Cooperative Games

There is no shortage of competitive board games but you may not have easy access to games that are designed to be cooperative.   Cooperative games are a great way to help children build teamwork and collaboration skills.  You can play many traditionally competitive games as a team and make them cooperative in nature.  

Here are some of my favorites:

Don't Break the Ice can be played both competitively and cooperatively.  

In my office we usually play as a team and try to take as many turns as possible before the bear falls.  

Jenga is another game that can be played both competitively and cooperatively.  In my office we often try to make the tower as tall as possible before in falls.  We help each other to find loose pieces and sometime help our teammates remove blocks if we are at a better angle.  

The Secret Door and Max are games that are designed to be cooperative.  In each game players are given a challenge that they have to work together to solve.  Players take turns but are working towards the same goal and can offer each other suggestions and advice.