One of the first skills children learn in school is the ability to work in groups. Teamwork offers many different advantages to children, especially as they grow older and need to complete schoolwork and eventually find a career that involves working with groups to accomplish a common goal.

Teamwork requires children to cooperate with each other, and children who learn these skills are also on their way to establishing solid skills in problem-solving, communication, listening, creativity, and self-esteem.

To see how preschool and home life can benefit your child’s teamwork skills, continue reading.

How Parents Introduce Teamwork

While children often learn to work in teams and groups at school, they can also learn these skills at home. You can facilitate children learning crucial skills by finding teachable moments.

Often, children learn skills simply by playing with their peers in an unstructured environment. It is important that children have the opportunity to free play with their friends and siblings.

Sharing is one of the bases for teamwork. Children often learn to share by playing with siblings, but they can also learn this skill in any social situation. You can model sharing behaviors in front of your child.

Children can also learn empathy at home. Empathy is a skill that requires your child not only to be kind, but also to listen intently to the needs of others. Modeling these behaviors is helpful, as is discussing your feelings with each other. Many books are also written to help children understand the concept of empathy.

Conflict resolution skills are also critical for building teamwork. Conflict resolution involves listening to other people's feelings, speaking directly with others, and finding ways to solve problems. Children often learn these skills with friends and siblings, and you can step in to provide a template for resolving these issues too.

If your child has screen time at home, you might want to focus on sharing movies and TV shows that have a positive message. Many shows are created with promoting ideas like teamwork in mind.

How Preschool Introduces Teamwork

Children in preschool will sometimes work in pairs and small groups to finish projects. Projects could include anything from arts and crafts to completing puzzles. You should always discuss your child's school's plan for emphasizing the role of teamwork as a life skill.

Sports are also helpful for building teamwork skills. Physical activity allows children to exercise their bodies and their minds, building emotional connections. Preschool can emphasize the need for students to learn how to be cooperative, not competitive.

In very young children, one of the best teamwork activities is to learn how to build groups. For example, teachers might ask their students to act like one of two animals. The children will pretend to be this animal and try to find a partner or group. Games like Follow the Leader also promote the skill of teamwork and team-building.

Art can also bring groups together. Children learn how to build art projects together. Perhaps one student uses yellow, another uses blue, and another uses red. The goal is to work together to complete one piece of art with each child contributing.

How to Find a School that Promotes Teamwork



Many parents think to ask a preschool about the literary and mathematical skills their child will learn, which is smart. Unfortunately, many people forget to ask about citizenship skills. Make a point to discuss the different activities your child will participate in to become a better learner.

Are you considering a preschool for your child? Small World Early Learning & Development Center understands the need for young children to learn teamwork skills. Call our facility today to set up an appointment to visit.