The Game of Cootie
A children's game to build a three-dimensional bug.
William H. Schaper, who ran a popcorn machine business in Robbinsdale, Minnesota, came up with The Game of Cootie in 1948. The idea may have grown from an older pencil-and-paper game and a 1939 version that used cardboard pieces on a board. Schaper’s first cooties were made of wood and sold at the family bakery in Robbinsdale. By 1949, the game went into wider production with plastic parts. Sales took off quickly: more than 1.2 million units had been sold by 1952, and over 25 million by 1971. Hasbro bought the game from Tyco Toys in 1986. In 2018, a statue of a Cootie was put on display in Robbinsdale.
The game is for two to four players. Everyone tries to be the first to assemble a complete three-dimensional bug, called a cootie. Players take turns rolling a die (called the Cootie Cube). Each number on the die matches a specific bug part. To start, a player must roll a 1 to get the body, then a 2 to get the head. After that, the remaining parts can be collected in any order. If a player rolls a part they already have, their turn ends. Otherwise, they keep rolling to collect more parts.
In 2003, the Toy Industry Association put Cootie on its “Century of Toys List,” naming it one of the 100 most memorable and creative toys of the 20th century.
- inventor
- William H. Schaper
- year_invented
- 1948
- field
- Children's game
- original_material
- Wooden
- plastic_version_year
- 1949
- units_sold_by_1952
- over 1.2 million
- units_sold_by_1971
- over 25 million
Lore & Background
The game was invented in 1948 by William H. Schaper, a manufacturer of small commercial popcorn machines in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. It was likely inspired by an earlier pencil-and-paper game where players drew cootie parts according to a dice roll and/or a 1939 game version of that using cardboard parts with a cootie board. Schaper's cootie, which was originally wooden and sold at the Schaper family's Robbinsdale Bakery, was commercialised in 1949 and moved to a plastic construction for wide distribution.
Over 1.2 million game units were sold by 1952, and over 25 million by 1971. In 1986, Hasbro acquired the game from Tyco Toys. A 'Cootie' statue was exhibited in Robbinsdale in 2018.
Reader's Guide
The Game of Cootie holds significance as a classic children's game that introduced a three-dimensional building element to gameplay. Its inclusion on the Toy Industry Association's 'Century of Toys List' in 2003 as one of the 100 most memorable and creative toys of the 20th century underscores its cultural impact. The game's simple mechanics—rolling a die to collect bug parts in a specific order—made it accessible and engaging for young children. The transition from a wooden version sold at a family bakery to a mass-produced plastic game reflects the post-war boom in toy manufacturing. The game's longevity is evidenced by its continued sale and the eventual acquisition by Hasbro, a major toy company. The 2018 statue in Robbinsdale further commemorates its local origins and enduring popularity.
Did You Know?
- The game was invented by William H. Schaper, a manufacturer of small commercial popcorn machines.
- The original Cootie was wooden and sold at the Schaper family's Robbinsdale Bakery.
- Over 25 million game units had been sold by 1971.
- A 'Cootie' statue was exhibited in Robbinsdale in 2018.
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