Thursday, March 6, 2014

Teamwork Starts at Home.


I told our three youngest children {ages 7,9,11} they were in charge of lunch clean up this afternoon.

The duties included ~
Washing dishes
Wiping the table and counter tops
Putting away the leftover food
Sweeping the kitchen and dining room floors

I did not have to tell which child to do which job. In fact I didn't even mention what they had to do.
I simply said... "You three are in charge of cleaning up"...
..and I walked away.

The three of them worked out the details together on their own.
Twenty minutes later the kitchen was clean.

"Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results."-Andrew Carnegie


I believe it is important to teach children teamwork at a young age.
I don't believe it's the job of a football coach or a Sunday school teacher...it's the job of the parents.

By the time they join the football team they should already know how to respect the coach as well as work on a team...and it all starts at home.

It doesn't come naturally...it's something that needs to be taught.
I thought I'd share three simple things we've learned that have helped us teach our kids teamwork.



1 - If one of our kids mentions they have more work than someone else, we give them extra work!
It only takes one or two times for them to learn not to compare and just get the job done without complaining or worrying about the great injustice that has been done to them!

2 - Choose a team leader and make a list.
Sometimes we choose one of the kids to be in charge and hand them a list with the work that needs to get accomplished. This teaches the one in charge how to delegate and organize, and it teaches those under their leadership to respect the one in charge...no matter how many years younger or older they are. That is real life..your boss won't always be older and wiser than you..however, you still need to respect his position.

3 -Tell them they make a great team. Explain to your kids how powerful they can be if they work together.
"In union there is strength"  -Aesop



Jobs don't always run smoothly in our home..and brawls still break out. ;)
Sometimes we have to step in...but for the most part, our kids get the job done without our intervention.

Parenting  can be tough, but with diligence, consistency and a little creativity,
it can be both enjoyable and rewarding!

XxOo

5 comments:

  1. thanks so much for the insights!!!! as a new mom, this is just the type of practical stuff that is so so helpful. i truly appreciate you taking the time to share :)

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  2. You are my mom hero. :) For real, I cannot tell you how much you encourage me - because you are right in the middle of young children, and still think it can be enjoyable, and that it's possible for there is be teamwork and good attitudes and to expect a home to be wonderful place. Normally that comes from people who can't remember having little kids. :) THANK YOU speaking and encouraging! I really wish to be your neighbor more than ever. :) xoxo

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  3. Cute hat for dish washing!

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  4. Loved this post! Isn't it awesome when siblings work together nicely :) Reminds me of my Wednesday group of 3 that I babysit every week and how they're learning this slowly at ages 2 and 4. ;) I find myself talking about working as a team almost every week.

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  5. Great post. Our boys typically sang and danced and took a LONG time to do dinner dishes...but they had a great time :)
    My hubby must have the same parenting manual as you, except, in this case, his was food related. Any boy who complained that his brother got a bigger piece suddenly had dad take a bite out of his piece so it became even smaller.

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