Outside the confines of competitive activities, the competitive mindset, and the competitively structured institutions so endemic to modern mainstream culture, there exists a parallel universe of cooperation. This is a joyful place dedicated to joint purpose. Here, conviviality and compassion set the tone. Break through the looking glass of competition—and all the negative emotions and ideas that often accompany it—and enter the Cooperative Zone. You’ll feel at home. Here is Community.
What is the nearest portal to this alternative realm? Look to food co-ops, childcare co-ops, certain online communities, community radio, churches, and volunteer groups, among other settings where resources and ideas are shared. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you feel you’re helping and being helped by other people while contributing to something larger than the immediate self-interests of those involved. You’ll notice lots of sharing and listening in cooperative spaces. Diversity and tolerance are in evidence for, in this world, people avoid judging one another as better or worse. Here, amidst relaxed smiles, eye contact, and pleasant conversation, you detect a sense of solidarity. You are not alone but are among kindred spirits who reject the stressful, oppressive, endlessly striving, and competitive milieu of social structures that pit one person against another in an infinite zero-sum game. Feeling alone and despairing of the rat race? Take a trip to your local food co-op. You just may have your faith in the innate goodness mankind restored while you gather some fair-trade, organic apples and freshly baked bread.
Cooperative Games and the Whole Child
Educating the whole student, rather than engaging the rational intellect alone, is a goal of many educators (myself included.) And cooperative games are one of the best vehicles for engaging the whole student—hand, heart and mind—that I’ve seen.
On an intellectual level, Cooperative games pose challenges that take thinking and problem-solving power to solve. Players share ideas and strategies to win together—so mental faculties are fully activated.
Cooperative games engage the heart too. They facilitate sharing, caring and appreciation as participants laugh and play, overcoming obstacles together and achieving little victories. In playing cooperatively, there is joy in togetherness. This is experiential learning that opens the heart.
Cooperative games make for active, sensory learning, too. Many cooperative board games, certainly the ones we feature at our shop CooperativeGames.com, are visually appealing with lots of art and enchanting game pieces. And there are many free cooperative circle games and active PE games that get the body moving too! For example, we offer a free Cooperative Games PE curriculum that accompanies a nominal purchase of the Pocket Disc—a beautiful, fair-trade flying disc. Check the Educator’s Hub and Fun and Free section of CooperativeGames.com for more on active cooperative games for fun and physical play.
So it’s really through hands, hearts and minds that cooperative games work their magic!
Who Buys Cooperative Games?
I get a lot of notes from parents and teachers who play cooperative games with their kids. Enough for me to feel like I understand these people and their motivations. These parents and teachers are a special breed. Cooperative games are not traditional and they are not popularized by advertising. As yet, no major commercial game publisher is pushing them. Cooperative games are not the default choice for children’s entertainment in our competitive culture. Instead of emphasizing winning, triumph, and being the best, these games promote peaceful play. Who cares about that?
Here’s what I see: Adults who seek cooperative games want to raise their children to know a gentle way of living. And in learning gentleness, it is hoped that the kids will understand the joys and benefits of being peaceful, respectful, and generous as opposed to aggressive and self-seeking. In growing up with an understanding of peace and collaboration, the kids should acquire the wisdom to choose healthy egalitarian relationships, and eventually, to work effectively with others in their occupations. I also get the sense that cooperative-game-loving adults want to cultivate gentleness in their children to promote more peace in the world at large. Are you one of these adults?
On the other hand, some of the parents and teachers who buy cooperative games aren’t quite so idealistic or reflective in their thinking. They have kids who don’t get along on their hands and they are desperate for solutions! Cooperative games lead to fun not frustration, and getting along together rather than fighting. So many adults are attracted to cooperative games simply because they are at wits’ end dealing with sibling rivalry and competitive classrooms. Maybe you’re here because you need to help with playtime madness, emotional meltdowns, and mean-spirited students. Is this you? If so, welcome! I believe we can help you.
Either way, whether it’s through idealism or frustration with traditional competitive activities, adults buy cooperative games for kids to teach them gentle ways so the kids might go on to create peace in their own lives and well beyond.
Report From the Ridge: Cooperative Games Workshop
I attended a cooperative games workshop last Saturday. It was a gift to the local community from some experiential educators who live and work in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. Mostly home schoolers, camp counselors, community leaders, and classroom teachers attended. The facilitators, Tom and Debra Weistar, have played cooperative games with kids for 20 years. They’ve co-authored a classic book on the subject, Win-Win Games, Cooperative Activities For All Ages. This practical and clearly written book is available at cooperativegames.com. You can see some video from the workshop on my facebook page if you are interested: facebook.com/cooperativegames
We played LOTS of games. Tag games, circle games, name games, and more. Here’s an amazing game that focuses on group problem-solving. You have to try this one to believe it!
Down to Earth
A group of 4-10 players or so stands in a circle. Each player extends their right hand, holding the index finger outstretched and the other fingers tucked in a “shooting” position. The index finger has to remain parallel to the ground and is about chest height. Someone rests a hula-hoop on the outstretched fingers. The group’s task is to lower the hoop to the ground with all fingers remaining in contact with the hoop.
This task is much harder than you’d think! The group will have to work together to come up with a strategy and execute it. It took our group about 20 minutes to stop unintentionally levitating the hoop and chasing it all over the hillside.
After a full day of cooperative merry making, I left the workshop knowing that I’d had a workout, made new friends, learned a few things about myself, and most of all had a blast playing in the woods. I hope you have the chance to participate in some cooperative games soon too!
Collaborating for Coral Restoration
Ahh . . . the beauty of art, the power of collaboration, and the knowledge gleaned from science all coming together for coral reef restoration! Check out this UNIQUE project from Colleen Flanigan (TED fellow/performance artist/activist.) http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/958753974/living-sea-sculpture-contemporary-art-as-coral-ref
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- Next Page »