Real-life examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings that actually work

Everyday examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings at home

Let’s start with the place where most sibling rivalry happens: home. Some of the best examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings are super ordinary, almost boring – which is exactly why they’re doable.

Think about the routines you already have and ask, “How can two kids do this together instead of separately?” That simple shift turns everyday tasks into examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings.

Example of siblings teaming up on chores

Instead of assigning each child a totally separate chore, try pairing them on one shared job with a clear, joint goal.

For instance, instead of:

• Child A: Clears the table
• Child B: Sweeps the floor

You might say:

“You two are the Kitchen Crew tonight. Your job together is to get the kitchen from ‘messy’ to ‘ready for tomorrow.’ You decide who does what, but you both have to agree you’re done before you call me to check.”

Real examples include siblings:

• Tag-teaming dishes: one rinses, one loads the dishwasher
• Making a “laundry race” against the timer: one sorts colors, the other folds towels
• Cleaning a shared bedroom together, with one organizing toys while the other makes the beds

The key is that the success is shared. You praise the team: “You two worked really well together. Look how fast that went when you helped each other.” Over time, these examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings teach them that cooperation makes life easier for everyone.

Examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings through cooking

Cooking is a goldmine for sibling teamwork. It’s hands-on, sensory, and has a clear reward at the end: food.

Some real examples include:

• Making homemade pizza: one sibling shapes the dough while the other adds sauce and toppings
• Baking cookies: an older child reads the recipe and measures dry ingredients while a younger one cracks eggs and stirs
• Packing school lunches together: one makes sandwiches, the other packs fruit and snacks

You can set it up like this:

“Tonight, you’re both in charge of dessert. You’ll need to figure out who does which steps so you can finish on time.”

Cooking together doesn’t just build teamwork; it also supports math, reading, and executive function skills. The CDC notes that involving children in daily routines and responsibilities supports their social and emotional development over time (CDC, Parenting Tips). When siblings do this together, those benefits multiply.

Playtime examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings

Play is where kids practice their social skills with the training wheels on. If you’re looking for real examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings, playtime is your best laboratory.

Cooperative games as an example of building sibling teamwork

Most board games are “every kid for themselves,” which can ramp up rivalry. Look for cooperative games where everyone wins or loses together.

Examples include:

• Games where players work together to beat a shared challenge or “the clock” instead of each other
• Building a huge Lego city where each sibling is responsible for a different neighborhood, but the final goal is one connected world
• Creating a giant blanket fort, with one sibling in charge of structure (chairs, blankets) and the other in charge of interior design (pillows, books, flashlights)

You can frame it like this:

“Your mission is to build the tallest tower you can that doesn’t fall over. You’ll both have to agree on where each block goes.”

These play-based examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings help them practice negotiation, turn-taking, and problem-solving in a low-stakes way.

Imaginative play: one of the best examples of natural teamwork

Imaginative play is one of the best examples of how siblings already know how to work together – they just need a little support staying in that cooperative zone.

Some real examples:

• Playing “restaurant”: one sibling is the chef, the other is the server, and they have to work together to serve the “customers” (you, stuffed animals, action figures)
• Playing “school”: an older child is the teacher, a younger one is the student, and they create lessons together
• Creating a home “theater”: they write tickets, design costumes, and put on a show as a team

You can gently guide the roles:

“It sounds like you both want to be the superhero. What if today one of you is the hero and one is the inventor who builds the hero’s gadgets? Tomorrow you can switch.”

Research from child development experts, including those summarized by Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, shows that cooperative play strengthens skills like self-regulation, perspective-taking, and flexible thinking (Harvard Center on the Developing Child). When siblings share these roles, they’re building exactly those skills with each other.

Schoolwork and learning: subtle examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings

Teamwork isn’t just for fun and chores. Some of the most powerful examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings show up in homework and learning.

Homework helpers: example of older-younger teamwork

Many families already have a version of this: the older sibling helps the younger one with reading or math. But you can turn it into a more intentional example of teamwork.

Try setting it up like this:

“You’re both part of the Homework Team. Your job is to help each other finish your work in a calm way. That might mean reading directions out loud together or checking each other’s work.”

Real examples include:

• An older sibling quizzing a younger one on spelling words while the younger one times the older sibling on math facts
• Siblings taking turns reading pages of the same book out loud
• A younger sibling helping an older one by organizing flashcards or highlighting important parts of a study guide

The point is not that the older child becomes the permanent tutor. It’s that both kids see themselves as contributors to each other’s success.

Learning projects as examples of sibling collaboration

You can also create at-home “projects” that encourage teamwork:

• A family science experiment where one child gathers materials and the other records observations
• A shared poster or slideshow about a topic they both like (dinosaurs, space, animals), where each sibling is responsible for a piece of the research
• A backyard nature “investigation,” with one child taking photos and the other keeping a notebook of what they see

These examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings show them that learning doesn’t have to be competitive. They’re on the same side.

Digital life and screen time: modern examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings

In 2024–2025, a lot of sibling interaction happens around screens. Instead of fighting this, you can turn it into examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings.

Co-op video games as an example of positive teamwork

Many games now have cooperative modes where players work together rather than battle each other. When you’re choosing games, look for ones where:

• Players share a goal (solving puzzles, completing quests)
• The game rewards collaboration, not just individual scores
• Different roles are needed (builder, planner, explorer, etc.)

