I’ve been surprised to find that cooperative games are just as fun as competitive ones for our family to play together! Cooperative games build creative problem solving and communication skills while also teaching kindness, respect, and a sense of security and unity in your family. Like the closeness and dependence that’s formed among members playing a team sport, cooperative games make your own family members the team!
I’m not at all against some good competition; I’m very competitive and enjoy a fair and friendly challenge (as long as I win! Just kidding… kind of). Since we intentionally limit time on screens, some of our favorite family activities are games and sports. Right now we’re particularly enjoying family baseball, the card game BS (standing for balogne sandwich, of course), and Ticket to Ride (the best board game!)
However, a few years ago, during a particularly board-game-filled season, we noticed more hostility than fun resulting from our games. Intead of friendly competition, someone would usually end up crying or giving up in frustration.
Of course, kids (and adults) need to learn to accept defeat, be a good sport, and not give up when something is hard. But that doesn’t necessarily mean we need to invite a lesson after every dinner.
During this season when we noticed increased hostility, I could sense that it was doing more harm than good for our family to keep engaging in so much competition. But we still wanted some fun- easy family activities that weren’t sitting down to watch TV.
That’s when I went searching for some non-competitive games and compiled this list. There are many more ideas out there, but this is a good starting place if you’re noticing that your family needs a little more camaraderie instead of tension.
These games are bound to end in laughter, which is a wonderful bonding experience in itself!
LADDER (or “up to the attic, down to the basement”)
Work those memory muscles with this word association game. Set a timer for 1 minute, one person start the game by saying a random word (ex: chair), then take turns, going around in a circle, each player thinking of a word that associates with the one before them (ex. “chair”, “table”, “dinner”, “vegetables”, “garden”, “shovel”, and so on.) When the time is up, go “back down the ladder” by recalling all the words in backwards order! Work together to remember and see if you can make it all the way to the starting word! As you get the hang of this game, challenge yourselves to longer and longer times!
(Tip: if it will annoy you to no end to not be able to make it to the first word, record yourselves so you can play it back if you get desperate!)
ADD-TO-THE-DRAWING
One person draws something simple and passes it to the next person, then, as the name suggests, take turns adding parts to the drawing until your time is up. You’ll end up with an artwork that’s possibly beautiful, very likely strange, and certainly unique. Change up this game by giving only quick 5 second turns or drawing with eyes closed!
MIX AND MATCH CREATURE
For three players- fold a paper in thirds, one person draw a head on the top third, flip over so the next person doesn’t see the first drawing, and the second person draw a middle section (chest and waist); flip again so only the bottom half of the paper shows and pass to the last person who draws the legs and feet. Finally, unfold your paper to see your crazy creature! This one is funnier the weirder you get- think: an ogre head with a giraffe midsection and chicken feet!
MAD LIBS
This classic game is always fun! Work together to write a hilariously strange little stories! Try this Mad Libs Original or Mad Libs Junior!
HANGMAN (or “apple tree”)
Another classic- one person thinks of a word or phrase and draws blanks for the letters, then everyone guesses, letter at a time, until the phrase is known. Draw a simple gallows and a body part of a stick-person under it each time a letter is guessed that is not part of the phrase; if enough wrong guesses are made, he’s “hanged” when he’s a complete stick-person (head, torso, 2 arms, 2 legs, face). We preferred to teach the less, uh, gruesome alternative to our young children, haha! In the apple tree game, instead of a person and gallows, draw a tree with 7 apples on it. For each incorrect letter guess, write it on one of the apples; if they all get filled, no more guesses!
WATER LAUGHING CONTEST
For an extra-hilarious (outdoor!) twist on a classic laughing contest: everyone takes a big swig of water (but keeps it in their mouths- don’t swallow), then just tries not to laugh! See how long it takes before everyone spits their water out. This one is a little competitive because whoever is able to hold their laughter in the longest will be the “champion”, but it’s still a great one for building a loving team atmosphere as you all try to make each other laugh.
WOULD YOU RATHER?
Think of your own questions or use some from this book!
CONVERSATION CARDS
It’s not really a game, but our family loves going through the questions on these conversation cards during or after dinner; there are so many, and they’re a great mix of thought provoking and fun!
Do you play any cooperative games in your family? What are your favorites? Let me know in the comments!
Jennifer Blacklock 
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