Cooperation is teaching teamwork. A parent often seeks their child’s help by asking them to lift their arms or place their legs into pants as they dress them. A child will benefit by knowing that the word that goes with their actions is ‘cooperation’.

Whether a child is 11 months old or 11 years old, they recognise they are being cooperative when their cooperation is requested and named accordingly.

When a child recognises they can be cooperative, they discover other areas of their life when cooperation is required.

Establishing and nurturing a friendship or relationship relies on the fundamental element of cooperation, whether it involves forming bonds in the schoolyard or collaborating with a professional team.

When teaching a child cooperation, they discover TEAMwork and realise that others are affected in various situations.

Learning to live together peacefully requires cooperation, understanding and respect. The world benefits when a child knows that we all are different and we have different beliefs.

Children discover that although we may not agree with others’ beliefs or concepts, it is vital to show respect and understand we all make our own choices. It isn’t healthy to attempt to enforce one’s beliefs on others. It can be extremely harmful.

All character traits have ‘friends’. Respect, consideration, thoughtfulness and understanding are all friends of cooperation.

For any multicultural society to live together peacefully, it is essential to recognise that everyone has a right to their beliefs, as long as they are not harmful to others.

For a child to grow and develop, they form their own opinions and beliefs regardless of what their parents think or believe. There will be stages where they will agree with outside influences and stages where they won’t.

Just because someone is older, it doesn’t mean they are wiser. ‘Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional’ is a quote by Chili Davis. Age doesn’t beget wisdom. Yet, how often do we hear parents tell their children, ‘I’m older, so I know better’? Especially when it comes to parenting.

Every child wants to do a better job at parenting than their parent did, regardless of how well they ‘turned out’.

It’s natural. Every parent wants the best for their child. Any parent should be proud that they’ve raised a son or daughter who wants the best for their own child – their grandchild.

That alone shows they have done a magnificent job in raising their child. As a grandparent, it’s sometimes hard to step back. It can be difficult to ‘let go’ and allow your child to choose to parent their child differently from how you raised them.

Know that you’ve done a great job and support your child by placing the trust, faith and respect they deserve in developing their parenting style. Let them know you are proud of them and respect their choices.

A parent who explores different ways to parent needs to be admired because they are open-minded to learn about a complex topic, with their child’s well-being being the only purpose.

Additionally, they exhibit the bravery and determination to uphold their beliefs against external pressures.

If you’re a new parent with external pressure from friends or family, I hope you recognise your own positive character traits. If you are an ‘external pressure’ on someone doing their best as a parent, let them know how proud you are of them and support them.

Cooperation is what the child needs to see role-modelled, and show cooperation by teaching teamwork.