Helping Siblings Get Along
If you have more than one child, you're bound to have some sibling rivalry. It's very, very hard for children to have to share us. In fact, when a younger sibling is born, virtually all children worry that they aren't good enough -- why else would their parents have gotten a newer, younger, model?
In addition to sibling rivalry, kids can have personality clashes, or clashes because they're different ages and want different things --or because they're close in age and want the same things!
Finally, like other humans who live together, even the most loving siblings have bad days and conflicts. And kids don't have the perspective to know it's not necessarily the other person's fault, or the skills to work out differences.
But your children can be friends for life, and your parenting can prevent and even transform sibling tensions. How?
Start Here:
Siblings 101
All siblings will fight, but there's a lot parents can do to help kids get along better and appreciate each other more and become friends for life.
Read MoreParenting Siblings - Videos
If you have more than one child, you'll have some sibling rivalry. These 4 videos show you how to help your children stop fighting and start connecting.
Read More10 Tips to Foster a Sweet Sibling Relationship From the Start
Welcoming a new baby sparks parental and sibling excitement, but the older child's adjustment to this shift is often tougher than acknowledged.
Read MoreHelping Siblings Communicate Instead of Fight
Research shows that when we let siblings "work it out" without guidance, the more powerful child wins, which reinforces bullying behavior. There's a better way.
Read MoreWhy Kids Bicker and How To Help Them Stop
How to coach your kids to learn how to resolve their arguments before they escalate.
Read MoreTeaching Kids To Share
We all want our children to be generous. But that isn't what they learn from forced sharing. Try self-regulated turns instead to build a better sibling bond too
Read MoreHow To Intervene In a Sibling Fight
Your guidance can help them develop more impulse control. They're both furious, but you can help them breathe through their rage and put it into words. Here's how.
Read MoreHow to Help Each Child with Big Emotions
The hardest part of having more than one child is those times when they both need you at once. After all, your love may be unlimited, but you only have two hands. Here's your gameplan.
Read MoreCan You Prevent Sibling Fighting?
Conflict is a part of every human relationship, and kids learn from fighting. But you can reduce fighting, and make the fighting that does occur more civil. Here's how.
Read MoreShould you make your child apologize?
Forcing children to apologize may be teaching all the wrong lessons. Here's what to do instead.
Read MoreBickering in the Backseat: How to Cope on the Way to School
Here's how to turn the tide when the tone gets tense in your car. If you address the reason kids are bickering, you can stop the fight before it starts.
Read MoreWhen Your Older Child Hits the Little One
Did your toddler or preschooler just hit their little sibling? Of course you see red! Here's your script to intervene -- and prevent a recurrence!
Read MorePreventing Middle Child Syndrome
Studies have found that middle children are often less close to their parents and struggle with the "identity crisis" of not having a specific role in the family.
Read MoreSupporting Your Oldest Child
How can you give your oldest child the support she needs to thrive?
Read MoreCoaching Your Youngest Child
Younger sibs may idolize their older sibs and get demoralized trying to keep up. Here's how to empower your younger child.
Read MoreSiblings Downloadable eBook
Craft a "sibling book" for a positive outlook on their bond. The provided Word template makes customization easy—alter the story, words, and images to suit your preferences. Download it here.
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