The hardest part of parenting is to stop sibling fights. The first child wants something and the second child wants the same thing. The result: They fight over it. Sibling fights or also known as sibling rivalry are very common in young siblings. This is one of the many problems that cause headaches to parents.
Believe it or not, it's part of their development as a child according to the University of Michigan Health System. Every growing child reaches different stages of development. His needs evolve and can conflict with the needs of other children in the family. Sibling fights usually stem from common reasons like material things and struggle over parents' attention.
The greatest challenge for parents in this kind of situation is how to prevent their children from fighting with each other and knowing the right way to stop sibling fights. Here are some advice coming from experts.
To Avoid Fighting
1. Stop Comparing. As advised by Dr. Laura Markham, the founder of AHA! Parenting and a Clinical Psychologist at Columbia University, You should not compare your kids to each other. Every child has unique qualities and has different rates of development. Comparison to siblings can only foster sibling rivalry according to BeingTheParent.com
2. Equal Attention. This may be hard to do if you are a busy parent. The goal here is to try to spend a special time with each of your child if possible and this will diminish sibling rivalry in the long run.
3. Taking Turns. Teach your kids simple problem-solving skills. If they are fighting over one thing, they can share it by taking turns or if it's a thing that you can possibly divide, then do it.
When Intervening
1. Never pick sides. Focus on solving the problem by knowing the root cause. Once you determine what instigated the fight, work on explaining on how to solve it.
2. Stay calm. Don't join the shouting. If the kids see you being calm in handling the situation, kids will likely imitate you. Most kids learn by watching their parents.
3. Separate them. This is only applicable if the kids are so upset that talking to each other will only make it worst. Wait for them to cool down and call them together to talk calmly.
