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Cooperative Games Paradigm: The Circle Not the Triangle

December 16, 2016 by Suzanne Lyons

Many cooperative games are played in circles. I’m including one of my favorites for adam clockwise kids no captionbelow. It’s a classic cooperative game for kids and adults alike.

Even when not physically played in a circular formation, cooperative games are still all about circles. If cooperative games could be symbolized by a geometric shape, it would surely be the circle. In a circle, all points are equal.orange-circle blue-triangleCompare the circle to the triangle. In a triangle, there is one position at the top. Many more   points are below.

When we join together to play a cooperative game, we embody the paradigm of the circle—not the triangle. And that feels GOOD in a world where hierarchical structures abound.

Knotty People

Materials:  None needed

Time Estimate: 15 minutes

Number of Players: 5 or more

Object of the Game: To form a human knot and untie it

Game Category: Active physical game

To Play: Players stand in a small circle. They place their right hands in front of them with their thumbs up, pointing toward the sky. Players use their other hand to knotty-children-art
hold the thumb of anyone else in the circle except players standing immediately beside them to the right or left.

Now, the challenge is to untangle this human knot. Players can turn around, step over anyone, crawl anywhere, or do anything except let go.

With some coordination and focus, most knots can be untangled. If players just cannot do it after 10 minutes or so, they are “Knotty People,” which is okay in this case 😉

If you like the game Twister you’ll love this game!

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: circle game, cooperative game

Great Cooperative Game for Kids: The Yoga Garden Game

July 25, 2014 by Suzanne Lyons

photo of Yoga Garden Game components
Yoga Garden Game, a cooperative board game that teaches yoga and getting along together at the same time

One of my top-selling cooperative games for kids is the delightful Yoga Garden Game, a cooperative board game for ages 4 and up. Parents and teachers: this game teaches yoga and cooperation, is beautiful to look at, and fun to play. Why not get in the game yourself and share the gentle joy of cooperative yoga with your kids?

Yoga Garden Game, A Great Cooperative Board Game for Kids

Players work together to move the bumblebee through the garden and plant all the flowers before night comes and it’s time for bed. The rules are quite easy to follow, and with a little practice kids can actually play it on their own: players roll a die to move the bee around the board. Depending on where the bee lands, players may plant flowers, perform a yoga pose as illustrated on the yoga cards, invent their own yoga pose….or they may land on a space that puts stars in the sky and brings on night fall.

yoga kids pose of the weekWhy I Recommend this Cooperative Board Game for Kids

I love several things about this gentle cooperative board game for kids-and for you parents and teachers (who will surely enjoy looking on if not actually playing the game):

* The art on the game board is so beautiful … it shows a garden, the sky, and has such a peaceful feeling that it makes me feel connected to nature just looking at it!

* It teaches yoga in a very accessible and fun way for kids as young as 4 years old. Yoga is great for kids, as studies now show. I appreciate that the rules remind children “Don’t forget to breathe” as they practice their poses. The yoga game cards have

Yoga Garden Game cards teach yoga poses
The illustrated yoga game cards teach children yoga poses. Young kids can look at the picture while an adult or older child reads the steps.

pictures of the poses as well as simple step-by-step directions anyone could follow. The game is produced by YogaKids, a mission driven company all about teaching yoga to kids.

They are sincere in their mission …and you can tell! http://www.yogakids.com/

* As a cooperative board game, kids have to work together to accomplish a common goal. No one loses and has their feelings hurt. This game works in just the opposite way compared to a competitive board game: Here, everyone wins because everyone has a good time trying to move the bumblebee around the board and plant flowers, learning yoga all the while. If the game goal is not achieved, and nighttime comes before the flowers are planted, no matter. The group can play again another day and see if they can meet the challenge. As all cooperative games show, winning is more fun when it is shared, and losing is much less disappointing when we are all in the same boat. In a cooperative game, we can practice winning or losing, having fun and learning together!

CooperativeGames.com Deal of the Day

This is one of my best selling cooperative board games at CooperativeGames.com.  My customers are all smiles about it. To share the joy, I’m offering a 10% discount on the game right now. Go to our Deal of the Day Page at CooperativeGames.com. To see more and purchase the Yoga Garden Game, click  http://shop.cooperativegames.com/dealoftheday.asp

To shop our entire selection of cooperative board games, games for young and old alike,  go to http://shop.cooperativegames.com/

Thanks and Enjoy!

Teaching kids yoga through play
Kids learning yoga in the classroom with the Yoga Garden Game

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: cooperative game, cooperative game for kids, cooperative play, yoga garden game

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