Facts about teamwork
The way that parents interact with each other has enormous influence on children. Research tells us the following:
- Children’s sense of safety and wellbeing is closely linked to how their parents behave towards one another.
- Children’s happiness and development also depends on the quality of their relationships with their parents.
- Severe conflict between parents is associated with behavioural and developmental problems in children.
Managing conflict – part of family life
Grown-ups have a large role to play in creating a positive environment for children. This means supporting each other. Discussing and solving problems together. Using teamwork.
Some conflict is inevitable – even in the strongest of relationships. All parents start out with different ideas about family life. Beliefs can differ on fundamental parenting issues such as what is ‘normal’ or ‘right’, and how to raise children.
Children learn from how they see their parents interact. For parents, this means showing children that disagreements are a normal part of life, and teaching them healthy strategies for coping with and resolving conflict. This is also key to the long-term health and happiness of relationships.
Children can cope and even learn about how to handle conflict if they see parents disagree from time to time. But they are badly affected by frequent, angry, unresolved conflict.
Focusing on you
Your humour. Your health. Your happiness. Your stress levels. These can all have an impact on how much you enjoy the time you spend with your family. And how well you cope with the stresses and challenges that arise.
Looking after your health and being aware of how you and your partner are going can give you increased energy and responsiveness for each other and children, and help you get the most out of being a parent.
Focusing on your relationship
Caring for children on a day-to-day basis does place demands on a relationship. It can be hard to juggle work, family and social demands.
Teamwork skills can help keep your relationship with your partner healthy. When you feel closer to your partner and more supported as a parent, together you can create a better environment for your children.
Getting outside help
Teamwork skills can be helpful for most relationships, and in all types of family environments – including those with single parents or same-sex parents, and relationships after separation or divorce. Teamwork can also help you get extra support when you need it.
There might be times when you and your partner need more support than teamwork skills – for example, if you or your partner feel very distressed about the relationship. If you feel stuck in attempts to resolve your issues and have even considered separation, or feel unsafe because of physical or verbal abuse, please seek professional help.
Video:
Children's impact on your relationship
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30mb
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‘You really do have to work together’, says one of the dads in this short video.
This video highlights the ups and downs in parents’ relationships that come with raising children. Australian mums and dads talk about common problems and tensions. They also share ways to strengthen and build a relationship after children. In particular, they say that patience and open communication can help you reduce conflict and support each other.
