“Collaboration begins within the family, and through different interactions as children grow, share, play, and learn how to get along with others. These early lessons cement the foundation for more sophisticated collaborations as kids mature.”
~ ABCs of Raising Smarter Kids: Hundreds of Ways to Inspire Your Child, p. 23
Collaboration is about joining forces, doing things together, and sharing ideas and opportunities. It’s a means of extending knowledge, capacities, and experiences. Collaboration can be exciting, reassuring, fun, and motivating. Moreover, it can help people achieve goals.
Children can be encouraged to collaborate with family members, classmates, friends, neighbours, and others. There are many places where collaborative activities can take place, such as at school, at home, in playgrounds, in recreational centers, and in other contexts as well. Meaningful connections can strengthen learning, broaden perspectives, and facilitate creative expression.
Anyone who has followed my work or read my books knows I’ve written a great deal about child development and creativity over the years. Learning curves and creative endeavors are especially ripe for collaborative efforts, which can fuel enthusiasm and accomplishments.
Collaboration: Pathways and Pointers
“When I was a kid, there was no collaboration; it’s you with a camera bossing your friends around. But as an adult, filmmaking is all about appreciating the talents of the people you surround yourself with and knowing you could never have made any of these films by yourself.”
~ Steven Spielberg
Award-winning film-maker Spielberg focuses on the benefits of appreciating and tapping the strengths of those around us. This realization may not have been apparent to him when he was young. However, parents can share the truths about collaboration with children, whether the kids are interested in film, art, writing, acting, dancing, mathematics, science, game-playing, technology, gymnastics, or other endeavors.
Teamwork can be gratifying and fruitful. It enables people to trade and build upon skill sets and thoughts as they engage in tasks or activities, and as they set and aspire toward goals. This is as true for children as it is for adults!
Here are additional considerations about collaboration to share with kids:
- Be open-minded to the talents and ideas of others. Let them challenge you, and inspire you, and spark innovative thinking.
- Think about the benefits of collaboration. For example, teachers, parents, medical professionals, first responders, athletes, government officials, construction crews, and so on, reap benefits from teamwork. Chat with kids about how collaborative efforts make a difference, including within families, in communities, and at school.
- Collaboration provides valuable lessons for children. It involves give and take, negotiation, listening, and relationship-building. All of these are important!
- Life is a balance. People can be stronger together, yet sometimes, strength lies in figuring things out independently. The key is learning when to do what, and with whom—and parents may have to help children discern that, and provide space, time, and encouragement.
Last Words
The collaboration that occurs between parent and child over the span of years is the most crucial collaboration of all. It sets the stage for others. When children see and experience collaboration, they learn to emulate it, and value it, too. Show them the way!
Author’s Note
Grumblesome is my first children’s picture book (recipient of a coveted Kirkus Starred Review)! The story is vividly illustrated by Brandon Dorman. I also appreciate the multifaceted talents of my artistic director (Sasha Illingworth), my editor (Harold Underdown), and my publisher (Gifted Unlimited). Collaboration lies at the core of this publication, and I’m fortunate to have this wonderful team.
Publication Nov. 2026; Grumblesome is available for purchase across retail outlets. Find out more at www.joannefoster.ca
