The Art of sibling rivalry

I come from a large family. My parents were brave enough to have four children and still maintain their sanity.  Growing up, it was fun having so many kids in the house because if I was fighting with one of my siblings, I could always go play with someone else. I guess what I’m saying is – I liked having options.

But let’s be real here… sooner or later, every child with siblings gets upset with his brother or sister. Siblings can often adore and detest each other in one fell swoop. How exhausting!

Many different things can cause siblings to fight. Most brothers and sisters experience some degree of jealousy or competition, and this can flare into quarrels and bickering. KidsHealth offers the following steps to promote peace in your house:

•  Whenever possible, don’t get involved. Step in only if there’s danger.  If you always intervene, you risk creating other problems. Encourage them to resolve the crisis themselves. If you do step in, try to resolve problems with your kids, not for them.
• Have fun together as a family. Whether you’re watching a movie, throwing a ball, or playing a board game, you’re establishing a peaceful way for your kids to spend time together and relate to each other. This can help ease tensions between them and also keeps you involved. Since parental attention is something many kids fight over, fun family activities can help reduce conflict.
• Make sure kids have their own space and time to do their own thing — to play with toys by themselves, to play with friends without a sibling tagging along, or to enjoy activities without having to share.