Games can teach children the spirit of cooperation.

YOUNG children play games mainly for fun. Many children’s games help them learn to problem-solve, and develop motor and language skills. However, competition is often the focus of most games our children play.

Childhood games such as musical chairs or cat-and-mouse emphasise on winning. At the end of the game, those who lose will be sidelined and often feel like failures.

Children need games that focus on getting along and playing as a team. Instead of pushing or trying to outdo each other, children can also enjoy games that require them to help one another achieve success. Children as young as two years of age can care and feel for others.

The game of musical chairs, often played at children’s parties, can be upsetting to those who get eliminated because they did not sit on a chair when the music stopped.

This game focuses on who ends up as the winner and does not centre on children’s involvement. Children would shove and push one another to get a seat so that they can win.

Parents should consider games that are not only fun but encourage children to be part of a community. While we are eager to get our children to develop competitive skills, we do not want them to trample on others along the way.

Children can learn from an early age that they garner more from helping others to succeed than concentrating on self-gain only.

Here are some suggestions on how to make games less competitive and teach children to be more cooperative:

Musical chairs

Tell children that this game will require them to work together to find a place for everyone. They can be creative in the way they all sit together.

Set up two lines of chairs for as many children there are in the game. As the music plays, the children will walk around the chairs.

Remove one chair before the music stops. Everyone will find a place for one another to sit down. They can share their seats. By the end of the game, when there is only one chair left, children can decide what they want to do so everyone can still be together.

Mother, may I?

The whole family can play this game. For starters, a parent can take the lead by giving out the instructions. All the other players will stand a distance from the parent. One by one, each player will ask: “Mother, may I?”

The parent will say, “Yes, you may. Take a baby (small) step/mama (medium) step/papa (large) step.”

As each player approaches the parent, she/he gives him a peck on the cheek. The last player gets a big hug to end the game. Everyone applauds when the last player reaches the parent. This game is great fun for very young children and pre-schoolers.

Eeney Teeny Miney Moe

A game of tag on the reverse. The “key” player, who has his eyes closed, will choose from the circle of players by chanting, “Eeney Teeny Miney Moe!”

If his or her finger is on a player, he will touch the other person’s hand. If the key player can tell who the person is, the other person will take over his place. Everyone gets a turn to be the key player.

I ‘8’ it

This is a game of cooperation for a group of nine children. One player becomes the storyteller and tells a story, such as “I went to the market and bought home a big fish. I placed the fish on my dining table, and then I went to take a shower. When I got back, all I found was a fish bone on the table. I wonder who did it?”

Each player sitting in a row will use a number in his reply, “I ‘one’ it” until the last player says, “I ‘eight’ (sounds like ate) it.” Children in their late pre-school years and early primary school years enjoy playing this story-telling game immensely. Each child can tell his or her own story.

Mirror, mirror

This is a game for partners to imitate each other’s movements as quickly as possible. A more challenging version for older children is to eliminate the leader. Players are to move and simultaneously mimic each other.

The gift box

Make a gift box with a mirror inside it. Have the children sit in a circle. As each of them open the lid and look inside the box, they will marvel at the wonderful present that awaits them.

Each player has to say something nice about what is inside without revealing what they see. Of course, each player gets to see his or her own image.

A great game for primary school-age children who often make negative remarks about themselves.