Sibling Rivalry

The following excerpt is adapted from:
E
lizabeth Pantley
Author of
Kid Cooperation and Perfect Parenting © 2002. Elizabeth Pantley
www.pantley.com/elizabeth

  • Treat each child as an individual. Help children understand that they are treated differently by you and have different privileges and responsibilities because they are different individuals.
  • Respect each child’s space, toys, and time when he wants to be alone, away from his sibling.
  • Avoid labeling or comparing one child to the other. This feeds into their competitiveness.
  • When a new child comes into the family, prepare the older sibling for his new important role. Make him feel like it’s his baby, too.
  • Play detective. Watch and note when siblings are not getting along (before dinner, in the car, before bed) and plan separate quiet activities for those times.
  • Watch how you treat each child to see if you are contributing to the rivalry. Make sure you are not playing favorites.
  • Have realistic expectations of how they should get along, cooperate, share, and like each other.
  • Positively reinforce them when they are getting along or when they solve their own conflicts.
  • Make each child feel special and important. Try to spend one-on-one time with each child every day. Take time out for yourself to re-energize. Remember, sibling rivalry is a normal and expected part of family life.

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