The word "sibling" refers to brothers and sisters, and "sibling rivalry" means the competitive feelings and actions that often occur among children in a family. There are things that you can do to try to reduce sibling rivalry.

* Treat each child as an individual. Help children understand that they are treated differently by you and have different privileges and responsibilities because they are different individuals.
* Respect each child's space, toys, and time when he wants to be alone, away from his sibling.
* Avoid labeling or comparing one child to the other. This feeds into their competitiveness.
* When a new child comes into the family, adequately prepare the older sibling for her new important role. Make her feel like it's her baby, too.
* Play detective. Watch and note when siblings are not getting along (before dinner, in the car, before bed) and plan separate quiet activities for those times.
* Watch how you treat each child to see if you are contributing to the rivalry. Make sure you are not playing favorites.
* Have realistic expectations of how they should get along, cooperate, share, and like each other.
* Positively reinforce them when they are getting along or when they solve their own conflicts.
* Make each child feel special and important. Try to spend one-on-one time with each child every day.
* Take time out for yourself to re-energize. Remember, sibling rivalry is a normal and expected part of family life.

By Elizabeth Pantley, author of Kid Cooperation and Perfect Parenting © 2002.
Elizabeth Pantley, www.pantley.com/elizabeth.

© National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information