Recently, we had the privilege to participate in our country’s election and voting process. Although we explained this process on a level my 4-year-old could understand, we also decided to focus on the larger concept of collaboration/cooperation/teamwork while explaining the importance of Election Day. One way we did that was by playing cooperative board games. Cooperative board games are my favorite because the players must work together to achieve a common goal.
Table of Contents
Why Cooperative Board Games for Preschoolers? 9 Amazing Benefits
The wonderful thing about cooperative board games is that they have all the same incredible benefits of competitive board games (problem-solving, planning, math skills practice, resilience, etc) AND more! Let’s talk about the benefits of cooperative board games:
- Teamwork/Collaboration: Cooperative board games allow the players to work together to achieve a common goal.
- Communication: Cooperative board games allow children to listen to others, share ideas, and discuss strategies.
- Prosocial Behavior: Cooperative board games encourage prosocial behavior. Children will practice taking turns, offer help, and celebrate each other’s ideas and work.
- Less Anxiety: Cooperative board games focus on the group’s success rather than the individual child’s performance. This might make the game more enjoyable for children worried about making mistakes or being seen as the “loser.”
- Inclusion: Cooperative board games allow everyone to be a valuable player regardless of their skill level or ability. It allows everyone to learn from others and to feel included.
- Conflict Resolution: Cooperative board games allow children to learn how to work through disagreements in a safe environment. They will have to negotiate and compromise on strategies to reach their goals.
- Resilience: Cooperative board games, as well as other board games, allow the players to practice experiencing setbacks and persevering through them.
- Confidence: Cooperative games focus on the group’s achievements allowing the players to feel successful and valued in the collective effort.
- Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking: Cooperative games, like many games, challenge players to think strategically, and plan ahead. Cooperative games encourage players to think creatively and flexibly, weigh different options, and decide on the best.
Family Game Night with Cooperative Board Games
As the holidays approach, consider gifting your family a cooperative board game and starting a Family Game Night tradition. Family Game Night fosters a sense of togetherness and belonging which is essential for your child as they develop their sense of self and identity. Cooperative board games reinforce your family’s values such as empathy, teamwork, and inclusion. The joy of shared experiences and the comfort of familiar experiences are irreplaceable gifts you can give to your children.
Now without further ado, let’s look at this big list of cooperative board games for preschoolers.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying links. Many of the links below are affiliate links to Amazon. Thanks for supporting my work!
Cooperative Board Games for Preschoolers: Two-Year-Olds
- This is a sweet beginning game for young preschoolers. The goal is to work together to match the six hats before the star tiles are flipped over.
- First Orchard is a simplified version of Orchard designed for toddlers, where players help collect fruit before the raven arrives. It teaches colors, counting, and cooperation, making it a great introductory game for young children.
- In this game, players work together to help Hanna the honeybee gather nectar and make honey. Using a small honey pot, kids move nectar from flower to hive, learning fine motor skills and taking turns to contribute to a shared goal.
Cooperative Board Games for Preschoolers: Three-Year-Olds
- This game is based on the popular children’s book The Color Monster by Anna Llenas, this cooperative game helps children explore emotions. Players work together to help the Color Monster understand and organize his feelings, represented by different colors (such as yellow for happiness, blue for sadness, red for anger, etc.) If you are a fan of The Color Monster book or this game, check out this blog post for another engaging Color Monster activity.
- Players gather baby chicks and return them to the coop before Mother Hen arrives, introducing kids to counting and teamwork.
- Kids balance silly foods on a spoon to feed the Woozle, promoting coordination, teamwork, and gross motor skills.
- A game that introduces social-emotional learning, where players help neighbors by finding solutions, fostering empathy and teamwork.
- In this classic game, players collect fruit from trees before the raven reaches the orchard. This is a team effort, as everyone works together to harvest as much fruit as possible, learning counting and teamwork along the way.
- Kids use playdough to shape animals and hide them in a treehouse, working together to find all the animals before time runs out, incorporating sensory play.
- Kids work together to match and hide colorful bugs before stink bugs take over, building color and shape recognition and teamwork.
- A storytelling game where players work together to create a story about sunny and stormy days, teaching emotional awareness and collaboration.
- In a magical, cooperative adventure, players help unicorns gather cloud crystals and reach the end of the rainbow together. It encourages sharing, color recognition, and cooperation in a whimsical setting.
- Players cooperate to help geese wiggle and waddle across the board and reach their nests. It’s a fun, movement-based game that promotes coordination, teamwork, and gross motor skills.
Cooperative Games for Preschoolers: Four-Year-Olds
- A cooperative card game where players dress up fruit characters in fun outfits, focusing on teamwork and creativity.
- Players work together to complete all baked goods orders before the customer arrives, teaching time management and cooperation.
- In this game, players help animals board a boat by matching shapes and colors to the animals’ travel passes. It promotes teamwork and cognitive skills as players work together to ensure everyone is aboard before the boat departs.
- Players work together to guide dinosaurs to safety on Dinosaur Island before the volcano erupts, blending memory and teamwork with a dinosaur theme.
- Players help owls fly back to their nest before sunrise by playing color cards, which teaches turn-taking and cooperation.
- Players help animals hop across a path to reach a talent show, practicing teamwork and motor skills in a fun, engaging way.
- Players work together to solve the mystery of who stole Mrs. Plumpert’s prized pot pie. In this engaging “whodunit” game, players act as detectives and work to gather clues and eliminate suspects before the guilty fox escapes.
- Players work together to help ballerinas move gracefully to the finish line. This game promotes coordination and turn-taking, as kids work together to complete movements and sequences.
- Players help unicorns collect jewels while sharing and taking turns, fostering kindness and cooperation.
- A cooperative memory game where players match animals to their barns before Mr. Wolf gets too close. This game emphasizes memory skills and encourages players to work together to keep Mr. Wolf away.
Cooperative Board Games for Five-Year-Olds
- Players work together to protect their hen nests from Mr. Fox by spinning and taking actions to keep him from stealing eggs. This game is great for teaching teamwork, turn-taking, and basic strategy.
- Players gather fairy magic to save flowers from Mr. Winter, building color recognition and encouraging teamwork in a magical setting.
- A spooky adventure where players help ghosts escape by solving clues, enhancing problem-solving and collaborative play.
- Players race to get mermaids to Mermaid Island while avoiding the sea witch, emphasizing cooperation and teamwork.
- Players help mermaids gather items and avoid the sea witch, combining planning and cooperative strategy.
- A game where players match different types of currency, working together to learn basic money concepts and foster financial literacy.
- Players work together to create a path to the treasure before the ogre gets there, encouraging strategic thinking and cooperative play.
- Players spin and try to put the puzzle pieces together before the rain comes.
- Players cooperate to save a dragon trapped in a dungeon, helping each other navigate obstacles and avoid traps. This adventure game encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and communication.
- Players work together to match ingredients and add them to a pot to create “stone soup” before the fire goes out, building memory skills and teamwork.
*A personal favorite.
Who are Cooperative Board Games for? (Hint: Everyone)
If it’s not a cooperative board game, I don’t want it! Just kidding. I do like a good competitive game, but there is just something special about cooperative board games. We often play board games as a bonding experience in our family. Working together, instead of against each other, adds to that bonding.
Once you start going down the cooperative board game rabbit hole, you will find there are cooperative board games for any age. My husband and I even love playing one during our date nights at home (Code Names Duet, in case you were wondering). I hope this list has helped you find games that will allow even your youngest players to join in on the fun!
