What is teamwork?
Teamwork allows you to share the load, have mutual support, and lift each other up, making parenting feel more manageable.
When you’re not trying to do it all alone, you can be more present and patient, allowing you to show up as the parent you want to be.
Why it matters
It’s overwhelming trying to keep everything afloat. Parenting can start to feel like a solo act when you and your partner aren’t on the same page, your needs get pushed aside, and you end up handling everything alone.
But shouldering it all doesn’t only drain you — it affects the whole family. A strong, united parenting team sets the foundation for a stronger and more connected family dynamic.
Use this activity by Better Together to identify your support circle and determine who to turn to for different needs.
Put it into practice
Boost your family teamwork with these quick exercises:
Practice Using “I” Statements
Develop less confrontational communication habits by practicing “I” statements to express your feelings without blame.
Activities to Help You Manage Conflict
Navigate conflict with more empathy and understanding using these realistic strategies that you and your co-parent can practice together.
6 Journaling Prompts to Help You Improve Communication
Reflect on your communication style and uncover new ways to express yourself more effectively.
The Parental Burnout Test
Assess your level of stress so you can catch burnout in its tracks and start practicing some much-needed self-care.
3-Minute Guided Meditation to Prepare for a Difficult Conversation
Center yourself before heading into a challenging conversation to help you communicate more mindfully and effectively.
100 Affirmations About Asking for Help
Empower yourself with these reminders that it’s ok (and beneficial) to lean on others even as a parent.
The 7th-Breath Forehead Connection Exercise
Use this mindful breathing exercise to sync up with your partner.
5-Minute Radical Generosity Visualization
Bring a sense of gratitude to your relationship with this quick guided meditation to help you reconnect with your partner.
The Three Parts of an Effective Apology
Repair and restore trust in your relationship by using the key components of a heartfelt apology.
5 Rituals to Reconnect in Your Relationships
Incorporate these simple practices to strengthen your relationship with your partner, even as a busy parent.
Continue building teamwork as a family with these activities for deeper connection:
Sparking Joy Together: A Relationship Checklist
Strengthen your bond as busy parents and bring more joy to your relationship with this easy-to-follow checklist of ideas and activities.
Active Listening and Empathy Worksheet
Improve your communication skills with this guide, designed to help you practice active listening, empathy, and better connection with those around you.
Task, Trust, and Talk
Practice asking for help and sharing the parenting load with this easy-to-follow 3-step process.
Recognize Signs of Hyper-Independence
Prevent burnout by learning to identify the signs that you may be trying to handle parenting and life all on your own.
After the Argument: How to Begin Again
Come back together after a disagreement with these simple activities that help you and your partner reconnect.
Me (and My Partner’s) Strengths
Enhance teamwork by identifying the strengths that you and your partner bring to the relationship.
Finding Common Ground
Get on the same team with these techniques that foster mutual understanding and compromise.
DEAR MAN Skill Worksheet
Practice healthy assertiveness with this communication framework that helps you express your wants and needs effectively.
Getting Parents on the Same Page
Follow this simple 3-step process to reach a compromise and start parenting from the same team.
GROW Through Conflict
Work through disagreements with your parenting team using this problem-solving approach that helps you turn conflict into opportunities for growth.
Consider Your Intentions
Use this worksheet to tune into your intentions and prevent potential conflict with those around you.
The Mental Load Self-Test
Complete this mental load self-test with your partner to see how you can divvy up tasks in a way that makes both of you feel supported.
The Fair Play Deck
Make distributing tasks with your partner feel like a game with this card deck designed to promote better communication and balance in the home.
Who Is In Your Support Circle?
Identify your support circle and who to go to for different needs.
Read up on teamwork
Check out these articles to discover ways to enhance teamwork at home:
The Resilient Parent Library
Browse these books to help build stronger teamwork in your family:
Research
Because it’s nice to know we’re not just saying this, here’s the research that backs up the power of teamwork:
- Patterns of Coparenting and Young Children’s Social-Emotional Adjustment in Low-Income Families
- The Influence of Fathers and Mothers Equally Sharing Childcare Responsibilities on Children’s Cognitive Development from Early Childhood to School Age
- Shared Parental Responsiveness Among Fathers and Mothers with Low Income and Early Child Outcomes