Research suggests that children begin to demonstrate cooperative behaviors as early as infancy, with foundational skills emerging and evolving throughout early childhood. Responsive caregiving and positive parent-child interactions contribute to the development of prosocial behaviors. Infants as young as 6 months show early signs of cooperation through joint attention and shared activities, so parents and caregivers should practice interacting with infants and taking turns with verbal interactions and play scenarios.

Cooperation undergoes developmental trajectories, with increasing sophistication in collaborative problem-solving and negotiation skills throughout early childhood. As children enter preschool, peer interactions become increasingly important for cooperative development. Children engage in reciprocal play, sharing, and collaborative problem-solving. In addition, they also begin to understand the perspective of others as they talk with adults and peers about how people feel during various interactions.

Early childhood educators should note that cultural factors play a role in shaping cooperative behaviors. Cross-cultural studies highlight variations in cooperative norms and practices within different communities. In addition, there are also individual differences in the development of cooperation, with some children displaying more advanced cooperative skills than others. Factors such as temperament and social experiences contribute to these differences.