Sibling Squad Goals: Games That Teach Sharing & Cooperation

If you've got more than one kid under your roof, you've likely heard it all: "That's mine!" "She's not playing fair!" "Tell him to stop touching me!" While it might sound like endless noise, these early squabbles are actually rich learning opportunities. Sibling relationships are often where kids first practice social skills-like sharing, listening, and negotiating-all in the comfort (and chaos) of home.

The best part? You don't need a parenting manual to teach these lessons. All it takes is a little play.

Here are some fun, screen-free games and activities that promote sharing and cooperation-without turning your living room into a battlefield. Bonus: most of them travel easily in your wagon stroller, so the learning can continue wherever the day takes you.

1. Toy Rescue Missions

Turn your living room or backyard into a high-stakes adventure. Hide a few stuffed animals or toys and assign each sibling a mission role-one's the lookout, the other's the rescuer. Together, they have to locate and bring every toy "home." There's no racing or competing-just teamwork and a shared sense of victory.

2. Obstacle Course Relay

Create a DIY obstacle course using pillows, cones, jump ropes-whatever you have on hand. Each child completes one leg of the course before tagging their sibling in. It's not only active and engaging, but also a great way to practice patience and encouragement while they cheer each other on. If you're heading outside, load up your supplies in your wagon stroller and let the setup begin wherever the sunshine leads you.

3. Pass the Drawing

Hand each child a piece of paper and some crayons, and let them start a drawing. After a minute or two, they swap pages and continue each other's masterpieces. Keep swapping until the pages are full. The result? A co-created work of art and a reminder that good things happen when we take turns that can be hung in their room.

4. Shared Story Time

Let one sibling start a story with a sentence, and have the other add on, back and forth until the tale ends. It's silly, creative, and helps them listen to each other. You might even find your next bedtime story this way.

5. Cooking Helpers

Get both kids involved in making a snack. One can choose the ingredients, the other assembles. Even something simple like fruit kabobs or peanut butter sandwiches becomes a shared effort. Let them take turns taste-testing (as if you could stop them!) and cleaning up. If you're prepping for a picnic, let them help pack the wagon stroller with their snacks and supplies-teaching responsibility and planning.

6. Wagon Adventures

Nothing sparks imagination quite like a wagon stroller. Whether you're strolling the neighborhood, visiting the zoo, or cruising a trail, it can become a pirate ship, a jungle jeep, or a snack-mobile. Let each child take turns being the "captain" or "navigator." Encourage them to share maps (real or pretend), pick the next destination, and divvy up snacks. Not only are they practicing cooperation, they're also building memories-together.

Sibling dynamics are messy, magical, and full of opportunities to grow. While you can't prevent every argument, you can create moments that gently nudge kids toward cooperation, empathy, and compromise. Whether you're indoors building an obstacle course or out on a shared wagon ride, these small acts of play lay the foundation for a lifetime of teamwork.