Video games often get a bad rap, but for kids with ADHD, the right games can be super helpful. Cooperative video games, where players work together to achieve a common goal, are especially great for teaching teamwork and communication through parallel play.
Developing Cooperative Skills
Cooperative games require players to work as a team. For ADHD kids, this is a fantastic way to practice social skills. Whether they’re figuring out how to beat a level together or solving puzzles, these games push kids to talk to each other, share tasks, and help one another out.
Games specific with this teamwork focus in mind, won't let them run to far ahead before they realise they need the help from others to get through. I would often play through the Halo Campaigns with children, and it would always start the same way. They would run ahead guns blazing tell you to hurry up and trying to lone wolf the game. But this was often short lived as they got overrun and would have to wait to respawn to give it another go. It didn't take them long to catch on that they had to move at the same pace, and the kids that were impatient with your pace, after prompting, would understand to help you keep up to their pace. (Sometimes I did this intentionally, I'm a pro at Halo)
Building Stronger Connections
Playing video games with your child isn’t just fun; it’s a great way to build a stronger bond. Kids are more likely to listen and cooperate with someone they feel connected to. By playing games together, you create shared experiences and victories, which strengthens your relationship. You learn how to talk to each other, you share laughter, you share frustration at the same thing, and that's important for children that always feel that they ARE the focus of your frustration. You develop inside jokes, and most importantly, you get to show how to handle frustrating and overwhelming situations for them to mirror.
Why Connection is Key
You can’t effectively manage behaviours in a child you don’t have a connection with. Kids need to feel understood and supported. Playing cooperative games together shows them you’re interested in their world and willing to be part of it. This helps build that all-important connection.
Real-Life Experience
I haven't just played cooperative games one on one in sessions, but I ran a gaming group focused on cooperative gameplay in mind, with groups of 4-12 kids playing together. The results were amazing. The kids not only got better at working as a team and communicating but also made new friends and connections. Watching them support each other and celebrate their wins together was incredibly rewarding. I got to see children that found it difficult to relate to others find common ground, and a pathway to other conversations and other interests.
Cooperative Games List
(Use discretion on age ratings and maturity level)
Trine 3
Lets Go Pikachu
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3
Portal 2
Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity
Left 4 Dead 1/2
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons (On Nintendo Switch for Coop)
Halo Master Chief Collection
It Takes Two
Unraveled
DOTA2 / League Of Legends
Lethal Company
Borderlands series
Lego Video Games
Fall Guys
Among Us
Diablo 3
Luigi's Mansion 3
A Way Out
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