Every parent with more than one child can go through sibling rivalry at some point in their lives. The important thing is how to handle it so that every child feels loved and no one feels left out or less important than the other. There can be many causes for sibling rivalry and here are a few of the most prevalent ones.

Age differences. Age differences can cause sibling rivalry because a younger child may feel that the older child gets to do more and the older child may feel that the younger child is treated more special. This also comes into play when children get older since younger children may get along just fine but as they get older the older sibling may want more privacy or feel like they are too old to play with a kid.

Sex differences. Some children will have an issue with feeling like the boys get to do more or the girl is treated more gently or more special. A girl may want to go fishing with the guys and feel left out and a boy can feel that the girl gets special treatment from the father.

No matter what the reason, sibling rivalry exists in many cases and it can be just as important to find out why as to try and treat the issue. Try to listen to your children and see what is causing the fights. There is always an underlying issue such as jealousy or feeling left out. Once you find out the issue then you can address the problem better than simply discplining the children without knowing the true cause.

While sibling rivalry is a normal part of homes with more than one child, once you get to the root of the problem you can start on having a much happier household with less fighting.

Sibling rivalry can be hard to handle but it is important to know that it is normal amongst children in the same household to bicker and fight. There are different ways to handle these issues but there are a few guidelines that may be helpful in handling it the right way so that you are helpful to your children.

Keep in mind that each child is unique and may have to be handled differently from your other child. If you treat them different due to individual needs it doesn’t mean that you are showing favoritism. It simply means that the needs are different from each other.

Keep out of their fights when possible unless it becomes violent or a constant occurrence. Most siblings will work out their issues amongst themselves and intervention only causes resentment at times. Try to teach your children to learn to get along with each other without your help. This creates a learning experience for them on how to work problems out and can even create a bonding experience with their sibling due to having to work it out together.

Try to keep in mind that if you do have to punish or scold your child that it’s not helpful to do it in front of the other child because this too can cause resentment amongst your siblings. Do this kind of behavior where the child won’t be embarrassed or feel less superiority to the other child.

Try to treat each child’s issues with caring and understanding and make sure you listen to them. You may see what you think is going on and find out later that the dynamic of the fight goes much deeper than outward appearances. If one child is trying to reach out to you on the reasons for fighting listen to them and try to understand.

Parents often have the problem of sibling rivalry and younger children are especially prone to not wanting to share things like toys, television and even time with their parents. Sometimes there are ways that can help promote sibling sharing and make your home a much more pleasant place to be.

One of the ways you can promote sharing is to be a part of your child’s playtime with his or her sibling. If you are there and can monitor the situation it can be easier to keep an eye on any bickering or fighting.

Make sure everything is fair. Sometimes a child will take another child’s toy or book just because they are jealous. If this happens you can give the other child a favorite from the instigator, telling them that they cannot have both. They must choose between their favorite and the toy or book that that took from the other child. This allows them to see that they have choices and making the right decision can come easier if there is a choice to make.

There are times when separating the siblings is the only way that it can work for the immediate time. If there is a volatile situation and the fighting is incessant, separate your siblings and allow them to play by themselves. Believe it or not, sometimes they will miss each others company and learn to get along better. You could also take away all of the toys unless they get along and this will promote teamwork since they have to work together to get back what they have lost. This may not work every time but it is a way to see how they interact and try to achieve a common goal.

Sibling rivalry happens in most households but there are a few things that may help.