A family word game can be cooperative without becoming complicated. Choose a category and take turns adding something that belongs to it. The category might be things an imaginary explorer packs, names for a new planet or objects that could fit inside a very unusual shop.
There is no score and no need to eliminate anyone who repeats an answer. If remembering the whole list is enjoyable, try it; if not, each contribution can simply stand on its own. The format should suit the people present rather than test who has the quickest vocabulary.
Make the category broad enough
Everyday objects or invented ideas leave more room than a category requiring specialist knowledge. A child who knows fewer words can point to something, describe it or ask an adult to help name it. An older child can add a reason for the choice without making that extra step compulsory for everyone.
Accept imaginative answers when they fit the spirit of the game. A cloud in a suitcase might need a story, but it does not need to be rejected because it is impossible. The explanation can become the next part of the activity.
Keep turns light
Allow anyone to pass and return later. Do not let the game become a series of prompts aimed at one reluctant participant. Adults can model uncertainty by thinking aloud or choosing a simple answer rather than always producing the cleverest contribution.
If two people speak at once, return to an easy order. Going around the table may be enough. On a walk or journey, avoid rules that require people to look away from where they are going or distract the person responsible for driving and supervision.
Change direction before it feels like work
After a few rounds, the list can become the beginning of a story. Or you can choose a new category suggested by a child. There is no required number of turns to complete.
If the game becomes argumentative, simplify it or stop. Agreeing that two answers can both work may be more useful than debating the exact boundaries of a category. A word game with no winner succeeds when it gives people something enjoyable to build together, not when every answer survives a formal ruling.