Having five kids has taught me a thing or two, including the reality that sibling conflict is a fact of family life. Some of my kids get along great, and others are like oil and water.
I know I am not alone in wanting my kids to like each other in addition to loving each other. I want them to be friends and appreciate each other long in adulthood. But, some days, I wonder how I can facilitate that when they seem to be arguing every waking minute.
The unfortunate reality is that we cannot force our kids to be best friends. They don’t get to choose their siblings like they choose their friends, and sometimes, personalities will clash. Not only that, but living with people will always result in conflict from time to time.
Because of that, I do not have a magic wand to wave sibling conflict away. I do, however, have some helpful suggestions for containing it. Hopefully, as we work on containing conflict, it will become less frequent, thus increasing the amount of peace and respect in our homes.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
- How to lay the groundwork for respect and conflict resolution in your home.
- How positive interactions and family fun time can make a huge difference in the way kids interact.
- How to teach your kids to see and appreciate the good in each other.
- Why sibling competition breeds conflict, and how to minimize that.
- Why it is vital for parents to remain neutral in sibling disputes.
- Practical ways to appropriately deal with sibling conflict, based on the ages of the kids.
Ready to dive in? Listen right here or on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, and Spotify.
YOU ALSO MIGHT ENJOY:
- Episode 017: Creative Consequences (Tickets system explained in depth)
- Episode 016: Raising a Strong-Willed Child (Without Losing Your Mind)
- Episode 003: Seasons of Parenting
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