There is wide consensus that developmentally appropriate education for young children incorporates play-based learning. But play is more than free play, outdoor play, and dramatic play! Game play is also fun and enriching. In fact, you may already use many kinds of games in your classroom. But are all the games you offer aligned with developmentally appropriate practice? Research reveals competitive games can have negative effects on classroom climate and children’s behavior. Conversely, cooperative games (games based on cooperation rather than competition) have the opposite effect. They have been demonstrated to increase kindness, teach cooperation, and foster a variety of pro-social behaviors both during and after game time.
Besides the social-emotional benefits of cooperative play and games, there are other benefits—such as fostering inclusion, nurturing cognitive and social development, and cultivating joy! And, beyond those important benefits, cooperative games can be used to support learning in math and language arts, preventing bullying, easing the impact of trauma, and preparing children for cooperative learning.
This session, presented by Suzanne Lyons, author of Cooperative Games in Education, gives school administrators, teachers, counselors, and other professionals who work with young children will be a fast- paced overview of why and how to use cooperative game strategically. Join this exciting webinar to learn will how to tap the positive power of playing together, not against each other.
Suzanne will guide you to:
1. Learn what educational purposes cooperative games support (from SEL to teaching academic subjects and more)
2.Understand why cooperative play is essential for healthy child development.
3. Distinguish the features of good cooperative games for young children,
4. Reflect on the advantages of cooperative games as compared to competitive ones.
5. Discover some sweet cooperative games used–and developed by Montessori and Froebel
For more information or to RSVP, visit Early Childhood Investigations
