| The mischievous son with an incredible knack | | | | family roles to promote cooperation. The |
| for trouble who seems to delight in torturing | | | | irony of sibling rivalry is that those |
| his sister… The mildly deceptive | | | | hostile feelings between siblings cannot be |
| daughter who takes great satisfaction in | | | | resolved until they are allowed to surface. |
| taking tattling to the extreme… Every | | | | By promoting an environment that discourages |
| time you try to help - the truth gets | | | | or does not allow fighting, we perpetuate |
| twisted, fingers are pointed, and the | | | | conflict and underlying feelings of hostility |
| fighting continues, even worse than before. | | | | by failing to acknowledge them. Instead, |
| Sound familiar? Rest assured, as a parent you | | | | parents can create an atmosphere where |
| are not alone. | | | | hostile feelings between siblings can be |
| | | | safely expressed and understood. |
| Sibling rivalry is an age-old dynamic that | | | | |
| has affected generations for as long as we | | | | Moreover, sibling rivalry creates a |
| can remember. Many family therapists have | | | | "Catch-22" for well-intentioned parents who |
| found that sibling rivalry can really impact | | | | play referee to put an end to the |
| quality of family life, family communication, | | | | never-ending squabbles. No matter what you do |
| parental stress, and self-esteem in children. | | | | to end the fighting, one or both siblings |
| | | | will feel they have been treated unfairly; or |
| Sibling rivalry can be best understood as | | | | that you have taken the other side, only to |
| children engaging in an allout competition | | | | leave you looking like the bad guy! |
| for their parents' love and attention. | | | | |
| Approval and affection are at stake, and your | | | | Now is the time to embrace the role of |
| children will go to great lengths to get it. | | | | facilitator and teacher where you encourage |
| It's a perfect breeding ground for conflict | | | | your children to settle their disputes on |
| and envy over each others' accomplishments, | | | | their own. After all, there is no better |
| privileges, and just about anything else you | | | | teacher than you. Parents feel relieved to |
| can imagine. | | | | learn that they can successfully implement |
| | | | some concrete tools while playing an |
| Gaining insight into the emotional fireworks | | | | invaluable role in restoring peace to their |
| behind sibling rivalry can really empower | | | | family. |
| parents to improve communication and change | | | | |