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If you are a parent of more than one child, you probably know all about sibling rivalry. This rivalry usually occurs before or after the second child is born and can continue to be an issue as your children grow and compete for attention.

Sibling rivalry can be extremely frustrating and unpleasant and make for a very stressful household. Your children may fight for several reasons, including evolving needs, role models, individual temperaments or feelings of inferiority.

Luckily, there is a solution. Here are a few suggestions for making each child feel special and reduce the tension of sibling rivalry.

• Mom’s special helper

When the new baby arrives, include your older child in all the care giving activities. Make them feel special and tell them that you need their help.

• Hold hands

When a fight erupts, sit your children on the couch and have them hold hands. Have them sit holding hands until they decide to apologize to each other and make up for their argument or fight.

• Give them a break

In order to avoid tension, have your children play separately for a little while before playing together. This will give them time to cool off and have some solitary time before having to share again.

• Let them work it out

When a fight occurs, monitor from a distance and let your children work it out. It’s not necessary to jump in every time a fight occurs between your children and often, it is best to let them solve it on their own. Of course, if the situation is not improving, you should jump in.

• Create a connection

When a new addition to the family arrives, interpret their signs of affection to your other children. Translate their expressions by saying, “See, she’s smiling at you” or “Look how much he loves his older sister”.

Each child requires a different approach, so if one doesn’t work, try another. Additionally, if you have any advice on how to squash sibling rivalry, I encourage you to begin a discussion forum and share your techniques with other parents.

Start a new discussion thread now!

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