Cooperative Play: Setting the Cornerstone to Your Child’s Behavioral and Cognitive Development Mildred Parten Newhall, an American sociologist, has developed six different types of plays for children between ages two and five. One of these six types of play is cooperative play. Unoccupied, solitary, onlooker, parallel, and associative play are the other five types. These six types explain how children change their playing style based on their social development. Each level of the play depicts cognitive and social development in children and helps parents understand how well their children are growing. Read this post as we talk about cooperative play, its importance, and various games that can encourage it.
What Is Cooperative Play?
Cooperative play occurs when children play with other children. It requires division of efforts among them to achieve a common group goal or specific tasks. While competitive games involve winners and losers, cooperative games involve problem-solving methods where everyone wins. Through this stage of play, children learn problem-solving, self-advocacy, decision-making skills, teamwork, sharing, and conflict resolution knowledge.
When Does Cooperative Play Begin?
Cooperative play typically begins when children are aged between 4 and 5 (1). However, the child’s innate abilities, such as the exchange of ideas and role acceptance, are crucial for determining whether he/she is ready for starting cooperative play. They also need to understand the meaning of respect towards property rights, and the need to uphold and abide by rules. For instance, a four-year-old child may not have sufficiently developed the ability to compromise with their toys. But at five years, sharing may increase their fun and happiness.
Why is Cooperative Play Important?
Cooperative play activities may be essential for the following reasons (2).
1. Reduces aggressive behavior and tendencies
Participating in various collaborative games can make children perceive and accept the differences brought out by increased social interactions. Through cooperative play, children tend to show positive behaviors, such as politeness and mutual respect, thereby helping control aggressive behavior.
2. Supports cooperation and shared goals
Collaboration helps children in social and academic interactions. Games that require increased cooperation provide scope for the development of social skills. Cooperative play allows children to observe different roles in the team and a new point of view. Some examples include agreement on the rules of games, completing structures by adding bits and pieces and linking different aspects to complete shared tasks. This allows children to work together towards a common goal instead of in opposition to one another or in the pursuit of winning.
3. Enhances communication and use of language
These skills aid in self-expression, enabling them to convey messages or decode information from their surroundings, thereby allowing them to perceive various situations. They also help improve listening skills and the ability to respect different perspectives as they have to agree on rules and organize their play.
4. Improves trust and conflict resolution
As a child sees their team members perform to their best effort, they build trust in each other. It makes them gain dependence on others by recognizing each other’s strengths. As trust builds, they learn to resolve their conflicts and work as a team.
5. Teaches self-regulation
Cooperative play requires children to regulate their emotions. Some of the critical aspects of such regulation include absorption of disappointment during a loss, restriction on immediate gratification, and proceeding in the game as a team.
6. Instills a sense of belonging
Cooperative play is inclusive, ensuring every child is involved. This instills a sense of belonging among participating players.
7. Supports problem-solving skill development
Children need to discuss and debate on the rules of the game, develop strategies to win the game, and overcome the hurdles that come their way. This imbibes problem-solving skills in them.
Cooperative Play Ideas And Activities
Some of the common cooperative play ideas and activities are:
Board games Fit-me-to-know puzzles Treasure hunt Den building Team sports and games Storytelling Sandcastle building Building blocks and towers Lego
References:
Involving them while doing chores Engaging them in back-and-forth interactions Being a model of cooperativeness Including cooperative games in their daily routine
