Stop Sibling Meanness
Siblings have a unique relationship where they will defend each other to strangers but fight uncontrollably with each other. This is often referred to as sibling rivalry. Siblings will tease each other, sometimes bully each other, and often just bicker about the most frivolous things.
If you have multiple children and find that sibling meanness is getting out of hand, then continue reading for some tips to stop sibling meanness.
Schedule Family Time
One of the best ways to stop sibling meanness is to create a home environment where the siblings get a chance to do things together and enjoy quality time together. You’ll want to schedule family time once per week where everyone enjoys a board game together or goes on a walk, etc.
This togetherness time will encourage a bond between siblings that will dissipate any previous sibling meanness that occurred frequently. Your children will start to have a stronger, more respectful bond when the family takes time to do things like this together every week.
Diffuse Jealousy
Often the sibling meanness is coming from a place of jealousy. If you can find a way to diffuse the jealousy, then you may just stop sibling meanness in its tracks forever. Try to make sure each of your children understands their value in the family.
Children want to feel appreciated and as if they have something special to offer the family unit. If one sibling is getting more praise than the other child, jealousy occurs and fighting ensues. Try to encourage each of your children to recognize their strengths within the family unit to diffuse jealous tantrums.
Be the Role Model
Don’t underestimate the power of being a good role model! Your children are looking at you and your spouse to show the proper way to handle disagreements or upset. Be sure to model how to properly respond to negative emotions or sad emotions through example when you engage with your partner.
Showing your children how to handle the jealously, sadness, or anger within a family unit by being a good role model in your relationship will help stop sibling meanness. The children will start to see how to respond appropriately when their emotions aren’t in check.
Teach Problem-Solving Skills
Another area that will help stop sibling meanness is to teach problem-solving skills. This can be done by stepping back to encourage your children to solve problems on their own. You can also use board games and chore time as a lesson in problem-solving.
Find new creative ways to encourage your children to solve their own unique problems as they arrive. This will help them communicate with their siblings better, and it will encourage them to solve problems without sibling meanness in the future.
These are just some of our tips to help stop sibling meanness in its tracks! It’s no fun living in a home where the children are at each other arguing more often than not. That’s why you should use these tips to start implementing new strategies to get your children to be friends more often than not.
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