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

 

 

 

 

Get the infographic here > larajla blog post

Get the PDFs of the badge program / supplements here > Full badge PDFs