do to make the game a success.
4. Play.
Play the games you chose with your group. Keep notes on the following:
- Ages
- Was it too easy / difficult for them
- What worked / didn’t in the rules
- Did they enjoy playing
5. Adjust.
Sometimes you’ll want to play a game, but the rules don’t enable you to play or you need materials you don’t have. Perhaps the game is too easy or hard for your group. The simplest thing to do is change the rules. If you’ve played the game before with your group, make sure you communicate any changes. Always make notes on what you’re changing so that you remember in the future without losing a lot of time on discussion. Try modifying one or two of the games.
6. Find more.
Ask your children what they like to play. Search through books or Web sites to find more games to add to your collection. A few sites are listed below. As you collect them, make notes to any that you feel need modification to make them more usable.
7. Game types.
Other games types where you might find cooperative games include parachute, clapping and even video. Look outside games you would normally play to expand your collection even further. What can you incorporate into your cooperative game collection?
8. Design.
Take a personal challenge and design your own cooperative game. You’ll need to take into account your group, the time you want to spend and perhaps a theme if you’re trying to tie it into other activities. Are there elements you want to add such as props to make the game more interesting or ways to change the game like dice or spinners?
9. Play test.
Test out your cooperative game. Get feedback. Tweak your game if necessary and try it again. When everyone’s having fun, you’ve got it!
10. Share.
Share your game collection with your organization or others.
Supplements
SUPP_Coop Games_2in_12up_larajla
- Avery 2.5” round label printable, 12 up
SUPP_Coop Games_Checklist_larajla
- Badge checklist
SUPP_Play Fun_Coop Games_larajla
- What are cooperative games?
SUPP_Play Fun_Amoeba Tag_larajla
- Play Fun: Amoeba Tag
SUPP_Play Fun_Angels Pin_larajla
- Play Fun: Angels on the Head of a Pin
SUPP_Play Fun_Argentina Ball_larajla
- Play Fun: Argentina Ball
SUPP_Play Fun_Ball Bounce_larajla
- Play Fun: Ball Bounce
SUPP_Play Fun_Balloon Train_larajla
- Play Fun: Balloon Train
SUPP_Play Fun_Barnyard Frolic_larajla
- Play Fun: Barnyard Frolic
SUPP_Play Fun_Beach Ball Coop_larajla
- Play Fun: Beach Ball Cooperation
SUPP_Play Fun_Blind Geometry_larajla
- Play Fun: Blind Geometry
SUPP_Play Fun_Blind Height_larajla
- Play Fun: Blind Height Alignment
SUPP_Play Fun_Blindfold Lipstick_larajla
- Play Fun: Blindfold Lipstick
SUPP_Play Fun_Blob Tag_larajla
- Play Fun: Blob Tag
SUPP_Play Fun_Blooop _larajla
- Play Fun: Blooop
SUPP_Play Fun_Botticelli_larajla
- Play Fun: Botticelli
SUPP_Play Fun_Caterpillar Relay_larajla
- Play Fun: Caterpillar Relay
SUPP_Play Fun_Caterpillar_larajla
- Play Fun: Caterpillar
SUPP_Play Fun_Commons_larajla
- Play Fun: Commons
SUPP_Play Fun_Continuous Story_larajla
- Play Fun: Continuous Story
SUPP_Play Fun_Coop Hula Hoops_larajla
- Play Fun: Cooperative Hula Hupes
SUPP_Play Fun_Copy Cat Shapes_larajla
- Play Fun: Copy Cat Shapes
SUPP_Play Fun_Dragon Tail_larajla
- Play Fun: Dragon Tail
SUPP_Play Fun_Eeny-Einy-Over_larajla
- Play Fun: Eeny-Einy-Over
SUPP_Play Fun_Everybodys It _larajla
- Play Fun: Everybody’s It
SUPP_Play Fun_Face-Off_larajla
- Play Fun: Face-Off
SUPP_Play Fun_Five Changes_larajla
- Play Fun: Five Changes
SUPP_Play Fun_Group Juggling_larajla
- Play Fun: Group Juggling
SUPP_Play Fun_Ha_larajla
- Play Fun: Ha
SUPP_Play Fun_Hawaiian Hand Clap_larajla
- Play Fun: Hawaiian Hand Clap
SUPP_Play Fun_Hula Hoop Relay_larajla
- Play Fun: Hula Hoop Relay
SUPP_Play Fun_Human Knot_larajla
- Play Fun: Human Knot
SUPP_Play Fun_Humming Game_larajla
- Play Fun: Humming Game
SUPP_Play Fun_If You Love Me_larajla
- Play Fun: If You Love Me, Won’t You Please . . .
