Submitted by Sarah Morris on behalf of Primrose Schools- preschools with a passion for educating children.
One of the most important life lessons a child needs to learn is cooperation. It is a relational skill that aids in building friendships and helps in getting along with other people. Children are not naturally blessed with cooperation; it is acquired strictly through interaction with family and the rest of the world. Most kids begin to understand how cooperation works by age three when they begin to share and play with others. 
Sharing is the building block of cooperation, as it will help children grow the skills they will need to get along and work with other people. It is vital that this skill be taught early on, so that it will come naturally later when kids start to make friends. Cooperation is the basis of respect and having positive interactions, in any context. Learning to share is a character building behavior and is the cornerstone of being generous, caring and a good citizen.
Parents can teach cooperation by being a positive role model for it. The behavior of parents is the greatest influence on the development of a child’s character. Engaging in acts of cooperation while talking to a child about its benefits will highlight its importance and instill it as a value. A good example of this is having the child assist in cleaning the home, showing that when everyone works together, the job gets done faster and there is more time for fun.
Family projects are a great way to teach cooperation. Each family member can play a part in a home improvement project or simply by playing a board game. If cooperation is presented as being fun, a child will be more likely to adopt the behavior.
The story about stone soup, where a group of soldiers convinced everyone in a town to contribute to a community pot of soup, is an excellent and timeless example of cooperation. Having the family prepare a large meal together is a great way to make the lesson of stone soup come alive.
Books can also be a great teacher. Stories such as The Little Red Hen emphasize the value of sharing. After reading the story together, parents can ask the child how they would handle sharing or being part of a larger project.
Children respond well to music. Parents can listen to music along with their child and then explain how the end result is due to the cooperation of singers and musicians working together. Actually playing an instrument along with a piece of music can help a child further understand the concept, as can singing. Recording the music to a CD and letting a child hear it again will bring delight and greater appreciation for being cooperative.