What are cooperative games?
Even the Three Musketeers knew: "One for all, all for one!" Through cooperative games, children become just such little musketeers who support their fellow players and pursue a goal together. And it is precisely this appeal of community that makes cooperative games so special. The individual players work together, they cooperate, and pursue only one common plan: to win!
Cooperative games delight above all with their sophisticated game mechanics. Boredom at the game table? Not a chance! Under time limits or with limited resources, players must master exciting tasks as a group. In the process they make joint decisions that pave the way to victory — or to defeat. And if the original strategy should fail: how nice it is then that you don't have to devise the new plan alone? This way even preschool children learn how good teamwork can lead to success.
What do children learn through cooperative games?
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose — that's true for cooperative games just as in real life. However, cooperative games are not about the 'one winner'. Rather, they are about experiencing community based on cooperation and helpfulness. Children learn to celebrate shared successes and to cope with failures without giving up immediately. Since fun is always the top priority, everyone will certainly want another round in the end — whether they won or lost. In a well-coordinated group, the aim then is to become faster or to find a different solution. New players are always welcome, because they bring new dynamics to the game and to the team.
While playing, children casually acquire many social skills and at the same time take important developmental steps. Well-aligned communication and coordination are just as important as the ability to integrate into a group. Children also learn a lot about themselves and about their fellow players: What does it take to master the game together? And which role does each player assume?
Why is cooperative play so important?
The key in cooperative games is balanced collaboration. Therefore each player should at some point take on an active (= decision-maker) and a passive (= executor) role. This makes cooperative games ideally suited to foster a sense of community and develop a strong team spirit.
The shared challenge in cooperative games mainly affects the way the game is played: players must be able to rely on one another. Those who learn as children to work with others toward a common goal continue to develop this ability into adulthood. This can especially pay off later in professional life, when it comes to pulling together with various colleagues across different departments.
Cooperative games are educationally valuable without limiting the fun of playing in any way. Sometimes exciting, sometimes funny — and definitely great! — they effortlessly win the hearts of young and old. The experience of togetherness can thus be carried across generations, since both adults and children enjoy it equally — and all without the pressure of winning or competition. Cooperative games provide a healthy dose of sociability and ultimately mean: play together, be strong together!
Exciting, cooperative, HABA! Which cooperative game is suitable for which age?
The HABA children's games are as unique as every single child. Perfectly matched to the respective age, developmental progress and interests, the HABA cooperative games range has something for every taste.
Ages 2 and up
A cooperative memory game (players 2-4)
Here even the smallest can become real rescuers and put their shared memory skills to the test in My First Games - Fire Brigade. Water on!
Ages 3-6
A cooperative color-dice game (players 1-8)
No children's room should be without this game: the HABA Orchard. All the better that this classic is also a cooperative game! Especially fun for kids: they compete against the cheeky raven Theo. Who will snatch the tasty fruits hanging high in the trees first?
Ages 4-8
A cooperative tile-placement game (players 1-4)
Anyone who loves adventure should definitely visit the island of Karuba. The most amazing treasures are hidden deep in the jungle. But watch out for the nasty pirates and toothy tigers! Only if all players work together can they escape the dangers and seize the loot.
Ages 4-99
A cooperative stacking game (players 2-4)
It's reaching for the skies in Unicorn Glitter Luck - Cloud Stacking. Can the players, working together, fit all the animal guests into the cloud castle? All the little stacking artists need for that is a sure touch and a bit of dice luck.
