siblings – Parenting by Dr. Rene

How Your Own Sibling Relationships Can Impact Your Children’s Sibling Relationships

I’ll admit, I am about to way oversimplify an issue about complex family dynamics. There are people who spend years in therapy unraveling the impact from the next few points. That said, there are some fairly obvious ways your own sibling relationships, from growing up and from current exchange, can impact your children’s … Continue reading How Your Own Sibling Relationships Can Impact Your Children’s Sibling Relationships

Tips to Encourage Sibling Relationships

So often when I write about siblings, it’s about how to best manage the bickering and the fighting or how to get them to stop grabbing toys from each other. Happily, this post is about ways to encourage their relationships! Teach social skills in general – If your children have difficulty taking turns or grabbing … Continue reading Tips to Encourage Sibling Relationships

A Few Hints to Avoid Sibling Rivalry

While these may seem like small points, using comparisons and labels and praise between siblings can cause bad feelings. Comparisons can be direct like, “why can’t you be more like your sister?” or indirect, “look how neatly your brother keeps his room!” or, “your sister was on time, but we are always waiting on you.” Any … Continue reading A Few Hints to Avoid Sibling Rivalry

Allow Negative Emotions Between Siblings

Following an upset in her bedroom, an older daughter storms into the kitchen saying, “I hate her! She is always ruining my stuff!” Unfortunately, common parent responses include giving logic or reason, “she is younger than you, you have to be patient,” or a demand, “she is your sister, she is going to be your best friend … Continue reading Allow Negative Emotions Between Siblings

Between Siblings: Fair Is Not Equal

Between siblings: Fair is not equal, fair is everyone has their needs met. It is okay for your discipline to be different for your three-year-old and your six-year-old for the same behavior. You might have a different expectation for your daughter and your son around a particular behavior. You might have to coach one child more … Continue reading Between Siblings: Fair Is Not Equal

Helping Siblings Get Along

Here are a few general tips to benefit sibling relationships: Fair is not equal, fair is everyone has their needs met – It’s okay that the discipline for a three-year-old is different than the discipline for a seven-year-old for the same behaviors. They are different children at different stages of development, meeting their needs may happen in very … Continue reading Helping Siblings Get Along

Your Own Sibling Relationships Can Impact Your Children’s Sibling Relationships

First, your own sibling relationships help shape your expectations for how your children might get along. My brother and I got along great growing up. We played together when we were little and hung out fairly often through college. I expect my girls to get along. When they do play and hang out, I count that as … Continue reading Your Own Sibling Relationships Can Impact Your Children’s Sibling Relationships

Curb Tattling

Tattling is a common behavior particularly for children four to seven years old. It is also an unpopular behavior particularly with classmates and older siblings. My Claire was about five years old when she started tattling non-stop on her older sister. It took about a week for Alicen to have enough. Claire was telling on … Continue reading Curb Tattling

Sibling Tips for Summer

Summer days can be a great time for siblings to spend real time together and play. These can also be days full of bickering, name calling and short tempers. Here are a few ideas to give them elbow room and hopefully improve their time together. Get them outside – I was talking to a mom … Continue reading Sibling Tips for Summer

Avoid Focusing on the Sibling Relationship Specifically

I grew up with a brother. I know it is natural for siblings to bicker and fight sometimes. I also know it is easy to put pressure on their individual relationship when you are addressing the behaviors. I hear parents saying things like, “you will love your brother. He is going to be your best … Continue reading Avoid Focusing on the Sibling Relationship Specifically