The ability to work together with others as part of a team is not simply a skill needed at school, it is a vital skill used in all areas of life. School is, however, an excellent time to cultivate the teamwork ethos your child will then draw from throughout their life.

Teamwork requires people to work cooperatively with others towards a shared purpose. For a team to work together effectively, it takes all members of the team to respect each other’s abilities and opinions. Teamwork is a highly social activity and involves much interaction and exchanging of ideas and actions. Being part of a team enables your child to move from more intrapersonal (individual) ways of thinking to interpersonal (communicating with others). It will help a child in all areas of their learning, and help them to feel part of a community, too.

Working as part of a team will strengthen your child’s social and emotional skills, help develop their communication skills, and can improve confidence.

This activity gets children huddling together, trying to achieve the same goal. A great way to teach working together and helping each other for a common purpose!

Steps:

1. Balance a hula hoop on top of 3-4 cones (same size, preferably 10-12" high) so that it is elevated off of the ground

2. Tell the children that they are all rabbits and they have to get into their rabbit hole to hide before the fox finds them

3. They must step over the hula hoop with each foot to arrive in the hole without knocking the hula hoop from the cones. One by one, each child enters the hole until as many as possible are inside! Children have to help each other get into the safe zone! When everyone is in, ask them to slowly start exiting the hole, one by one, again being very cautious not to disturb the hula hoop

4. Alternatively, you can designate one child as the fox and have them chase the other children into the hole. If a child knocks the hula hoop down, they join the fox. Continue the game until all of the rabbits have been caught!