How to Deal with Sibling Rivalry among Your Children
Children are not born as rivals. Yet, if siblings start competing against each other at a young age, feelings of resentment between siblings are likely to develop and last a lifetime. Although parents are often not aware of it, children can sense it when parents give preferential treatment toward one child. As you may have realized, this can be difficult to suppress, especially when one sibling seems to have outstanding qualities. Squabbles are a part of sibling relations. However, it goes past normal when the fights happen more frequently, and the possibility of siblings causing each other harm becomes greater.
If you have more than one child, and they all belong in almost the same age range, then dealing with sibling rivalry is a part of your life. Here are a few tips that you might want to keep in mind, so that your children will not grow up hating each other.
Train your children to compromise
Sibling rivalry occurs since children want the same things. urn the negative into positive by letting the “competition” teach your kids that sometimes, we have to negotiate with others to reach a win-win solution.
Make your children feel more responsible
There are several reasons sibling rivalry exists. It could be a manifestation of your child wanting more attention, of power struggles between children, or children’s failure to communicate their needs for their sibling’s company properly. To encourage acceptance and appreciation among your kids, try to make the older children responsible for “watching over” their little brothers and sisters. This appeals to the kids’ protective side and gives them a sense of responsibility and control.
Know that each child is unique
Contrary to popular belief, children should not be treated as equals. Help them be aware at an early age that each of them is unique. Therefore, always allow them a choice. For instance, when you buy your girls dresses, don’t get them the same dresses right away. Ask them whether they’d want to dress alike or try something different. This helps them understand that you see them as individuals, each with unique characteristics and talent.
Sibling rivalry doesn’t have to go bad. It’s better to deal with sibling rivalry while your children are still very young, so that it doesn’t end up severing their relationships as they grow older. Teach your children how to make compromises and become responsible big brothers or sisters. At the same time, the best thing you can do is to spend quality time with each child and not treat each as equals. Keep in mind that every child is unique, so highlight each of their positive qualities.
Photo Credit : RichieC
RELATED POSTS
Children’s Tantrums – Disciplining your children during tantrums
Children’s Bullies – Dealing with the bullies of your children
Parents’ Divorce – Putting up with your parents’ divorce
Knowing You’re Adopted – Coping with the discovery that you are adopted
Wife’s Mood Swings – Helping your wife and yourself through pregnancy mood swings.
RELATED SITES’ POSTS
Sibling Rivalry – Tips on dealing with sibling rivalry
Parenting Challenges – Understanding the challenges of parenting and what you can do about it
Helping Children Behave – Tips omn how to get children to behave
Child Bullies – Learning how to deal with bully children
