4 Tips On How To Stop Sibling Rivalry

Many siblings get along quite well, but unfortunately, it’s not the same for every family. If you have more than one child at home, you’ve most probably seen them quarrel at least once. But where does sibling rivalry cross the line?

It’s normal for siblings to bicker with one another. Depending on their age, it could be about something as simple as sharing a toy, passing on household chores, or they’re simply just having a bad day. However, sibling rivalry is the outcome of intense jealousy and competitiveness between siblings.

They tend to compete for attention, especially coming from you. As they grow older, other factors come into play such as their individual temperaments, evolving needs, and other special needs. As a parent, it can get frustrating and downright saddening to see your children fight before you. But don’t worry! We’ve listed down four tips o how to stop sibling rivalry and how to teach siblings to get along:

1. Appreciate Them Individually

Children already start to explore their individuality even at a young age. It’s only natural for them to seek validation from others, especially their parents. However, sometimes, some parents tend to compare their children with one another. In other instances, parents always group them together as one.  

Celebrating their individuality will not only give them the attention they need, but it will also help boost their self-esteem as the need to compete with others reduces. You can do this by praising their individual skills, achievements, and their positive traits such as hospitality, kindness, and the like. 

A more proactive approach is when you join them in their interests and hobbies. For example, if one of your children enjoys reading books, grab a book and read with them. If another child enjoys playing volleyball, play a round or two with them outside. Doing so would show them that you support their individuality. 

2. Be Fair

Be fair, not equal. Every child’s needs differ from one another. This applies to both punishments and rewards. For example, you don’t have to give them the same gift, like a cellphone. These should be tailored to each child depending on their age and interests. If you’ve noticed, this also ties in with the first tip we’ve mentioned. When you know how to cater to their needs individually, your children will also feel deeply appreciated.

3. Plan Family Bonding Time

Planning frequent family bonding times does a great deal for the whole family. You can spend time with all your children in an environment where everyone can have fun. This opens up an opportunity for all the siblings to create more fun memories together instead of bad ones. 

You don’t have to plan extravagant outings every time. You can opt to take a stroll around the park or mall, watch a movie together in the cinemas, or even just have a Netflix marathon at home! As long as everyone’s comfortable, you and your family can spend time together whenever and wherever.

4. Don’t Point Fingers

As previously mentioned, fights among siblings are inevitable. So what do you do when it happens? How to resolve them depends on each situation. However, what you definitely should not do is point fingers. As the parent, you are the one responsible for being the middle ground. Create an atmosphere where both parties can talk to each other in a healthy manner so that they can understand each other’s sides.

If there are instances where you think the one who is at fault, you shouldn’t rub it in their faces. Again, your job is to have both parties reach a mutual understanding. If someone did something wrong to the other,  prompt an apology from them after everyone’s explanation.