Side-by-Side Creativity: How a Shared Surface Sparks Teamwork

Last August at the Nebraska State Fair, amidst the fun rides and entertainment, there emerged a hub of teamwork and collaboration: an enormous Nebraska-inspired paint-by-number mural. Children of all ages gravitated to the wall mural, eagerly working side by side with others they had never met before to do their part in building something of epic proportions.

As one of the founders of Paintable Pictures I get to see this so often because one of the services we offer is custom paint by number murals for events, like the one in Nebraska. But the benefits of a shared workspace for children extend way beyond painted murals. When children are doing their part on a shared project of any type, it encourages them to play together.

And along the way?

Coordination, teamwork, and collaboration.

Why One Big Canvas (of Any Type) Works for Play
Shared workspace projects can be easy to kick off on a smaller scale—it could be driveway chalk or sticky notes. And when kids come together in a shared project, collaboration unfolds. Plans and teamwork come together. Mistakes are made. Tips are shared. Negotiation takes place.

It becomes an energizing practice run for the skills they'll use throughout their life.

Everyday Play Situations & the Skills They Spark
When children work together on a shared project it sparks developmental moments.

• Two children reach for the same marker.
• They practice polite negotiation and impulse control ("You first, then me?").
• A cardboard wall topples in their fortress.
• Collective problem-solving and flexible thinking kick in.
• A shy sibling quietly adds tiny stickers no one else noticed.
• The group learns to praise everyone's contributions.

These moments allow children to rehearse the same skills we use as adults to build friendships or solve problems at home or work.

Simple Group Projects for Home Play
Getting a group project started can be really simple, and parents can help coordinate and kick off the effort. Here are some ideas for at-home projects:

• Sidewalk Chalk Mural Tape a large rectangle outside, provide artistic inspiration or patterns, and supply a bucket of sidewalk chalk. Kids must coordinate colors and patterns to complete the artwork.
• Sticky-Note Pixel Art Supply colored sticky notes and a simple template, such as a rainbow or the shape of a favorite type of vehicle. Because each color has a specific role, children learn to coordinate the sticky notes to create the intended image.
• Giant Cardboard Maze Flatten appliance boxes, cut doorways, and let kids arrange panels into a walk-through maze. Every new turn reshapes the whole path, so planners and builders have to chat constantly to keep it working.

The Payoff for Young Children
When working on shared projects, children walk away having felt empathy in action—offering a marker, fixing a collapsed wall, or helping a younger sibling's idea come to life. They stick with tasks far longer because they're working towards a shared celebration. A single big canvas—chalked, stickered, or boxed—can do more than fill an afternoon. It can help build foundations for the interpersonal skills we use throughout our lives.

Quick-Start Tips for Parents Creating Shared Projects

• Limit some supplies on purpose. Fewer tools to get the job done prompt better sharing, creativity, and collaboration.
• Give the project exciting milestones. Creating a halfway section of a cardboard maze, for example, lets kids see collective progress and stay motivated.
• Enjoy the outcome. Don’t forget to take photos and encourage playing with the finished product.

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