While occasional conflict between siblings is generally unavoidable in most families, an overly hostile environment could be detrimental to the emotional development of all of your children. If you've got kids that quarrel constantly, you need to put a little extra effort into bringing peace to the household.
Although some kids have trouble getting along with their sibling or siblings, savvy parents should be able to correct the problem by establishing common ground between their seemingly incompatible children. The following are six steps to handling sibling quarrels:
- Be present. It's always important to be around for your children. However, it's especially important if your kids need a mediator to keep an eye on their ardent fights. Be around so that you can observe your kids' disagreements and put some thought into finding creative solutions.
- Break it up. If your kids are fighting a lot for a period of time, it might be healthy to separate them. As the saying goes, "absence makes the heart grow fonder." Perhaps, splitting the kids up over the summer will make them miss each other and bring an end to their rivalries.
- Speak to each child separately. There are two sides to every disagreement. As a parent, you need to impartially hear both sides to figure out what any underlying problems are. Speaking to each of your kids about the problem can help you figure out what's triggering so much ill will between siblings.
- Stop conflict before it starts. Once you get an idea of what triggers fights, you can stick around to separate the kids before tempers rise and the conflicts escalate. As a parent, you should be able to sense when your kids are losing their temper, so act quickly to prevent fights before they happen.
- Establish common ground between your kids. Surely there are some activities that all of your kids enjoy. Whether it's a type of movie, a sports activity, or an area attraction, finding common ground between your kids and allowing them to share a beloved activity together can create a bonding experience that alleviates the tension in the relationship.
- Reward your kids for getting along. You'll be so relieved to see that your kids are finally getting along that you'll probably feel like rewarding them. When they sense that they've worked together to achieve their reward, it will even further strengthen their ability to get along and their desire to avoid arguments.
For assistance, consult with a professional like Drake Counseling Services.
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