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What’s A Great Family Holiday Gift?

As we enter the holiday season, I’m sure like most parents, you’re trying to think of gifts for your kids and relatives, that are not all electronics!  I’ve been doing some research into cooperative family board games and I think this concept is brilliant.  Plus, with all the hype around the latest Mission Impossible movie, James Bond movie and the upcoming release of Star Wars VII, these games create that same suspense and excitement but instead of playing against each other, your family is a team against the evil forces.  Cooperative board games are created for pre-schoolers to sophisticated teenagers!  (I’ve got a list of recommendations for you).

Competition vs. Cooperation?

When you hear the word cooperative games you might immediately love the idea or you might be skeptical and wonder if this is too cushy…  The answer may surprise you…

In Aderlian Parenting theory, the concept of cooperation vs. competition in the home environment is very significant.  Competition leads to feelings of superiority and inferiority amongst family members which is not healthy.  A child who feels inferior feels discouraged.  In Adlerian parenting, the goals are to minimize inferior feelings, stimulate courage, develop a sense of significance, contribute to others and feel a part of the whole.  There’s enough competition in our society, that the home does not need to be a place of competition.  If your child feels significant within the family, this will give him/her the strength and belief in his/her capabilities to handle competition and challenges outside of the home.

What Do Cooperative Games Teach?

• They create family bonding as family members laugh, strategize and execute plans together
• They give all children a chance to participate and have a voice that counts
• They give parents a chance to ask their kids/teens for suggestions, opinions
• They teach problem solving skills
• They create positive family memories (remember the core memories in the movie Inside Out?)
• They create an opportunity for a multi-age family to play a game together
• Builds self-esteem
• No-one gets left out

Recommended Cooperative Board Games

Teens

Shadows Over Camelot – You all become the Knights of the Round Table and join forces to protect Camelot (although there could be a traitor amongst you…).  Victory is based on the successful completion of quests such as the Holy Grail, search for Excalibur and theres’s wars against the Saxons and the Picts too.  (Ages 10+ but the reviews say it’s great for teens too.  3-7 players, 60-90 minutes)

Battlestar Galactica – This game assigns players to one of ten characters from the show.  Each character has their own abilities and weaknesses.  They must all work together in order for humanity to have any hope of survival. Watch out for who might secretly side with the Cylons. Try to figure out who the traitor is. Meanwhile fuel shortages, food contaminations, and political unrest threaten to destroy the fleet.  (3-6 players, Ages 14+ but reviews say 10 yrs.+ can play too. 2 – 3 hrs.)

Ages 10+ (although the reviews talk about six year olds being able to join in with the whole family with these games)

Pandemic – Family members take on different roles and work together to rid the world of diseases.  As a team you have to stop the diseases from becoming an outbreak and you also need to find cures.  The fate of the world is up to your family and time is ticking away…doesn’t that sound like a James Bond movie?  (There’s also an add-on to Pandemic called On the Brink).  2-4 players, 45 minutes

Forbidden Island – Go on an adventure to Forbidden Island, grab the treasure and get off the island before it sinks!  Each character has unique special abilities.  The island is always changing as tiles flood!  In the reviews, this was especially highly recommended for 6 yrs. + even though the game says 10 yrs.+ 2-4 people, 30 mins.

Castle Panic – As a team defend your castle from the attack  of goblins, ogres and trolls.  Work together to protect the castle towers and as long as you can keep one tower standing and defeat all of the monsters, you win against the monsters.  Ages 10+ 45 mins.

Flash Point: Fire Rescue – Family members are all firefighters working together to save people and pets from burning homes.  Ages 10+ 2-6 players, 45 mins.

Preschoolers – 7rs.

Max – Help get the little creatures safely home before Max, the Tomcat, catches them. In a fun way, children learn logic, consultation and decision making.  (Ages 4-7 yrs.)

Peaceable Kingdom makes a variety of cooperative games for younger children such as:

Feed the Woozle –  The Woozle has a big mouth and is very hungry. Work together to feed him 12 silly snacks from the spoon before all the snacks are gone.  This game involves some movement too as you have to walk towards the mouth.  (Ages 3-6 yrs.)

Race to the Treasure! – Will the family or Ogre get to the treasure first?  This game involves keys, dice and Ogre snacks! (Ages 4-6 yrs.)

For other gift ideas check out my recommended resources page of all my favourite books for parents and children, and Top 5 Self-Regulation Stocking Stuffer Ideas and Table Topics cards for great multi-age entertainment at the dinner table.

Have fun getting ready for the holidays,

Warmly,

PS. Registration for the next round of “Brain Science” groups, starting in January, is now open.  This group teaches children about anxiety and anxiety management strategies in a very fun and effective way.  There are still spaces in the 10-12yrs. group but the 7-9 yrs. group is full.  For registration, please call the ABLE Clinic at 604-922-3450 and for more information, please view the flyer here.

Thank you, in advance and with much appreciation, for any items you purchase through these links or the links on my recommended resource page – I receive a tiny commission from Amazon and it doesn’t affect your purchase price,  for each item purchased and this all goes toward the running of this website and blog.