Parenting teamwork: why it is important
About parenting teamwork
Teamwork is working together, agreeing on your approach to parenting, making decisions together and supporting each other.
It is about agreeing on things like children’s bedtimes, family nutrition or discipline. And it is also about you and your partner sharing the job of managing your house and family. This can include things like caring for your children, doing chores and paperwork, and earning an income.
Why parenting teamwork is important for your children
The way that you and your partner interact with each other has a big influence on your children.
For example, when parents see themselves as a team and work together, children feel safe and good about themselves. They also learn about respectful communication and how to build healthy relationships.
On the other hand, children who see and hear severe conflict between their parents are more likely to develop problems with behaviour and development.
Why parenting teamwork is important for you
When you work as a team with your partner, you are likely to feel happier, more confident and more satisfied with your parenting and your family life. It is also easier for you to enjoy the time you spend with your family.
And to be in the best position to work as part of a parenting team with your partner, you need to look after yourself and your relationship.
For example, staying healthy, managing stress and looking after yourself more generally can give you increased energy to support and respect your partner and children. It can also help you get the most out of being a parent.
It is also worth putting time into keeping your relationship with your partner healthy. Caring for children and juggling work, family and time for yourself does place demands on a relationship. But when you make ‘couple time’, you are likely to feel closer to your partner and more supported as a parent. And this can make parenting together more enjoyable.
Parenting teamwork skills
Parenting teamwork gets easier with time and practice. But there are also some skills that help you and your partner work well as a team. These include:
- problem-solving – this means finding new and creative solutions in situations where you are stuck or cannot work through your issues
- managing conflict – this means managing and resolving disagreements in a collaborative and positive way
- talking and listening – this means communicating in ways that help you connect and strengthen your relationship
- backing each other up – this means parenting in consistent and supportive ways
- accepting each other – this means living with and valuing each other’s differences.
Parenting teamwork after separation
Parenting teamwork can be even more important after separation, but it can sometimes be more challenging too. Co-parenting often means you have more things to keep track of. This might include things like visitation schedules and arrangements for attending parent-teacher interviews or medical appointments.
If there is conflict between you and your former partner, it is important to manage it in a positive, respectful and business-like way. Grown-up conflict management can teach your child valuable skills, but ongoing conflict between separated parents is not good for children.
If you are a single parent, you might sometimes feel like you are doing it all by yourself. But you do not have to. It helps to build a strong network of people who can support you. These people might include family, friends, colleagues and support groups.
When parenting as a team is hard
There might be times when you and your partner find it hard to work as a team. This is more likely to happen during times of change, like when a parent returns to work or a child begins school. The natural changes in life can make teamwork tricky because they affect family routines.
You might find you’re having trouble working through disagreements or conflicts, or you have thought about separation. It is good if you and your partner can get help together. See your doctor to talk things through and get a referral to a local relationships or family counselling service.
If your partner does not want to go to counselling with you, it is still worth seeking help, even if it is by yourself.
If you are in a relationship that involves family violence, call a helpline if there is one in your city/country, seek support and do whatever you need to do to ensure your safety and your children’s safety.
