Cooperative play is fun as we know. But in truth, there’s much more to it than just this. Cooperative games are a powerful tool for enhancing individual and collective well-being in the world today. Immerse yourself in our books and games to discover the magic.
Books & Games
That Inspire Cooperation
Cooperative Games in Education
by Suzanne Lyons
This book is the first complete guide to cooperative games for students pre-K–12. It includes a thorough pedagogical rationale and guidelines for practice, a survey of related research and scholarship, anecdotes, illustrations, historical background, and games to try for multiple educational purposes. Written by Suzanne Lyons and published by Teachers College Press, Columbia University, with a Foreword by Alfie Kohn!
Cooperative Play: The Antidote to Excess Competition by Suzanne Lyons
An insightful, research-based look at how our culture of competition shapes learning and relationships and how cooperation can transform both. Through engaging stories and clear evidence, Suzanne Lyons reveals how playing and learning together fosters genuine connection, teamwork and productive problem-solving. A must-read for educators, parents, and anyone seeking a kinder way forward.
The Cooperative Games Bullying Prevention Program by Suzanne Lyons
This book is an all-in-one resource showing how to use cooperative games to nurture a positive classroom climate and prevent bullying as was modeled in a 1994 University of Nevada, Reno study. It is an easy-to-read, fun guide, with research plainly stated and a wealth of teaching tips. Says April Bay, Ph.D., co-author of the Reno study “Cooperative Games: A Way to Modify Aggressive and Cooperative Behaviors in Young Children”:
The Cooperative Games Bullying Prevention Program is a great piece of work, and significant contribution to bullying prevention. Through the use of practical, easy to implement, and classroom-friendly games, Suzanne Lyons promotes a new mindset regarding the substantial impact of cooperatively structured play activities. This work reaches into and beyond bullying prevention with techniques that transform classrooms into social milieus reinforcing values of sharing, kindness, and peace.
The Baby Beluga Game
The Baby Beluga Game, designed and published by CooperativeGames.com in collaboration with Raffi. The Baby Beluga Game won the Dr. Toy Award for 2018 Best Educational Game!
Three levels of play for children of various ages, readers and non-readers alike. Wooden game pieces, original watercolor art by Ashley Wolf, plus an innovative game box design that makes a diorama of the Arctic that will awe children of all ages. The directions booklet is a treasure in itself. Made in the USA, fair trade, sustainable, child safe. Says legendary childhood entertainer Raffi about this game: “I’m a proud PaPa!”
The Cooperative Games Classroom Kit
Bring the big-hearted spirit of cooperation into your classroom with our complete classroom kit. It includes Suzanne Lyons’ award-winning Cooperative Games Bullying Prevention Program, the beloved Baby Beluga Game, and four classic Family Pastimes board games tested in the University of Nevada Study. Together, these resources offer a joyful, hands-on way to teach teamwork, respect, kindness and inclusion—what we need for thriving classroom communities and happy homes too! To make this collection affordable and accessible to all, it is low priced and packed with value.