How to Develop a Healthy Relationship Between Siblings

Tap to Read ➤ Urvashi Pokharna

When it comes to siblings, we all have had our fights with each other as well as moments when you could just burst like an over-inflated balloon if you laughed any harder. I never feel like I am older than 10 years when I am around them. They just bring back the memories of my childhood so vividly!

Well, I think it makes more sense to call it OUR childhood. Our relationship hasn't changed over the years. We still bicker, we still laugh and love. Do you wish your children got along more with each other than they do?

There are many people who are very close to their siblings and then, there are those who have had so many conflicts that now they won't even talk to each other. If you don't want your children to be a part of the latter group, this story will be your guide.

How to Promote a Healthy Relationship Between Siblings?

Our childhood creates the foundation of our behavior, personality and relationships with people in adulthood, especially with those involved in the earliest years of our lives. The younger years of your children are very important because this is the time when you can ensure that they share a healthy relationship with each other.

Studies suggest, that a person who has a sibling is likely to imitate their behavior in informal settings, in later years.

While a parent teaches a child how to act around other adults and formal social settings like meeting guests or behaving in public, children spend a larger part of their time with their siblings in the school, at the playground and at home, especially if they have a narrow age gap.

You should motivate your children to develop a healthy relationship with each other by resolving their fights, teaching them to respect, co-operate and protect each other. Any unresolved conflicts during childhood can lead to bigger problems between siblings in later years. You can change your parenting skills and have a control over this issue.

Never indulge in partial behavior towards any one child and treat all of them equally.

Never compare your children in their presence. It is very hurtful.

Never get involved when siblings fight, unless one of them is taking undue advantage of their age, gender or physical built.

Don't take sides unless the situation gets out of hand. It can further upset a child in a fight.

Encourage having family dinners everyday. It is a vital part of creating stronger familial bonds.

Teach your children conflict management skills so they can make amends and make up to each other for their words or actions.

Don't let your children feel neglected by you because of the addition of a sibling. Involve them with each other by encouraging them to help each other.

Always listen to your children and understand their needs.

Don't ever label your child's behavior or personality. It further leads them to believe it.

Don't let your children dominate each other as they tend to do it often due to superiority in age factor. Instead, teach them to look out for each other.

Give your children enough bonding time by involving them in an activity together. They will learn co-operation and teamwork with each other.

Respect the feelings of your children, even when they have negative sentiments towards each other. But, don't show your support.

Acknowledging them will help siblings feel a lot less miserable than they already are. They will soon get over them. Spend equal one-on-one time with each of your children. Teach your children to be sensitive towards their sibling's emotions.

There is a tricky patch that you'd face sometime, if you buy a new school bag for your younger one because he is starting school, should you get one for your older kid too? It is not possible to do that every single time, to treat them equally.

In such a case, you need to teach your child that their siblings have diverse needs that need to be taken care of by you. You must tell them that this applies to all the children if the needs are truly reasonable. This is the part wherein you teach them the values of justice and fairness so that they don't mistake it as favoritism.

Also, teach your children to share their belongings with each other. Siblings often fight over possession of materials. They need to know that they are being given everything by you equally. To develop a healthy equation between siblings, you need to practice patience and encourage them to build a stronger rapport.

Keep your conversations about sibling relationships with your children lighthearted. They should not start to feel that they are obligated to behave in a certain way towards their siblings. If you make it feel like it is a problem, they will feel like it is a problem too.

Did you know? We spend a third of our childhood with our siblings! You can develop a healthy relationship even between children who are step-siblings or your half-siblings. It is not impossible to deal with sibling rivalry and jealousy. They are a part of growing up and act as a positive stimulation if taken in a healthy spirit.

A healthy sibling relationship can help your children deal with issues that may have been unattended by you. It makes them more emotionally healthy and contented. If you miss your sibling, all you got to do is pick up the phone and dial that number. I know, I will.