In-Sync Partners

1. 1

   Try a cooperative movement game, such as a three-legged walk, to help your child practice working with a partner.

2. 2

   If the two partners move at different speeds, encourage your child to say how it feels: “That’s too fast for me,” or “Can we go a little faster?”

3. 3

   Then choose a way to move together. You might chant a simple beat and step in the same rhythm.

4. 4

   It is normal to stumble while learning. Instead of blaming each other, pause, adjust, and try a new approach.

5. 5

   As the partners coordinate more easily, gradually move faster or set a new shared challenge.

6. 6

   If you play alongside another pair, keep the focus on cooperation and having fun rather than winning.

What to notice

• Works with their partner to find a solution when their steps do not match Relationships with Adults
• Coordinates their movements with a partner’s steps during the game Gross Motor

Tips

• You and your child may prefer different approaches—for example, they want to go faster while you want to slow down. Acknowledge the difference: “Your idea is different from mine. Let’s try both and see what works.” Cooperation means adjusting together, not one person always deciding.

Developmental benefits

• Social/Emotional: Walking in step with a partner gives your child practice expressing an idea, listening to someone else, and adjusting together to solve a shared problem.