SUPP_Play Fun_Jamaquack _larajla
- Play Fun: Jamaquack
SUPP_Play Fun_Keep It Up_larajla
- Play Fun: Keep It Up
SUPP_Play Fun_Lap Sit_larajla
- Play Fun: Lap Sit
SUPP_Play Fun_Lego Building_larajla
- Play Fun: Lego Building
SUPP_Play Fun_Line Up_larajla
- Play Fun: Line Up
SUPP_Play Fun_Magic Shoes_larajla
- Play Fun: Magic Shoes
SUPP_Play Fun_Mirror Mirror_larajla
- Play Fun: Mirror Mirror
SUPP_Play Fun_Moon Ball_larajla
- Play Fun: Moon Ball
SUPP_Play Fun_Musical Hugs_larajla
- Play Fun: Musical Hugs
SUPP_Play Fun_Mystery Clap_larajla
- Play Fun: Mystery Clap
SUPP_Play Fun_Partners Up_larajla
- Play Fun: Partners Up
SUPP_Play Fun_Pass the Toxic Waste Can_larajla
- Play Fun: Pass the Toxic Waste Can
SUPP_Play Fun_Peek-A-Who Name_larajla
- Play Fun: Peek-A-Who Name
SUPP_Play Fun_People to People_larajla
- Play Fun: People to People
SUPP_Play Fun_Pick-Up Cup_larajla
- Play Fun: Pick-Up Cup
SUPP_Play Fun_Psychic Shake_larajla
- Play Fun: Psychic Shake
SUPP_Play Fun_Rainbow Colors_larajla
- Play Fun: Rainbow Colors
SUPP_Play Fun_Sardines_larajla
- Play Fun: Sardines
SUPP_Play Fun_Sharks in the Water_larajla
- Play Fun: Sharks in the Water
SUPP_Play Fun_Shrinking Boxes_larajla
- Play Fun: Shrinking Boxes
SUPP_Play Fun_Siamese Rolling_larajla
- Play Fun: Siamese Rolling
SUPP_Play Fun_Sock Toss_larajla
- Play Fun: Sock Toss
SUPP_Play Fun_Telephone_larajla
- Play Fun: Telephone
SUPP_Play Fun_Three-Headed Answer Girl_larajla
- Play Fun: Three-Headed Answer Girl
SUPP_Play Fun_Thunderstorm_larajla
- Play Fun: Thunderstorm
SUPP_Play Fun_Toilet Paper Game_larajla
- Play Fun: Toilet Paper Game
SUPP_Play Fun_Toss the Bird_larajla
- Play Fun: Toss the Bird
SUPP_Play Fun_Turn the Circle_larajla
- Play Fun: Turn the Circle Inside Out
SUPP_Play Fun_Wampum Name _larajla
- Play Fun: Wampum Name
SUPP_Play Fun_Word Whiskers_larajla
- Play Fun: Word Whiskers
SUPP_Play Fun_Yes Lets_larajla
- Play Fun: Yes, Let’s
SUPP_Play Fun_Yurt Circle_larajla
- Play Fun: Yurt Circle
Sites to Explore
- www.mrgym.com/CooperativeGames.htm
- www.creativekidsathome.com/games/cooperative_games
- www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/cooperative-games.page-1.html
- dragon.sleepdeprived.ca/games/cooperative_games/cooperative_games.htm
- www.responsiveclassroom.org/blog/cooperative-games-younger-students
- www.responsiveclassroom.org/learning-on-the-playground
- www.scoutingweb.com/scoutingweb/games.aspx
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