Sibling Rivalry and How To Respond To It

Sibling Rivalry?

Sibling rivalry is something that all parents with multiple kids will have to deal with in some way or another. Sometimes it can come out of nowhere and surprise you too! There may be times when you’re focusing a lot more on the child who has greater needs. And occasionally the child who you thought was okay off on their own expresses their jealousy or tells you they’re hurt or that they feel unloved.

Connection Is Key

In these situations it’s really important to remember that the emotional needs of all your children are relevant. How does a busy parent make both children feel like they’re getting what they need? The key is to talk to them about it, and to somehow carve out time for both of them. If you’re struggling to connect, find something your child loves to do and make sure you do it with them. There’s more to say about sibling rivalry, and we get into it in this Tips on Teens:

“I have two daughters, 15 and 12. My oldest struggled a lot last year in her freshman year.  I had to help her a lot and spend a bunch of time with her. Now my 12 accuses me of caring more for my 15 year old.  School is starting up again. How can I avoid making the problem worse and keep the peace a little better?