Tips to Help Siblings Get Along
Benefits of Sibling Rivalry
Conflict is natural in close relationships like families; and sibling rivalry is part of life. Learning how to resolve conflict with siblings provides a great opportunity for children to practice interpersonal skills, which will continue to benefit them in future relationships.
Celebrate the Individual
Sibling rivalry becomes negative when adults make comparisons between children (“Your brother is really good at helping.”). Instead, recognize, accept, and enjoy children’s distinct characteristics and achievements. Let each child know that they are special in their own way.
Resolving Conflicts
Give children opportunities to try working out their own conflicts, but keep in mind that younger children might need some help from you on problem-solving and conflict resolution skills. Once everyone has cooled down, you might ask each child to think of several ways to solve the problem. For example, instead of telling the child to “Ask nicely for the toy,” ask, “What can you do or say so your brother will let you play with his truck?” Sometimes that’s all a parent needs to ask.
For other conflicts, you may need to help children think through how their actions made their siblings feel and identify different actions that would make everyone feel better. “How does your brother feel when you grab toys?” “Can you think of something different to do so your brother won’t feel mad?” This problem-solving approach can benefit children in the long term because children are more likely to carry out their own ideas and develop problem-solving skills.
Responding to Scary Events with Preschoolers
Preschoolers & Parenting Styles
Preschoolers & Moderation
Preschoolers & Focus on DO
