How to Develop Collaboration Skills in Your Child
The phrase “No man is an island” has been around for a while, and most people are already aware of it. However, it is a quote from a sermon by the poet John Donne that reads, “No man is an island, an entire of itself; every man is a piece of a continent, a part of the main.” And while everyone is working on themselves in a truly competitive world, sometimes we forget how vital it is to work well with others.
In order to work with others as members of a group, a team in the classroom, or even in your family, we all need to learn how to communicate with them effectively and treat them with respect. It is perhaps obvious that teaching cooperation and collaboration to kids could be more challenging and that it might be easier said than done, but these are two of the most important skills that kids need to learn and grow into to be able to collaborate with others in the future. Children will be around other children and activities all the time, thus they should know the values that come with teamwork.
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Why does collaboration matter?
These days, collaboration abilities are practically vital. It’s possible to take for granted the many things in life that depend on getting along with others and forming connections at some time. Adults are aware of the value of working together on the job, whether it be for brainstorming sessions or practical tasks. Furthermore, this is applicable not just at work but also at home and in society.
Children will need to be able to work with others and it doesn’t matter what career path they choose. Working in a group and as part of a group will help children develop all other variety of skills such as social and communication skills. They will also learn other values such as patience, compassion, respect, and even tolerance.
How to develop collaboration skills in your child?
Okay, so how exactly can you teach your child these principles? Don’t fret because we have some ways that will help you teach your child the power of cooperation and collaborative skills.
1. Start collaboration at home
As children learn best at home, we must teach them all the critical skills we want them to develop early on. To instill a sense of collaboration in the child as they grow older, make sure to involve them in the family and include them in its accomplishments.
Let them be a part of the household by giving them minimal and easy chores such as sweeping the floor or tidying up their rooms. Even arranging their toys can also be a part of their chores. These can be small tasks that will help them feel included in the general household. They will feel they have a share in the activities of the house, no matter how small these can be. Also, remember that a child learns mostly by watching so also keep in mind that they will most likely imitate what they see. When the child grows older and can handle more tasks, you can also add to their chores. As such, find an effective method to communicate with them and interact with the child in activities together to teach them these important skills.
2. Discuss the importance of collaboration
Teaching your child to collaborate with others involves a lot of socializing as well. Ensure that your kid can socialize with friends their age. For them to practice working together, they also need the opportunity to converse with kids their own age. Talking with your child can, however, bring value. Assist them in realizing the value of teamwork, and remember to give them credit for their efforts when they demonstrate effective teamwork. Tell them how their actions can affect the team’s standing overall and stress the need to keep up the excellent work for the team.
3. Practice by playing games
Teaching children cooperation and collaboration abilities through the application of previously acquired skills is also an effective approach. Playing games is probably the most prevalent activity that may make use of this. Children are inherently quite active, and by playing games, they can interact with other children. For instance, they can use the abilities and information they have also previously acquired by playing board games or puzzles with other children. Children can use a range of games to practice their skills and enhance their socialization with other kids their own age.
Accordingly, it would be a good idea to establish some guidelines for team activities when playing games so that everyone is aware of the fundamentals, including sharing and taking turns with the other kids. It’s also crucial to involve the kids in the rule-making process, even when an adult is providing supervision. It would be even more beneficial if the kids came up with the rules themselves. By creating the rules for their game, they will be practicing cooperation even before they play it.
4. Sign them up for sports or extra-curricular activities
Athletic endeavors can help kids develop their teamwork skills in addition to their physical benefits. While younger kids can struggle more than older kids to understand the concept of teamwork on the field, with the leadership of a nurturing team environment, they can still learn a new sport and gradually come to understand how to employ those skills. Of course, playing sports might not be the greatest way for your young child to develop social skills. However, they won’t remain young forever, and the skills they pick up along the road will come in handy when they get older. They will learn the importance of being a part of a team, listening to their coach, and putting in their hard work.
You can also choose to encourage your child to participate in co-curricular activities if they tend to dislike or show no interest in playing sports. Not only can kids participate in extracurricular activities for fun, but they can also learn important social and life skills from them. An additional benefit of extracurricular activities is that they let your child expand their social circle and meet new people. In addition to getting to engage with a variety of individuals and making new acquaintances, it’s a great chance for them to take a break from studying. Co-curricular activities can relieve children’s academic stress while still being enjoyable, instructive, and helpful in helping them discover new interests.
5. Help them work on their self-confidence
Characteristics like shyness, bossiness, or being a sore loser might cause young children to have difficulty collaborating and cooperating with others. It could be challenging for them or the people in their immediate vicinity. Either way, if something isn’t done about it, they won’t enjoy it and it might even make them lose confidence. Thankfully, adults can elevate issues in circumstances such as these and teach kids how to work well as a team.
• Help boost their self-esteem
Shyness can be a common trait among children. They are still learning about the world and new things can be scary for them. Children who are timid and passive may also find themselves having difficulty fitting into a group and in some cases, may even be bullied by their more assertive counterparts. Parents can help children by assigning them tasks and demonstrating trust in them and in turn, will help with their self-assurance.
• Show positive examples
As has been reiterated many times, children also learn by imitation and seeing what adults around them do. To use this to an advantage, parents can also fill the programs that their children watch with characters that teach teamwork and collaboration. This way they can see the importance of those skills as well as follow these key characters in good ways.
• Ask for help if needed
As has been reiterated many times, children also learn by imitation and seeing what adults around them do. To use this to an advantage, parents can also fill the programs that their children watch with characters that teach teamwork and collaboration. This way they can see the importance of those skills as well as follow these key characters in good ways.
Conclusion
Collaboration skills have been a sought-after soft skill in the workplace for the past years and have become a staple even as it fosters empathy and improves learning and working capacities. Teamwork is a crucial quality that students require to have and develop to succeed in today’s world. There are many great opportunities for students to exercise this skill and nurture it further for the child’s benefit. And as parents, it’s also your responsibility to help your child down the right path to success.
Carelle
Carelle is a teacher who has been through the ups and downs of the teacher and learner life. She wishes for every learner to gain educational satisfaction that will help embody the people they want to be in the future.
