How to End Sibling Fights and Prevent Sibling Rivalry

Families having more than one child face sibling rivalry often. Most parents find siblings fighting and mark this as a parenting issue and find this practically impossible to prevent. Read on to learn how you can end a sibling fight.If you find that you are not able to control sibling fight in your home, do not get disheartened because you are not alone. Most of the time when siblings fight and parents intervene, the situation gets worse. The main reason is that it becomes difficult to figure out who started the fight and in that case if you take sides, the resentment will increase.Before you learn about how to end a sibling fight, it is advisable to learn few changes in yourself that can help you prevent your kids from fighting. In this articleStay CalmDo Not Worry About Who Started the FightModel CourteousnessSeparate if One of Them is Very UpsetAttend to the Child Who is Hurt with EmpathyCall the Kids Together When They Are CalmTips for Preventing Sibling RivalryHow to End a Sibling FightHave a quick look at the tips for ending the fights between siblings.Stay CalmThe first thing that you need to do is not lose your temper. Control your emotions and stay calm and try to soothe their feelings. Seeing you calm in such situation, your children will also learn to stay calm and hence manage their feelings.Do Not Worry About Who Started the FightOne of the biggest mistakes that parents make when they try to intervene in their kids’ fights is to ask who started the fight. Next time you intervene, do not take sides and treat them the same.Model CourteousnessWhen you find your kids fighting let them know that they are violating the home’s rule because here everyone is treated with kindness and respect. Tell them screaming and hurting is not allowed and ask them to work that immediately.Separate if One of Them is Very UpsetIt is good to talk to your kids when the other one is present, but if you find that one is very angry, you should separate them temporarily and talk to one at a time. If they want to play together again, ask them to take a cool off period of 15 minutes after which they can play if you find house peaceful again.Attend to the Child Who is Hurt with EmpathyIt is ideal to attend to the wound first when any one of the kids is hurt. Do not pass judgment on who is wrong at that time.Call the Kids Together When They Are CalmLet your children express their feelings and find out why one got angry. Help them state their feelings and listen to each other’s feelings when they are sharing with you.Tips for Preventing Sibling RivalryThere are certain principles and practices that will help you lessen sibling rivalry. They are:Do not compare your kidsKeep kids occupiedDo not give more attention to one of the kidsIf your kids are hungry or tired, keep them away from each otherMake sure each child gets sufficient personal spaceDo not make your elder child responsible for your younger oneTeach your children basic problem solving skillsEncourage them for team workMake kids treat each other with respect and loveNurture empathy in your kidsBe patient when dealing with kids so that you set an example for themDo not punish your children physicallyTeach your children healthy self-management techniquesCreate an atmosphere of appreciation at homeAlways remember that they are just kidsWhen you stop sibling fight with calmness and empathy, your kids will learn eventually to talk and work out misunderstandings and conflicts themselves. Remember, jealousy is one of the common human feelings and it will not be taken away by anything.What are the common causes of fights between siblings? How to end the sibling fights? How to prevent sibling rivalry? Discuss here.