Playing games with the family can be a lot of fun it’s my favorite thing to do with my family. Especially when they’re cooperative games where there is no winner or loser. While you’re home during this Pandemic pick a night each week to make it a game night and rotate each who gets to choose the game. Kids love playing games with their parents and often learn a lot of skills at the same time!
Here are five of my favorite Cooperative Board Games:
Feed The Woozle
Each player gets snacks to fed the Woozle who loves to eat hairy pickles and fuzzy donuts. You spin a spinner which tells you how many snacks you need to carry on a spoon to put in the Woozle’s mouth. There are different challenges to the game such as walking fast or slow or blind folded. Kids learn dexterity, fine motor skills, self-control and creative problem solving. It can be quite funny to watch as well.
Who can play: 2-5 kids ages 3 and older. Mostly for Preschool kids
The Sleeping Grump
Remember the story of Jack and the Beanstalk? This game is similar in that you have to go up the Beanstalk to collect items and get back to your house before the Grump wakes up. The twist is that all members need to get up and back before the Grump wakes up to win. If only one or two people get back before he wakes and the others don’t you all lose. Family members can help each other and strategize together on how best to beat the Grump. This game teaches kids cooperation skills, problem solving-skills, sharing and communication skills. No reading required.
Who can play: 2-4 players ages 5-10 years old.
Hoot Owl Hoot
In this color-coordinated matching game, players cooperate to help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up. If all the owls get back to their nest everyone wins. If they don’t everyone loses. There are different ways you can play this game to make it more challenging. Kids learn planning ahead, simple strategy skills, turn taking and following directions. No reading required.
Who can play: 2-4 Players. Recommended for Ages 4-10.
Mermaid Island
This is a fun game for Mermaid lovers! In this game, players work together to help mermaids swim to Mermaid Island before the witch gets there. You spin, move, and pick up a wand to defeat the Sea Witch. Kids learn turn taking, following directions and social development. No reading required.
Who can play: 2 to 6 players ages 5 years old and older. However, I think kids as young as 3 or 4 years old can play this game.
Forbidden Island
This is a great game for tweens/teens to play where you have to capture 4 Treasures as a group and then get rescued off the island before the island sinks. Every player has special powers that help the group play the game. It promotes Strategic thinking, problem solving and cooperation.
Who can play: 2 to 4 players Ages 10 and up.
I hope you find time during this Cornavirus Pandemic to play some games with your family. If you don’t have these games you can get them for reasonable prices on Amazon or https://www.mindware.orientaltrading.com.