10 Ways to Encourage Collaboration

A Waning Skill

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Raising children who can collaborate effectively and work well in teams is growing increasingly valuable. While we often focus on individuality, the ability to cooperate, share goals, and value others' perspectives is crucial for success and more importantly, fulfillment - and our children need our help to practice! As parents, we play a vital role in fostering these skills in our children.

10 Ways to Encourage Collaboration and Teamwork:

1. Engage in Team Sports (with a Twist)

I know how it sounds, but team sports offer numerous benefits beyond physical development. They teach children about commitment, problem-solving, and navigating interpersonal dynamics. And yet, at this moment in time, youth sports have become increasingly professionalized, with an intense focus on winning and individual achievement. That is not what this is about. Instead, try to emphasize the skill-building aspect of teamwork and collaboration. Encourage your children to participate in team sports for the joy of working together, regardless of their athletic prowess. And, if team sports aren't their thing, help your child to explore alternatives like theater, dance, debate, or other school clubs that involve group work and shared goals.

2. Assign Group Projects (and Get Creative!)

Group projects provide opportunities for children to learn how to collaborate, communicate, and share responsibilities. If your school doesn't offer many group projects (most of them offer more and more these days), create your own! A family book club can be a fun way to encourage collaboration. Let the children choose books, plan discussions, and create activities related to the stories. Emphasize creative expression and shared experiences over academic rigor. Then, observe. Take a moment to notice who's taking charge and who’s hanging back. Have a chat with them about it. Are they taking on too much? Are they feeling left out? Focus on helping your child find their place and learn to work together.

3. Host Family Game Nights

Family game nights are a fantastic way to promote teamwork and collaboration in a fun and engaging way (and they are so fun). Pick cooperative games that require everyone to work together to win. Games like Celebrity, charades, Taboo or Pictionary can encourage communication and shared problem-solving. Family game nights also have the added benefit of creating wonderful rituals and cultivating a sense of community.

4. Model Teamwork at Home

Children learn by observing their parents. Are you taking on too much alone? Of course you are! But giving up a little to model teamwork at home starts by sharing tasks and responsibilities as a family. Cooking together, doing dishes, and grocery shopping can all become opportunities for collaboration and bonding. Plus, you could stand to do a little less alone. When assigning tasks, involve everyone and emphasize the importance of working together to achieve a common goal.

5. Celebrate Group Achievements

Make it a point to celebrate group achievements, whether it's a successful sports season, a school play, or a community service project. Celebrations reinforce the value of collaboration and teamwork, and create positive associations with working together; helping our children to feel joy around the effort and teamwork involved, rather than just the outcome.

6. Encourage Looking Outward

Encourage your children (at any age) to think about others' feelings and perspectives. We have to care for others if we want to work with them, understand them, and connect with them. When discussing books, movies, or real-life situations, ask questions about how different characters or people might be feeling - and not just the protagonist. How do the “teammates” feel about the situation? What choices did they make? How did everyone learn to get along? This type of conversation helps develop empathy and encourages us to consider the impact of our actions on others.

7. Work on Conflict Resolution

Conflict is a natural and part of any collaboration. Teach your children strategies for resolving disagreements, for compromising, and for growing their capacity instead of avoiding it, or having adults intervene to solve problems for them. Start early with siblings or playdates, and encourage this type of conflict resolution to increase as your child grows. Look to your child for suggestions and strategies to try, and help them to feel powerful in managing these disagreements by expressing their needs and listening to others' perspectives. Help them find solutions that work for everyone involved.

8. Volunteer as a Team

Volunteering as a family is a powerful way to promote teamwork and empathy. Choose a cause that everyone cares about (or rotate who picks the cause), and find a project that you can work on together. Volunteering allows us the invaluable family experience and the benefits of collaboration, while also making a positive impact on the community.

9. Incorporate Group Discussions

Make time for group discussions, especially during car rides or family meals. If this comes naturally, have your children choose the topic and take turns. If not, suggest your own topic and see if you can get things rolling. Group discussions are about focusing everyone on one conversation, having each member share their thoughts and opinions, and creating a safe space where all perspectives are valued and respected.

10. Encourage Diverse Perspectives

Finally, and maybe most importantly for the world we live in, we need to encourage our children to appreciate and consider diverse perspectives. When something comes up – a news story, a debate – bring up different viewpoints and ask them to really think about them. Even if your family agrees on the answer (in your own bubble), introduce the ideas of those around you who don’t. This isn't about having the "right" answer. It’s about growing our ability to be open-minded and think critically. These skills are key for working with anyone, from anywhere.

By incorporating any of these 10 strategies into your parenting approach, you can help your children develop the essential skills of collaboration and teamwork. And, hopefully, you can find a little more family time and a little more connection along the way.

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