You might say:

“If you want to play together, you need to pick a game where you’re on the same team and help each other.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that co-viewing and co-playing can make screen time more social and beneficial, especially when adults guide the experience (HealthyChildren.org, AAP). When siblings co-play, they’re getting that same social benefit with each other.

Shared digital projects: example of creative teamwork

Screens don’t have to mean zoning out. Some real examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings with tech:

• Making a short video or “movie” together, with one sibling planning the scenes and the other acting or filming
• Creating a shared playlist for car rides or bedtime, taking turns adding songs
• Building a shared world in a sandbox-style game where they have to plan and design together

You can frame it as a joint mission:

“Your project today is to make a 2-minute video about our pet. You’ll need to plan, film, and edit it together. Decide who does what before you start.”

These digital-age examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings match the way kids actually live now, instead of pretending screens don’t exist.

Emotional teamwork: examples of siblings supporting each other

Not all teamwork is about tasks. Some of the most meaningful real examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings are emotional.

Comfort and support as an example of quiet teamwork

Watch for small moments and name them out loud:

• An older sibling sitting with a younger one who’s scared of a thunderstorm
• A younger child bringing a stuffed animal or blanket to a crying brother or sister
• Siblings waiting together at a new activity, holding hands or sitting close

When you see it, say something like:

“I noticed you stayed with your sister when she was nervous. That’s what being on the same team looks like.”

This kind of specific praise is backed by decades of research on positive reinforcement and child behavior, summarized by organizations like the CDC and NIH (NIH – Positive Parenting). You’re not just saying “good job”; you’re teaching them that emotional support is part of teamwork.

Problem-solving as an example of advanced teamwork

Another powerful example of encouraging teamwork between siblings is letting them solve small conflicts together, with you as a coach instead of a referee.

You might say:

“You both want the same toy. Instead of me deciding, I want to hear two ideas from each of you about how you can share it or take turns. Your goal is to find a plan you both can live with.”

Real examples of solutions kids come up with:

• Setting a timer and agreeing on turn lengths
• Using the toy together in a new way (building a game around it)
• Trading: one gets the toy now, the other chooses the next show or game

When they figure something out, highlight the teamwork:

“You disagreed, but you listened and found a plan that worked for both of you. That’s real teamwork.”

How to set up more examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings in daily life

If you want more examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings to show up in your home, you don’t need a big overhaul. You need tiny, repeatable shifts.

Here are some principles to guide you, woven into everyday life:

Create shared missions.
Instead of, “You clean your room, you clean yours,” try, “Your mission is to get both rooms ready for a playdate. You decide how to divide the work.”

Praise the team, not just the star.
Instead of, “Great job, Emma,” try, “You and Noah worked really well together on that puzzle.” This turns a single success into an example of teamwork.

Use “we” language.
Talk about “our family team,” “you two as a team,” “helping each other win.” It sounds small, but it changes how kids see themselves.

Keep expectations realistic.
Siblings won’t suddenly turn into harmony robots. Some days you’ll get beautiful examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings; other days you’ll get “He breathed on me!” Both are normal.

Model teamwork yourself.
Let them see you and another adult working together: cooking, problem-solving, apologizing. Kids learn a lot about teamwork by watching how adults handle frustration and cooperation.

Over time, all these small moves add up. You’ll start to notice more real examples of siblings backing each other up, sharing victories, and solving problems together – even if they still argue over the last cookie.

FAQ: Real-world questions about encouraging sibling teamwork

What are some simple examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings for young kids?

For toddlers and preschoolers, the best examples are very concrete and short: carrying a laundry basket together, pushing a box across the floor as a team, cleaning up blocks with a shared “beat the timer” game, or watering plants with one child holding the watering can and the other pointing out which plant is next. Keep the tasks brief and celebrate the effort more than the result.

Can you give an example of how to turn sibling rivalry into teamwork?

Yes. Imagine both kids are fighting over who gets to sit next to you at dinner. Instead of choosing a “winner,” you might say, “Tonight, your job as a team is to make dinner more fun for everyone. One of you can sit next to me and be in charge of passing food. The other sits across from me and is in charge of starting a silly conversation topic. Tomorrow, you switch.” You’ve turned a competition into a shared mission.

What are some examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings when their ages are far apart?

With a big age gap, real examples include: the older child teaching the younger one a simple skill (like riding a scooter) while you supervise; the younger one being the “assistant” while the older one bakes; or making the older child the “story chooser” and the younger one the “page turner” at reading time. The idea is to give each child a meaningful role, not just make the older one the permanent helper.

Are there examples of teamwork that work for neurodivergent siblings?

Yes, though you may need to adjust expectations and structure. Examples include parallel teamwork (both kids working on similar tasks side by side, like drawing or building), highly structured games with clear rules and visual supports, or shared sensory activities like playing with kinetic sand or water. Many families find that predictable routines and visual schedules help siblings know what’s expected, which reduces conflict and makes cooperation easier. For more guidance, resources from the CDC on developmental differences and family life can be helpful (CDC – Child Development).

How often should I create these examples of teamwork? Every day?

You don’t have to stage big projects daily. Aim for a couple of small, intentional moments most days: a shared chore, a quick game, a 5-minute “mission.” Consistency matters more than intensity. Over weeks and months, these repeated examples of encouraging teamwork between siblings slowly shift how your kids see each other—from rivals sharing a house to teammates sharing a life.