Teaching Your Child The Value of TEAMWORK - Delray Beach Life and Health Coach

The expression “there’s no ‘I’ in team” has withstood the test of time for a reason. The truth is, teamwork isn’t just a combined effort that can help win sports games, it’s also a valuable trait that has the power to affect friendships, as well as personal and professional relationships. Teaching a child the merit of teamwork is very important in their early years of life, as it will help them succeed as adults.

At some point in your journey as a parent you might hear the question, “Does your child play well with others?” While your first instinct may be to answer yes, it’s important to understand that teamwork is far more than just working collectively to achieve a goal. It is a demonstration of compassion, discipline, and effective communication skills.

In fact, it is so indicative of character, that employers frequently ask a candidate about their ability to work well in a team- based environment during interview processes. For this reason, and many more, teaching your child the benefits of teamwork early on should be on your parental list of duties!

When you observe your child playing with other kids, do they pass the ball to give others a chance? Do they listen to directions? Are they open to other ways to play the game? All these questions are helpful in finding out whether proper teamwork is taking place. Being willing to play with others is a great characteristic, but you should also pay attention to how your child behaves once the game starts–as it can tell you a lot about how well your child comprehends the concept of teamwork.

How does teamwork help your child succeed in life?

It teaches compassion. Being a part of a team entails caring for more than just yourself. It provides a sense of unity and “sticking together” through thick and thin. Even more, it also helps reduce bullying–as being a member of a team helps children feel supported and worthy. Those who are a part of a team are more likely to stand up for others and stop the negative effects of bullying.

It teaches discipline. Teamwork involves following directions and respecting fellow members. Take sports teams as an example. Many coaches enforce strict guidelines and rules. In almost all team-based sports, members are required to maintain a certain grade level to remain a member of the team.While these rules may seem harsh, they are also there for a reason–for the benefit of the individual member, and for the benefit of the team. If one member is consistently late to practice, it holds up the entire team. In this way, teamwork teaches children that their actions have consequences and that they should think of the collective rather than the individual.

It teaches effective communication skills. One of the most valuable aspects of teamwork is that it teaches children to not only listen but to communicate effectively. The first step in effective communication is listening. Without it, it’s not possible to engage in dialogue with others. Otherwise, the communication is one-sided and the sense of teamwork is lost. Teamwork is a two-way street that involves listening and being heard.

It also trains your kid to listen to opponents–a skill that will come in handy later in their adult life. Listening goes hand-in-hand with speaking. No, not talking, but actual speaking. There is a difference! Anyone can talk just to talk, but to speak with a certain goal in mind is not the same.Speaking involves being respectful, open-minded, and expressing opinions. As you can imagine, these social skills will prove highly beneficial as they grow up–especially in the workplace. Interestingly enough, people who work well in teams have a greater chance of being happy in their careers

It builds self-confidence. Being in a team helps children feel like their voices and opinions are valued and respected, thus building self-esteem. In a team, even the shyest of members are encouraged to speak their mind and contribute, and this helps eliminate potential insecurities.

As you can see, there are several benefits of teaching your child the value of teamwork–and many ways how.

Start at home. For example, encourage your children to help each other with homework and to do house chores collectively. You can also incorporate team-based games into your weekend plans. Remember to correct inappropriate behavior.For instance, if you see your son yelling at your daughter for dropping the football, stop the game, take him aside and remind him that being a part of a team entails being respectful and helpful. Suggest that instead of making fun of his sister for not being good at the game, to teach her how to get better.

Set up playdates so your child learns how to interact with other kids and communicate effectively. It may be a good idea to observe their behavior during this time and step in if need be. After all, children are constantly learning and growing–they may need guidance along the way!

Be an example. As parents, we sometimes forget that our children look up to us. They often mimic our verbal and nonverbal cues. Remember to enforce the little things, such as saying “Please” and “Thank you” and to ask members of the family if they need help in certain situations. These actions promote compassion, respect, and support.

As always, if you need more information on how to enforce teamwork in your household, visit www.coachred1.com to schedule a FREE consultation. We will take you through the steps needed to raise happy, healthy, and compassionate children.

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