Cooperative Kids

Family life is so much more peaceful when everyone cooperates. The benefits are great when we all get along. All kids need time and practice to learn to be cooperative and work together with both adults and other children. Working together well is the goal. And believe me, it takes practice!

I remember the first time I lost my temper and in exasperation asked my toddler through clenched teeth, “Why won’t you cooperate?” He had no idea what I was talking about. In fact, he laughed.

Developing a cooperative attitude takes time and patience. Try these tips to assist your children.

Raising Cooperative Kids

• Include everyone in play.
• Encourage children to share. If there’s a favorite book or toy that may be damaged when a friend or cousin visits, put the item away.
• Teach children how to take turns.
• Use the Golden Rule to reinforce empathy.
• Require chores for everyone in the family.
• Expect children to clean up after themselves.
• Model kindness and thoughtfulness in your own interactions with others.
• Family rules can be used as a method to set behavioral boundaries. Explain why each rule is necessary. A few positively phrased rules will do for young children. For example, “We are kind to one another” (positive) rather than “No hitting” (negative) covers a multitude of behaviors.
• Use routines as a training tool to assist kids in cooperating as responsible members of the family.

Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
Luke 6:31

Here’s my recommended reading list for young children on the topic of cooperation.
The Ants Who Couldn’t Dance by Susan Rich Brooke
Join In and Play by Cheri J. Meiners
The Big Umbrella byAmy June Bates
Sammy Learns to Share: A Lesson in Taking Turns byJena Kinne
Clean Up Time by Elizabeth Verdick

Related Posts
Chores: Little Jobs for Little People
Building Character in Your Kids
Do Your Kids Talk Back? How to Stop It, NOW!
Don’t Solve Your Grandkid’s Problems

© 2023 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.

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