How Do You Teach Teamwork to Children?

From a very early age, kids are taught to share their toys and take turns. Over time, they will continue to learn skills, such as how to give and take and how to use both their strengths and the strengths of others to achieve a goal.

Do they realize this is teamwork? Likely not. But taking the time to build on the skills they have so that they can grow is a huge step in the right direction.

Teamwork is required in so many different facets of life. And the earlier children learn how to be a team player, the easier time they will have fitting in as part of a team in all of life’s ventures.

So, let’s take a look at a few ways you can teach teamwork to children.

Talk About Teamwork

Communication is key in everything which is why it only makes sense to talk about it. Explain that teamwork is when a group comes together to solve a problem or accomplish a task. Give examples, perhaps reading books on teamwork or watching short videos to further get the point across.

This gives you the perfect opportunity to discuss why teamwork is so beneficial, sharing the task rather than trying to do the whole thing alone.

Model Teamwork

Kids model behavior. Therefore, one of the best ways you can teach a child to work with others is to lead by example. Adults working together to achieve a common goal will be witnessed by children — but they may not necessarily understand the significance of it. This is why, again, it is important to talk about teamwork.

After the task is finished, ask what they saw and point out how each adult worked together to reach the goal.

Join a Team

One easy way to promote teamwork is to, well, join a team! Many different opportunities allow children to join others with shared interests. For instance Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, church groups, volunteer organizations, community groups, band, dance, theater, and so forth.

Not only do these groups build teamwork skills, but they are very rewarding in other ways, too.

Engage the Children in Team Activities

Many times, the best way to learn something is to have hands-on experience with it. When it comes to teamwork, why not engage them in team activities? Here are a few examples:

• Music class. Teaching some children to play on the recorder and others to use various forms of percussion to create a song is a great way to show what coming together can create.
• Performance. Put on a play or performance for parents. Working together to create this involves teamwork.
• Projects. Break students into teams and task them with a project they must build and present. It’s essential to ensure that all children, including those with learning difficulties, are given roles that play to their strengths and contribute to the team’s success.
• Recess. During recess, organize teams to play a sport, such as baseball, basketball, flag football, and so forth. This is a fun way to promote working with each other.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to teamwork activities. Just remember that it is always a good idea to talk about it afterward so that the children can recognize how they came together — and what they achieved.

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