Book Review by Jack Falt
The objective is worthwhile. Children do need guidance on how to include others. Children left on their own will play together, but often will exclude many. Here is a book of short, quick exercises that will help children be aware of the need to include everyone and to feel good about doing it. It is hoped that these skills spill over into other parts of their lives. These skills are useful in the context of Emotional Intelligence under the headings of interdependence and social responsibility.
The book is set up so that each exercise is on one page and the leader can quickly scan through the book to find a activity to brighten up a long Math lesson and get the children energized and go back to work with renewed enthusiasm. I can imagine that children would soon see these activities as a treat to look forward to.
The exercises are quite simple and usually need very little preparation. I can see a classroom teacher having some props ready for activities such as balloons, newspaper, masking tape, etc., and then when the energy in the class seems to flag, engaging the children in one of these games.
There were several that I marked that I thought could be used with an adult group in a workshop setting. If an activity is presented in the right context, adults are willing to go along. They like a chance to let their inner child come out to play, as long as they aren’t made to look foolish.
“Cooperative Squares” was an activity that looks interesting. There is a diagram as to how five squares are to be cut up. Pieces from different squares are put into five envelopes. Divide the group into five teams. The total group is now to reassemble the five squares. There is to be no talking and no taking pieces from someone else. Individuals may only receive or give pieces to others. So many activities involve competition. This is one that emphasises cooperation. Actually, this is very similar to an exercise used in Group Dynamics back in the 1960s.
I would recommend this book for classroom teachers or children’s leaders.