There’s something especially cheerful about this latest cooperative game from Peaceable Kingdom! Sunny Day Pond was a hit with our preschooler testers. They loved that they were working together to make three puzzles that feature an orange duck, a purple fish and a green frog. Players use the spinner to determine which color puzzle piece they’ll be using. But beware, there are raindrops! If six raindrops are collected, the round is over! Very sweet. Designed for 2-4 players, ages 3 and up.
We’ve gotten several new cooperative board games. So far our testers aren’t too interested. Older game players really like the “winner” “loser” thing…and let’s face it, your average 3 1/2 – 4 year old expects that you will bend the rules to assure him a victory. One of our testers said “what do you mean, we all win?” I’m all for cooperative play–treasure hunts where everyone works on a team is a great experience for kids. One of the most humbling experience I ever had in life was when my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Goldsmith, put all of the so called leaders in one group. We lost terribly–because we couldn’t agree on a plan. It has always stuck with me – of course that was the point. Playing games with your kids is a great way to model good behavior but I’m not sure that means there can’t be a winner.
So let me know if any of these new games are hit in your house.