Let’s Play! Cooperative Games in Early Childhood Programs, by Suzanne Lyons, M.A.

Sponsored by Childcare Education Institute.

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.

2. Distinguish the features of good cooperative games for young children,

3. Reflect on the advantages of cooperative games as compared to competitive ones.

4. Discover some sweet cooperative games used--and developed by Montessori and Froebel

All sessions are 1.5 hours long and include a brief announcement from our sponsor.

2:oo PM – 3:30 PM Eastern Time.

To ensure you receive confirmation and reminder emails, add [email protected] to your contacts list. If you do not receive your email confirmation, check your Spam or Junk mail folders in your email system.

Can’t participate in our webinars at the appointed time? Never fear! All of the webinars are recorded. To view the recording, simply register now and you will receive an email with a link to the recording when it is ready to be viewed. You can still download the certificate by watching the recording to the end when the certificate link is announced and displayed on the screen.

Only 3,000 people at one time can attend our webinars, but registration often tops 4,000. Only the first 3,000 people to click the link to attend the webinar will be able to get in. We start the webinars 30 minutes in advance of the start time. Arrive early to make sure you get in.

Please be advised that you will only be eligible for the great door prizes if you participate in the live session.

You can earn .2 CEUs for each webinar. The cost is $15 paid to University of Oklahoma online when you apply. Learn more here: Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from University of Oklahoma

See the schedule of upcoming webinars.