Main keyword: cooperative games trisomy 21Alt text: Cooperative games for children with Down's syndrome
"We all won together!" This phrase sums up the essence of cooperative games: games where all players team up against the game itself, where victory is shared and no one suffers the frustration of defeat at the hands of another player.
For your child with Down's syndrome, cooperative play offers considerable advantages. They eliminate conflict-causing competition, encourage natural self-help, and create positive group play experiences. An ideal springboard to more complex social skills.
The principle of cooperative games
Together against gambling
In a cooperative game, players don't play against each other. They face up together to a challenge posed by the game itself. Either all players win together, or all lose together.
This structure fundamentally changes the dynamic: instead of trying to beat others, we try to help them. Instead of rejoicing at an opponent's failure, we encourage our team-mates.
Concrete examples
In Le Verger, all players gather fruit from the trees together before the crow eats it all. In Hop Hop Hop, players work together to help the shepherd bring in his sheep before the storm. In Little Cooperation, the animals must cross the ice floe together before it melts.
The principle is always the same: a common threat (crow, storm, melting ice) against which players unite.
Why cooperative games are ideal for your child
No losers, no frustration
Losing to another player can be difficult for your child to cope with. Cooperative games eliminate this source of frustration. If you lose, it's together, against the game, not against someone else.
This structure allows your child to enjoy positive play experiences, without the emotional burden of interpersonal defeat.
Naturally encouraging mutual aid
When all players' interests are aligned, helping each other becomes natural. Helping another player is helping yourself. More skilled players can support those who are having more difficulty, without creating an imbalance.
Your child can benefit from the help of other players while contributing to the common effort.
Enhanced communication
Cooperative games encourage discussion between players. "What do we do now?", "I think we should...", "How about you go there instead?". This communication is a valuable practice in conversational skills.
A positive group experience
Playing together, succeeding together, celebrating together: cooperative games create positive memories of the group experience. These memories reinforce your child's desire to participate in group activities.
> 🎓 Recommended training: Promoting the socialization of children with Down's syndrome: friendships, interactions, inclusion
The best cooperative games for children with Down's syndrome
Le Verger (HABA)
The must-have cooperative game for children. Players gather fruit from four trees before the raven completes his puzzle.
Why it's right for you: very simple rules, superb equipment (wooden fruit), short games, strong element of chance to balance players.
Premier Verger (HABA)
A simplified version of Le Verger for younger children. The fruits are bigger, the rules even simpler.
Hop Hop Hop (Djeco)
Players help the shepherd get all his sheep back to the sheepfold before the wind blows the bridge away.
Why it's right: engaging theme, simple mechanics, short game duration.
Little Cooperation (Djeco)
The animals have to cross an ice bridge before it melts. Very simple, very visual, perfect for young children.
SOS Ouistiti (Mattel)
Players pull out sticks together without knocking the monkeys over. Also develops fine motor skills.
How to play cooperative games effectively
Verbalising cooperation
During the game, verbalize what's happening in terms of mutual aid. "We're going to think of the best solution together". These comments make the cooperative dimension visible.
Encouraging individual participation
Make sure that every player, including your child, actively contributes to the decisions and actions. Solicit his or her opinion: "What do you think we should do?", "It's your turn to roll the die!"
Celebrating collective victories
When the group wins, celebrate together. "Well done everyone! We did it together!" This shared celebration reinforces the feeling of belonging to the group.
Playing down collective defeats
When the group loses, play it down together. "Oh no, the crow won this time! It's okay, let's try again." This attitude shows that failure is not dramatic, and encourages you to persevere.
From cooperative to other forms of play
A step in the progression
Cooperative games are an excellent first step towards more complex forms of play. They enable your child to learn the basics (taking turns, respecting rules, interacting with other players) in a caring environment.
Gradually introduce competition
Once your child is comfortable with cooperative games, you can gradually introduce games with a little competition. Choose games where chance plays a major role, so that defeat is not seen as a personal failure.
Keeping the cooperative in the directory
Even when your child is able to play competitive games, keep cooperative games in your repertoire. They remain excellent tools for times when competition would be too stressful, or for playing with children of very different levels.
COCO PENSE & COCO BOUGE are cooperative games for two, perfect for moments of complicity.Conclusion: winning together, growing together
Cooperative play offers your child with Down's syndrome a space where group play is synonymous with shared pleasure, not stress and competition. It's a space where helping each other is natural, and where differences in skill level fade away behind the common goal.
These games are not an easy way out of "real" social life. They are a springboard for your child to develop fundamental social skills in a safe environment, before transferring them to more demanding situations.
And beyond what they teach, they are above all moments of shared joy, collective laughter and victories celebrated together. Memories that build your child's taste for group life and relationships with others.
> 📚 To go further :
> - Learning to lose: dealing with the frustration of failure in children with Down's syndrome
